ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $2,270 in Ashland, OH versus $1,270 in Phuket.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $2,895 in Ashland, OH versus $2,304 in Phuket.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,520 in Ashland, OH versus $3,339 in Phuket.
ðLiving in Ashland, OH is roughly 79% more expensive than Phuket, driven mainly by Getting Around.
ðThe two cities straddle the global median: Ashland, OH is 69% above, Phuket is 5% below.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Ashland, OH
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.39$8.39
$4.66āļŋ150
80.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.42$38.42
$46.44āļŋ1,496
-17.27%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.28$8.28
$8.68āļŋ280
-4.61%
Cappuccino
$3.63$3.63
$2.95āļŋ95.0
23.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70$1.70
$0.70āļŋ22.52
142.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27$1.27
$0.39āļŋ12.70
225.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.06$5.06
$2.53āļŋ81.6
100.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.93$4.93
$3.78āļŋ122
30.42%
ð Groceries & Markets
Ashland, OH
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.81$0.81
$2.22āļŋ71.5
-63.51%
White Bread(500g)
$2.23$2.23
$1.80āļŋ57.8
23.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.83$2.83
$2.19āļŋ70.4
29.22%
Eggs
$2.61$2.61
$2.31āļŋ74.5
12.99%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.44$11.44
$19.34āļŋ623
-40.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.59$8.59
$3.77āļŋ121
127.85%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.50$13.50
$13.22āļŋ426
2.12%
Apples(1kg)
$3.63$3.63
$3.33āļŋ107
9.01%
Banana(1kg)
$1.14$1.14
$1.65āļŋ53.1
-30.91%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.28$3.28
$2.29āļŋ73.7
43.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.64$3.64
$1.99āļŋ64.1
82.91%
Potato(1kg)
$1.67$1.67
$1.53āļŋ49.24
9.15%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03$2.03
$1.51āļŋ48.77
34.44%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.13$2.13
$1.03āļŋ33.12
106.80%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.48$1.48
$0.51āļŋ16.57
190.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.89$9.89
$4.41āļŋ142
124.26%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.79$7.79
$19.41āļŋ625
-59.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.98$1.98
$1.80āļŋ58.0
10.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55$2.55
$2.68āļŋ86.4
-4.85%
ð Getting Around
Ashland, OH
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.94$2.94
$1.43āļŋ46.11
105.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$197$197
$11.70āļŋ377
1582.56%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.47$2.47
$3.04āļŋ97.9
-18.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.32$1.32
$1.04āļŋ33.37
26.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.21$18.21
$13.68āļŋ441
33.11%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.82$0.82
$1.30āļŋ41.85
-36.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K$28.0K
$27.9Kāļŋ898.9K
0.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.3K$25.3K
$33.0Kāļŋ1.1M
-23.44%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ashland, OH
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$162$162
$123āļŋ3,962
31.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.17$33.17
$13.82āļŋ445
140.01%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.1$65.1
$18.86āļŋ608
245.17%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Ashland, OH
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$33.59$33.59
$61.2āļŋ1,970
-45.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.81āļŋ541
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.56$8.56
$8.87āļŋ286
-3.49%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Ashland, OH
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,480$1,480
$696āļŋ22.4K
112.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.3K$14.3K
$16.1Kāļŋ517.4K
-10.88%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Ashland, OH
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.02$44.02
$59.3āļŋ1,910
-25.74%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.75$39.75
$34.85āļŋ1,123
14.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$69.2$69.2
$113āļŋ3,646
-38.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$67.3$67.3
$85.1āļŋ2,740
-20.85%
ð Accommodation & Living
Ashland, OH
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$635$635
$615āļŋ19.8K
3.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,134$1,134
$448āļŋ14.4K
152.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$875$875
$2,085āļŋ67.2K
-58.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,243$1,243
$1,496āļŋ48.2K
-16.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,786$1,786
$3,734āļŋ120.3K
-52.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,908$1,908
$2,662āļŋ85.8K
-28.32%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Ashland, OH
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,333$3,333
$534āļŋ17.2K
524.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.51
5.33
22.14%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ashland, OH: April 20, 2026
Last update for Phuket: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $635 in Ashland, OH and $615 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ð°Ashland, OH pays 525% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
ðDining out: $38 in Ashland, OH vs $46 in Phuket. Groceries flip the comparison at $292 vs $291, with Phuket cheaper for home cooking.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Ashland, OH vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ashland, OH or Phuket?
Phuket wins on cost â living expenses run 79% lower than in Ashland, OH. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Phuket the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ashland, OH or Phuket?
Ashland, OH pays 525% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ashland, OH vs Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $635 in Ashland, OH versus $615 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Ashland, OH vs Phuket?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket â a meal for two runs $46.00 versus $38.00 in Ashland, OH. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Ashland, OH compared to Phuket?
All in, you'll spend $2,270 per month in Ashland, OH versus $1,270 in Phuket â a 79% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Ashland, OH or Phuket?
At $1,270 in Phuket versus $2,270 in Ashland, OH, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Ashland, OH. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ashland, OH or Phuket?
Both work as nomad bases, but Phuket delivers better value â similar infrastructure at $1,270 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Phuket hard to pass up.
How safe is Ashland, OH compared to Phuket?
Safety-wise, Ashland, OH and Phuket are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet â expenses run 79% less than in Ashland, OH. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Ashland, OH vs other spots: cost of living compared