Cost of Living Comparison Between Branson, MO and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Branson, MO and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,011 per month in Branson, MO vs $1,253 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,937 per month in Branson, MO vs $2,043 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,864 per month in Branson, MO vs $2,833 in Phuket, rent included.

Branson, MO costs about 60% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Branson, MO sits 46% above the global median, while Phuket is 9% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.30 $20.30

$4.56 ฿150

345.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.9 $58.9

$32.62 ฿1,073

80.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.41 $10.41

$8.90 ฿293

16.97%

Cappuccino

$4.94 $4.94

$2.80 ฿92.2

76.43%

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

$1.53 $1.53

$0.88 ฿28.94

73.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.03 $1.03

$0.49 ฿16.08

110.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.96 $3.96

$2.39 ฿78.5

65.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.08 $5.08

$3.71 ฿122

36.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 $1.23

$1.79 ฿58.8

-31.28%

White Bread (500g)

$3.47 $3.47

$1.44 ฿47.40

140.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$1.58 ฿52.1

99.37%

Eggs

$4.36 $4.36

$2.13 ฿69.9

104.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.79 $7.79

$19.92 ฿655

-60.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.99 $8.99

$3.43 ฿113

162.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.37 $13.37

$11.33 ฿372

18.01%

Apples (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$2.95 ฿97.0

46.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.72 ฿56.6

-11.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.32 ฿76.5

-3.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.50 $5.50

$2.08 ฿68.4

164.42%

Potato (1kg)

$2.25 $2.25

$1.47 ฿48.34

53.06%

Onion (1kg)

$2.26 $2.26

$1.36 ฿44.65

66.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.48 $1.48

$1.10 ฿36.13

34.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.94 $1.94

$0.57 ฿18.89

240.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.13 $7.13

$4.27 ฿140

66.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.16 $13.16

$18.42 ฿606

-28.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.87 ฿61.5

5.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 $3.04

$2.92 ฿96.1

4.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.05 $2.05

$2.22 ฿73.0

-7.66%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.90 ฿753

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.49 $2.49

$3.03 ฿99.6

-17.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.07 ฿35.32

17.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$59.0 $59.0

$3.93 ฿129

1400.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.49 ฿49.06

-34.23%

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

$34.8K $34.8K

$27.1K ฿892.0K

28.35%

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

$25.0K $25.0K

$27.5K ฿902.6K

-8.87%

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

$107 $107

$103 ฿3,380

4.03%

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

$66.0 $66.0

$10.99 ฿361

500.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.9 $71.9

$17.51 ฿576

310.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.28 $44.28

$53.5 ฿1,760

-17.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.90 $11.90

$11.20 ฿368

6.25%

Cinema Ticket

$15.03 $15.03

$7.48 ฿246

100.94%

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

$793 $793

$557 ฿18.3K

42.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.2K $21.2K

$11.9K ฿389.7K

78.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.81 $29.81

$64.1 ฿2,107

-53.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.60 $42.60

$29.07 ฿956

46.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.6 $75.6

$96.0 ฿3,155

-21.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$90.3 ฿2,970

63.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,061 $1,061

$730 ฿24.0K

45.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$959 $959

$500 ฿16.4K

91.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,663 $1,663

$2,090 ฿68.7K

-20.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,414 $1,414

$1,209 ฿39.8K

16.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,596 ฿118.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,512 ฿82.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$503 ฿16.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.12

5.57

9.87%

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

Last update for Branson, MO: August 30, 2026

Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,061 in Branson, MO versus $730 in Phuket. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $59.0 in Branson, MO versus $33.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $335 vs $273 – 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

Branson, MO vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,011 in Branson, MO, $1,253 in Phuket – roughly 60% apart. Branson, MO costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,016 per month in Branson, MO and $1,880 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 $59.0 in Branson, MO and $33.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 23% more in Branson, MO, 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 $1,253, than in Branson, MO at $2,011. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Branson, MO it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,253 in Phuket to $2,011 in Branson, MO. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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