Cost of Living Comparison Between Atlanta, GA and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Atlanta, GA and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,115 per month in Atlanta, GA vs $1,265 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,422 per month in Atlanta, GA vs $2,089 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,730 per month in Atlanta, GA vs $2,913 in Phuket, rent included.

Atlanta, GA costs about 146% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Atlanta, GA sits 126% above the global median, while Phuket is 8% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.83 $29.83

$4.66 ฿154

540.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$117 $117

$32.22 ฿1,065

263.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.11 $12.11

$8.68 ฿287

39.52%

Cappuccino

$5.44 $5.44

$2.90 ฿95.8

87.59%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.03 $3.03

$0.84 ฿27.89

260.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 $2.04

$0.49 ฿16.16

316.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.67 $7.67

$2.48 ฿82.0

209.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.81 $7.81

$3.73 ฿123

109.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$1.89 ฿62.3

-52.91%

White Bread (500g)

$3.56 $3.56

$1.41 ฿46.54

152.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.66 $3.66

$1.62 ฿53.6

125.93%

Eggs

$4.75 $4.75

$2.24 ฿74.1

112.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.85 $14.85

$19.84 ฿656

-25.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.33 $15.33

$3.48 ฿115

340.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.13 $22.13

$11.37 ฿376

94.64%

Apples (1kg)

$6.02 $6.02

$2.90 ฿95.8

107.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.72 ฿57.0

-11.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.89 $5.89

$2.27 ฿75.1

159.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$2.13 ฿70.4

149.30%

Potato (1kg)

$3.68 $3.68

$1.47 ฿48.72

150.34%

Onion (1kg)

$2.73 $2.73

$1.42 ฿46.92

92.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.20 $2.20

$1.10 ฿36.25

100.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.75 $2.75

$0.60 ฿19.76

358.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.49 $8.49

$4.31 ฿142

96.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.26 $15.26

$18.60 ฿615

-17.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.94 $3.94

$1.80 ฿59.5

118.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.15 $5.15

$2.97 ฿98.0

73.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.25 ฿74.2

12.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$113 $113

$23.49 ฿776

381.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.57 $3.57

$3.10 ฿102

15.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.45 $1.45

$1.08 ฿35.56

34.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.32 $24.32

$3.87 ฿128

528.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$1.43 ฿47.16

-30.07%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$37.2K $37.2K

$27.8K ฿918.0K

34.02%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.5K $26.5K

$27.0K ฿891.5K

-1.76%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$193 $193

$105 ฿3,462

84.02%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$69.7 $69.7

$11.39 ฿376

512.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$83.8 $83.8

$17.54 ฿580

377.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.53 $31.53

$54.3 ฿1,795

-41.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.23 $16.23

$11.44 ฿378

41.87%

Cinema Ticket

$17.16 $17.16

$7.78 ฿257

120.57%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,878 $1,878

$576 ฿19.0K

225.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.9K $22.9K

$11.6K ฿382.7K

97.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.2 $52.2

$63.6 ฿2,103

-17.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.39 $45.39

$29.10 ฿961

55.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.6 $96.6

$96.2 ฿3,179

0.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 $105

$90.0 ฿2,974

17.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,091 $2,091

$733 ฿24.2K

185.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,497 $1,497

$501 ฿16.5K

198.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,552 $3,552

$2,126 ฿70.2K

67.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,191 $2,191

$1,252 ฿41.4K

74.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,884 $3,884

$3,534 ฿116.8K

9.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,614 $2,614

$2,622 ฿86.6K

-0.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,305 $5,305

$508 ฿16.8K

945.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.18

5.57

10.95%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Atlanta, GA: September 6, 2026

Last update for Phuket: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,091 in Atlanta, GA versus $733 in Phuket. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 945% higher in Atlanta, GA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $117 in Atlanta, GA versus $32.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $474 vs $275 – making Phuket the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Atlanta, GA vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Atlanta, GA is pricier by about 146%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,672 per month in Atlanta, GA and $1,898 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 72% more in Atlanta, GA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $117 in Atlanta, GA and $32.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,265, than in Atlanta, GA at $3,115. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Atlanta, GA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Phuket – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Atlanta, GA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.