ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $2,775 in Beach Haven, NJ versus $1,270 in Phuket.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $4,172 in Beach Haven, NJ versus $2,304 in Phuket.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,569 in Beach Haven, NJ versus $3,339 in Phuket.
ðLiving in Beach Haven, NJ is roughly 119% more expensive than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðThe two cities straddle the global median: Beach Haven, NJ is 107% above, Phuket is 5% below.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Beach Haven, NJ
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.98$19.98
$4.66āļŋ150
328.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$118$118
$46.44āļŋ1,496
153.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.29$12.29
$8.68āļŋ280
41.59%
Cappuccino
$5.78$5.78
$2.95āļŋ95.0
95.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75$2.75
$0.70āļŋ22.52
292.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09$2.09
$0.39āļŋ12.70
435.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.97$7.97
$2.53āļŋ81.6
215.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.12$8.12
$3.78āļŋ122
114.81%
ð Groceries & Markets
Beach Haven, NJ
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.46$1.46
$2.22āļŋ71.5
-34.23%
White Bread(500g)
$4.65$4.65
$1.80āļŋ57.8
158.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$6.46$6.46
$2.19āļŋ70.4
194.98%
Eggs
$5.28$5.28
$2.31āļŋ74.5
128.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.88$13.88
$19.34āļŋ623
-28.23%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.38$12.38
$3.77āļŋ121
228.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.30$15.30
$13.22āļŋ426
15.73%
Apples(1kg)
$6.10$6.10
$3.33āļŋ107
83.18%
Banana(1kg)
$1.59$1.59
$1.65āļŋ53.1
-3.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.65$5.65
$2.29āļŋ73.7
146.72%
Tomato(1kg)
$6.40$6.40
$1.99āļŋ64.1
221.61%
Potato(1kg)
$2.79$2.79
$1.53āļŋ49.24
82.35%
Onion(1kg)
$4.84$4.84
$1.51āļŋ48.77
220.53%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.74$2.74
$1.03āļŋ33.12
166.02%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.40$2.40
$0.51āļŋ16.57
370.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.92$14.92
$4.41āļŋ142
238.32%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.79$19.79
$19.41āļŋ625
1.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.47$2.47
$1.80āļŋ58.0
37.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.48$3.48
$2.68āļŋ86.4
29.85%
ð Getting Around
Beach Haven, NJ
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.02$2.02
$1.43āļŋ46.11
41.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$11.70āļŋ377
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.03$3.03
$3.04āļŋ97.9
-0.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.23$2.23
$1.04āļŋ33.37
114.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$41.27$41.27
$13.68āļŋ441
201.68%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.96$0.96
$1.30āļŋ41.85
-26.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.9K$24.9K
$27.9Kāļŋ898.9K
-10.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.0K$24.0K
$33.0Kāļŋ1.1M
-27.28%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Beach Haven, NJ
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$162$162
$123āļŋ3,962
32.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.8$58.8
$13.82āļŋ445
325.69%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.2$67.2
$18.86āļŋ608
256.36%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Beach Haven, NJ
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.37$43.37
$61.2āļŋ1,970
-29.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.81āļŋ541
-
Cinema Ticket
$20.29$20.29
$8.87āļŋ286
128.75%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Beach Haven, NJ
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,902$1,902
$696āļŋ22.4K
173.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.3K$14.3K
$16.1Kāļŋ517.4K
-11.05%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Beach Haven, NJ
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.1$61.1
$59.3āļŋ1,910
3.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.0$60.0
$34.85āļŋ1,123
72.22%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$109$109
$113āļŋ3,646
-4.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$132$132
$85.1āļŋ2,740
55.54%
ð Accommodation & Living
Beach Haven, NJ
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,587$1,587
$615āļŋ19.8K
157.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,357$1,357
$448āļŋ14.4K
202.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,658$2,658
$2,085āļŋ67.2K
27.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,238$2,238
$1,496āļŋ48.2K
49.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,806$2,806
$3,734āļŋ120.3K
-24.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,392$2,392
$2,662āļŋ85.8K
-10.16%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Beach Haven, NJ
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$534āļŋ17.2K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.51
5.33
22.14%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Beach Haven, NJ: April 20, 2026
Last update for Phuket: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,587 in Beach Haven, NJ and $615 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ðDining out: $118 in Beach Haven, NJ vs $46 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $469 vs $291 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
Beach Haven, NJ vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Beach Haven, NJ?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 119% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $4,163 in Beach Haven, NJ 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.
What is the rent difference between Beach Haven, NJ and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,587 in Beach Haven, NJ versus $615 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Beach Haven, NJ and Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 61% higher in Beach Haven, NJ. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Beach Haven, NJ vs Phuket?
All in, you'll spend $2,775 per month in Beach Haven, NJ versus $1,270 in Phuket â a 119% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Beach Haven, NJ or Phuket?
At $1,270 in Phuket versus $2,775 in Beach Haven, NJ, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Beach Haven, NJ. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Beach Haven, NJ or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Beach Haven, NJ, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Beach Haven, NJ or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Beach Haven, NJ 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet â expenses run 119% less than in Beach Haven, NJ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Beach Haven, NJ vs other spots: cost of living compared