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 $2,399 per month in Branson, MO vs $1,265 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,517 per month in Branson, MO vs $2,297 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,635 per month in Branson, MO vs $3,329 in Phuket, rent included.

Branson, MO costs about 90% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Branson, MO sits 79% above the global median, while Phuket is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.93 $19.93

$4.70 ฿153

324.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.18 $49.18

$45.37 ฿1,482

8.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.78 $10.78

$8.43 ฿275

27.88%

Cappuccino

$4.49 $4.49

$2.93 ฿95.6

53.24%

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

$0.97 $0.97

$0.69 ฿22.40

40.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 $1.02

$0.37 ฿11.99

175.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.78 $3.78

$2.41 ฿78.6

56.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.94 $4.94

$3.72 ฿122

32.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 $1.07

$2.23 ฿72.9

-52.02%

White Bread (500g)

$2.63 $2.63

$1.83 ฿59.8

43.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.14 $3.14

$2.17 ฿70.8

44.70%

Eggs

$3.57 $3.57

$2.21 ฿72.3

61.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.73 $7.73

$19.74 ฿645

-60.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.95 $8.95

$3.63 ฿119

146.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.94 $12.94

$13.53 ฿442

-4.36%

Apples (1kg)

$4.55 $4.55

$3.28 ฿107

38.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 $1.49

$1.61 ฿52.6

-7.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.15 $2.15

$2.41 ฿78.6

-10.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.46 $6.46

$2.08 ฿68.1

210.58%

Potato (1kg)

$2.15 $2.15

$1.53 ฿49.93

40.52%

Onion (1kg)

$2.23 $2.23

$1.48 ฿48.36

50.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.52 $1.52

$0.99 ฿32.29

53.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.03 $2.03

$0.51 ฿16.67

298.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.65 $6.65

$4.41 ฿144

50.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.20 $13.20

$19.38 ฿633

-31.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.96 $1.96

$1.78 ฿58.1

10.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.71 ฿88.6

7.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.37 ฿44.79

44.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.39 ฿372

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.44 $2.44

$3.02 ฿98.6

-19.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.18 $2.18

$0.99 ฿32.48

120.20%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.82 $20.82

$14.10 ฿461

47.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 $0.81

$1.36 ฿44.51

-40.44%

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

$36.3K $36.3K

$28.2K ฿921.1K

28.61%

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

$25.3K $25.3K

$32.9K ฿1.1M

-23.25%

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

$107 $107

$122 ฿3,975

-12.47%

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

$62.9 $62.9

$13.57 ฿443

363.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.2 $53.2

$18.31 ฿598

190.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.28 $42.28

$60.2 ฿1,967

-29.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 ฿560

Cinema Ticket

$14.91 $14.91

$8.69 ฿284

71.58%

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

$790 $790

$693 ฿22.6K

13.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.4K $29.4K

$15.7K ฿512.3K

87.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.44 $29.44

$59.5 ฿1,944

-50.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.28 $41.28

$34.77 ฿1,136

18.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.6 $75.6

$115 ฿3,743

-34.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$125 $125

$83.3 ฿2,720

49.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,582 $1,582

$613 ฿20.0K

158.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,335 $1,335

$437 ฿14.3K

205.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,603 $2,603

$2,094 ฿68.4K

24.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,247 $2,247

$1,509 ฿49.3K

48.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,749 ฿122.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,616 ฿85.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

5.33

21.95%

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

Last update for Branson, MO: May 31, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,582 in Branson, MO versus $613 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 $49.00 in Branson, MO versus $45.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $327 vs $293 – 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: $2,399 in Branson, MO, $1,265 in Phuket – roughly 90% apart. Branson, MO costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,599 per month in Branson, MO and $1,898 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 $49.00 in Branson, MO and $45.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 12% 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 $1,265, than in Branson, MO at $2,399. 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 $1,265 in Phuket to $2,399 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.