Cost of Living Comparison Between Auburn, WA and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Auburn, WA and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,638 per month in Auburn, WA vs $1,250 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,699 per month in Auburn, WA vs $2,284 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,760 per month in Auburn, WA vs $3,317 in Phuket, rent included.

Auburn, WA costs about 111% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Auburn, WA sits 97% above the global median, while Phuket is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.83 $17.83

$4.55 ฿153

291.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$57.7 $57.7

$46.18 ฿1,553

24.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.19 $10.19

$8.84 ฿297

15.27%

Cappuccino

$4.64 $4.64

$3.06 ฿103

51.63%

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

$2.57 $2.57

$0.73 ฿24.40

252.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 $1.94

$0.40 ฿13.39

385.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.69 $4.69

$2.43 ฿81.8

93.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.97 $3.97

$3.78 ฿127

5.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 $0.94

$2.26 ฿76.0

-58.41%

White Bread (500g)

$2.55 $2.55

$1.81 ฿60.9

40.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.84 $3.84

$2.25 ฿75.8

70.67%

Eggs

$3.06 $3.06

$2.25 ฿75.5

36.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.95 $8.95

$19.51 ฿656

-54.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.34 $13.34

$3.65 ฿123

265.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.82 $16.82

$13.05 ฿439

28.89%

Apples (1kg)

$4.23 $4.23

$3.23 ฿109

30.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 $1.45

$1.62 ฿54.4

-10.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.70 $3.70

$2.38 ฿80.1

55.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.74 $3.74

$2.03 ฿68.1

84.24%

Potato (1kg)

$2.13 $2.13

$1.53 ฿51.6

39.22%

Onion (1kg)

$2.07 $2.07

$1.50 ฿50.5

38.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 $1.98

$0.98 ฿32.91

102.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 $1.74

$0.52 ฿17.39

234.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.68 $9.68

$4.44 ฿149

118.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.06 $15.06

$18.32 ฿616

-17.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 $1.67

$1.86 ฿62.7

-10.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.01 $3.01

$2.68 ฿90.1

12.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.01 $2.01

$1.41 ฿47.46

42.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.70 ฿393

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.44 $3.44

$3.11 ฿105

10.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.04 ฿35.06

76.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$39.32 $39.32

$14.11 ฿474

178.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.31 ฿44.10

-19.85%

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

$27.9K $27.9K

$27.8K ฿935.4K

0.33%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$33.2K ฿1.1M

-22.80%

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

$271 $271

$122 ฿4,118

121.36%

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

$39.26 $39.26

$13.59 ฿457

188.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.6 $75.6

$18.70 ฿629

304.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.42 $43.42

$60.5 ฿2,034

-28.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.98 ฿571

Cinema Ticket

$12.95 $12.95

$9.07 ฿305

42.78%

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

$1,299 $1,299

$706 ฿23.8K

83.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.8K $23.8K

$15.8K ฿531.5K

50.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.82 $46.82

$58.6 ฿1,969

-20.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$35.36 ฿1,189

47.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.4 $79.4

$115 ฿3,883

-31.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.0 $80.0

$83.7 ฿2,816

-4.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,613 $1,613

$626 ฿21.0K

157.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,400 $1,400

$445 ฿15.0K

214.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,093 $3,093

$2,040 ฿68.6K

51.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,257 $2,257

$1,492 ฿50.2K

51.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,483 ฿117.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,577 ฿86.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,917 $6,917

$500 ฿16.8K

1283.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.55

5.33

22.89%

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

Last update for Auburn, WA: July 14, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,613 in Auburn, WA versus $626 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 1284% higher in Auburn, WA, 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 $58.0 in Auburn, WA versus $46.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $354 vs $289 – 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

Auburn, WA vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Auburn, WA costs about 111% more than Phuket, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,956 per month in Auburn, WA and $1,875 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,638 in Auburn, WA and $1,250 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,299 per month in Auburn, WA and $706 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,250, than in Auburn, WA at $2,638. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Auburn, WA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,250 versus $2,638 in Auburn, WA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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, Auburn, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.