Cost of Living Comparison Between Bangor, ME and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Bangor, ME and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,069 per month in Bangor, ME vs $1,264 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,336 per month in Bangor, ME vs $2,256 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,604 per month in Bangor, ME vs $3,248 in Phuket, rent included.

Bangor, ME costs about 64% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Bangor, ME sits 55% above the global median, while Phuket is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.06 $15.06

$4.48 ฿150

236.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$67.6 $67.6

$45.59 ฿1,521

48.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.16 $12.16

$8.76 ฿292

38.81%

Cappuccino

$5.79 $5.79

$2.97 ฿99.0

94.95%

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

$2.63 $2.63

$0.69 ฿22.90

281.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$0.39 ฿13.04

484.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.34 $5.34

$2.53 ฿84.4

111.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.09 $8.09

$3.75 ฿125

115.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 $1.02

$2.15 ฿71.6

-52.56%

White Bread (500g)

$3.66 $3.66

$1.82 ฿60.6

101.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.18 ฿72.9

-10.09%

Eggs

$3.19 $3.19

$2.25 ฿75.0

41.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.25 $10.25

$20.00 ฿667

-48.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.65 $7.65

$3.63 ฿121

110.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.49 $15.49

$13.56 ฿452

14.23%

Apples (1kg)

$5.15 $5.15

$3.24 ฿108

58.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.19 $1.19

$1.64 ฿54.6

-27.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.40 $4.40

$2.33 ฿77.8

88.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$2.07 ฿69.1

112.08%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 $1.18

$1.55 ฿51.6

-23.87%

Onion (1kg)

$3.58 $3.58

$1.46 ฿48.54

145.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.47 $1.47

$0.98 ฿32.86

50.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 $1.03

$0.48 ฿16.09

114.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.57 $9.57

$4.35 ฿145

120.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.22 $15.22

$18.57 ฿620

-18.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.86 ฿61.9

-9.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 $3.14

$2.65 ฿88.6

18.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.42 ฿47.28

7.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.57 ฿386

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.05 $2.05

$3.17 ฿106

-35.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.29 $2.29

$1.03 ฿34.41

122.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.21 $29.21

$13.89 ฿463

110.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 $0.84

$1.34 ฿44.84

-37.31%

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

$23.0K $23.0K

$27.8K ฿927.1K

-17.25%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$33.4K ฿1.1M

-21.76%

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

$214 $214

$123 ฿4,105

74.05%

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

$54.5 $54.5

$13.77 ฿459

295.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$79.5 $79.5

$18.33 ฿611

333.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.94 $37.94

$60.7 ฿2,025

-37.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.68 $23.68

$17.16 ฿573

38.00%

Cinema Ticket

$10.07 $10.07

$8.87 ฿296

13.53%

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

$1,274 $1,274

$688 ฿22.9K

85.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.4K $23.4K

$15.8K ฿526.4K

48.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.39 $42.39

$59.3 ฿1,978

-28.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.53 $41.53

$34.69 ฿1,157

19.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.9 $76.9

$115 ฿3,843

-33.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$67.2 $67.2

$83.8 ฿2,794

-19.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,198 $1,198

$621 ฿20.7K

92.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$978 $978

$446 ฿14.9K

119.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,192 $2,192

$2,034 ฿67.8K

7.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,174 $2,174

$1,496 ฿49.9K

45.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,270 $2,270

$3,455 ฿115.3K

-34.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,962 $1,962

$2,531 ฿84.4K

-22.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,838 $4,838

$494 ฿16.5K

880.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.71

5.33

25.89%

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

Last update for Bangor, ME: July 25, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,198 in Bangor, ME versus $621 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 880% higher in Bangor, ME, 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 $68.0 in Bangor, ME versus $46.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $330 vs $291 – 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

Bangor, ME vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bangor, ME costs about 64% 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 $3,103 per month in Bangor, ME and $1,896 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $68.0 in Bangor, ME and $46.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 13% more in Bangor, ME, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,264, than in Bangor, ME at $2,069. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bangor, ME it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,264 versus $2,069 in Bangor, ME. 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, Bangor, ME makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.