πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $2,379 in Baraboo, WI versus $1,270 in Phuket.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $3,166 in Baraboo, WI versus $2,304 in Phuket.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,952 in Baraboo, WI versus $3,339 in Phuket.
πLiving in Baraboo, WI is roughly 87% more expensive than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πThe two cities straddle the global median: Baraboo, WI is 78% above, Phuket is 5% below.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Baraboo, WI
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.09$15.09
$4.66ΰΈΏ150
223.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.38$40.38
$46.44ΰΈΏ1,496
-13.05%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.46$11.46
$8.68ΰΈΏ280
32.03%
Cappuccino
$4.99$4.99
$2.95ΰΈΏ95.0
69.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53$1.53
$0.70ΰΈΏ22.52
118.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47$1.47
$0.39ΰΈΏ12.70
276.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.10$5.10
$2.53ΰΈΏ81.6
101.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.48$3.48
$3.78ΰΈΏ122
-7.94%
π Groceries & Markets
Baraboo, WI
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.82$0.82
$2.22ΰΈΏ71.5
-63.06%
White Bread(500g)
$3.11$3.11
$1.80ΰΈΏ57.8
72.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.26$3.26
$2.19ΰΈΏ70.4
48.86%
Eggs
$2.95$2.95
$2.31ΰΈΏ74.5
27.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.57$7.57
$19.34ΰΈΏ623
-60.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.44$11.44
$3.77ΰΈΏ121
203.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.19$11.19
$13.22ΰΈΏ426
-15.36%
Apples(1kg)
$4.01$4.01
$3.33ΰΈΏ107
20.42%
Banana(1kg)
$1.26$1.26
$1.65ΰΈΏ53.1
-23.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.96$2.96
$2.29ΰΈΏ73.7
29.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.47$3.47
$1.99ΰΈΏ64.1
74.37%
Potato(1kg)
$1.22$1.22
$1.53ΰΈΏ49.24
-20.26%
Onion(1kg)
$2.49$2.49
$1.51ΰΈΏ48.77
64.90%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.61$1.61
$1.03ΰΈΏ33.12
56.31%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.17$2.17
$0.51ΰΈΏ16.57
325.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.22$11.22
$4.41ΰΈΏ142
154.42%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.46$8.46
$19.41ΰΈΏ625
-56.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74$1.74
$1.80ΰΈΏ58.0
-3.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.29$3.29
$2.68ΰΈΏ86.4
22.76%
π Getting Around
Baraboo, WI
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.99$1.99
$1.43ΰΈΏ46.11
39.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$11.70ΰΈΏ377
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.44$3.44
$3.04ΰΈΏ97.9
13.16%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.56$1.56
$1.04ΰΈΏ33.37
50.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.67$29.67
$13.68ΰΈΏ441
116.89%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.00$1.00
$1.30ΰΈΏ41.85
-23.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.5K$24.5K
$27.9KΰΈΏ898.9K
-12.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6K$25.6K
$33.0KΰΈΏ1.1M
-22.50%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Baraboo, WI
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$174$174
$123ΰΈΏ3,962
41.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.0$52.0
$13.82ΰΈΏ445
275.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.0$51.0
$18.86ΰΈΏ608
170.41%
π Sport & Entertainment
Baraboo, WI
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.40$29.40
$61.2ΰΈΏ1,970
-51.92%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.81ΰΈΏ541
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.80$10.80
$8.87ΰΈΏ286
21.76%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Baraboo, WI
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,324$1,324
$696ΰΈΏ22.4K
90.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.1K$23.1K
$16.1KΰΈΏ517.4K
43.92%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Baraboo, WI
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.84$45.84
$59.3ΰΈΏ1,910
-22.67%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.28$39.28
$34.85ΰΈΏ1,123
12.71%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$67.7$67.7
$113ΰΈΏ3,646
-40.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110$110
$85.1ΰΈΏ2,740
28.92%
π Accommodation & Living
Baraboo, WI
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,296$1,296
$615ΰΈΏ19.8K
110.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,292$1,292
$448ΰΈΏ14.4K
188.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,784$1,784
$2,085ΰΈΏ67.2K
-14.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,779$1,779
$1,496ΰΈΏ48.2K
18.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,174$2,174
$3,734ΰΈΏ120.3K
-41.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,177$2,177
$2,662ΰΈΏ85.8K
-18.23%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Baraboo, WI
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$534ΰΈΏ17.2K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.52
5.33
22.33%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Baraboo, WI: April 20, 2026
Last update for Phuket: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,296 in Baraboo, WI and $615 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
πDining out: $40 in Baraboo, WI vs $46 in Phuket. Groceries flip the comparison at $308 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
Baraboo, WI vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Baraboo, WI or Phuket?
Phuket wins on cost β living expenses run 87% lower than in Baraboo, WI. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Phuket the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Baraboo, WI vs Phuket?
You'd need roughly $3,568 in Baraboo, WI and $1,904 in Phuket to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Baraboo, WI vs Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,296 in Baraboo, WI versus $615 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Baraboo, WI or Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 6% higher in Baraboo, WI. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Baraboo, WI compared to Phuket?
All in, you'll spend $2,379 per month in Baraboo, WI versus $1,270 in Phuket β a 87% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Baraboo, WI or Phuket?
At $1,270 in Phuket versus $2,379 in Baraboo, WI, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Baraboo, WI. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Baraboo, WI or Phuket?
Both work as nomad bases, but Phuket delivers better value β 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 Baraboo, WI compared to Phuket?
Safety-wise, Baraboo, WI 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 β expenses run 87% less than in Baraboo, WI. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Baraboo, WI vs other spots: cost of living compared