Cost of Living Comparison Between Aurora, CO and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Aurora, CO and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,050 in Aurora, CO versus $1,250 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,275 in Aurora, CO versus $2,284 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,500 in Aurora, CO versus $3,317 in Phuket.

Living in Aurora, CO is roughly 144% more expensive than in Phuket, driven mainly by Getting Around.

The two cities straddle the global median: Aurora, CO is 128% above, Phuket is 6% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Aurora, CO
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.20 $20.20
$4.55 ฿153
343.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.4 $59.4
$46.18 ฿1,553
28.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.94 $12.94
$8.84 ฿297
46.38%
Cappuccino
$4.16 $4.16
$3.06 ฿103
35.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43 $2.43
$0.73 ฿24.40
232.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 $1.98
$0.40 ฿13.39
395.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.91 $3.91
$2.43 ฿81.8
60.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.98 $5.98
$3.78 ฿127
58.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Aurora, CO
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.88 $0.88
$2.26 ฿76.0
-61.06%
White Bread (500g)
$2.97 $2.97
$1.81 ฿60.9
64.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.99 $2.99
$2.25 ฿75.8
32.89%
Eggs
$2.75 $2.75
$2.25 ฿75.5
22.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.05 $9.05
$19.51 ฿656
-53.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.69 $9.69
$3.65 ฿123
165.48%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.78 $17.78
$13.05 ฿439
36.25%
Apples (1kg)
$3.29 $3.29
$3.23 ฿109
1.86%
Banana (1kg)
$1.53 $1.53
$1.62 ฿54.4
-5.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.16 $3.16
$2.38 ฿80.1
32.77%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.37 $4.37
$2.03 ฿68.1
115.27%
Potato (1kg)
$5.40 $5.40
$1.53 ฿51.6
252.94%
Onion (1kg)
$4.07 $4.07
$1.50 ฿50.5
171.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.02 $2.02
$0.98 ฿32.91
106.12%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.75 $3.75
$0.52 ฿17.39
621.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.42 $9.42
$4.44 ฿149
112.16%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$18.32 ฿616
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 $1.70
$1.86 ฿62.7
-8.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26 $3.26
$2.68 ฿90.1
21.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Aurora, CO
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.94 $2.94
$1.41 ฿47.46
108.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$178 $178
$11.70 ฿393
1422.82%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.60 $3.60
$3.11 ฿105
15.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.58 $1.58
$1.04 ฿35.06
51.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.74 $28.74
$14.11 ฿474
103.69%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 $0.84
$1.31 ฿44.10
-35.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.1K $30.1K
$27.8K ฿935.4K
8.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K $25.7K
$33.2K ฿1.1M
-22.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aurora, CO
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$173 $173
$122 ฿4,118
41.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$62.3 $62.3
$13.59 ฿457
358.13%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.3 $53.3
$18.70 ฿629
184.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Aurora, CO
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$12.04 $12.04
$60.5 ฿2,034
-80.10%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.98 ฿571
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.02 $13.02
$9.07 ฿305
43.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Aurora, CO
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,294 $1,294
$706 ฿23.8K
83.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.0K $23.0K
$15.8K ฿531.5K
45.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Aurora, CO
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.13 $43.13
$58.6 ฿1,969
-26.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.2 $50.2
$35.36 ฿1,189
41.83%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$110 $110
$115 ฿3,883
-4.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115 $115
$83.7 ฿2,816
37.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Aurora, CO
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,928 $1,928
$626 ฿21.0K
208.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,778 $1,778
$445 ฿15.0K
299.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,050 $3,050
$2,040 ฿68.6K
49.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,762 $2,762
$1,492 ฿50.2K
85.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,237 $3,237
$3,483 ฿117.1K
-7.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,134 $3,134
$2,577 ฿86.7K
21.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Aurora, CO
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,055 $4,055
$500 ฿16.8K
711.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.45
5.33
21.01%

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

Last update for Aurora, CO: July 11, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,928 in Aurora, CO and $626 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Aurora, CO pays 711% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $59.0 in Aurora, CO vs $46.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $343 vs $289 per month, with Phuket cheaper across the board.

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
Aurora, CO vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Aurora, CO or Phuket?
Phuket wins on cost – living expenses run 144% lower than in Aurora, CO. 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 Aurora, CO or in Phuket?
Average pay runs 711% higher in Aurora, CO, 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 Aurora, CO compared to Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,928 in Aurora, CO versus $626 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Aurora, CO or in Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 19% higher in Aurora, CO. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Aurora, CO and in Phuket?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket – a meal for two runs $46.00 versus $59.0 in Aurora, CO. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Aurora, CO or in Phuket?
At $1,250 in Phuket versus $3,050 in Aurora, CO, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Aurora, CO. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Aurora, CO or Phuket?
Both work as nomad bases, but Phuket delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,250 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Phuket hard to pass up.
How safe is Aurora, CO compared to Phuket?
Safety-wise, Aurora, CO 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 – expenses run 144% less than in Aurora, CO. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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