Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Brookhaven, NY and Phuket

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,208 a month against $2,722 in Brookhaven, NY, rent and utilities included – about $18,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Brookhaven, NY
🇺🇸 United States
$2,722
/mo nomad
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,208
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Brookhaven, NY and in Phuket

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Brookhaven, NY and in Phuket actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,722 in Brookhaven, NY versus $1,208 in Phuket.

  • Brookhaven, NY $2,722
  • Phuket $1,208

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,065 in Brookhaven, NY versus $2,027 in Phuket.

  • Brookhaven, NY $4,065
  • Phuket $2,027

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,408 in Brookhaven, NY versus $2,845 in Phuket.

  • Brookhaven, NY $5,408
  • Phuket $2,845

Living in Brookhaven, NY is roughly 125% more expensive than in Phuket, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Brookhaven, NY is 101% above, Phuket is 11% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brookhaven, NY
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.74 $24.74
$4.40 ฿147
462.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$98.9 $98.9
$32.26 ฿1,078
206.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.20 $11.20
$8.76 ฿293
27.85%
Cappuccino
$5.35 $5.35
$2.83 ฿94.5
89.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 $2.24
$0.90 ฿30.14
148.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54 $1.54
$0.47 ฿15.56
227.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.01 $8.01
$2.55 ฿85.2
214.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.20 $8.20
$3.83 ฿128
114.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brookhaven, NY
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.26 $1.26
$1.73 ฿57.7
-27.17%
White Bread (500g)
$4.31 $4.31
$1.47 ฿49.11
193.20%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$7.76 $7.76
$1.51 ฿50.6
413.91%
Eggs
$5.75 $5.75
$2.17 ฿72.7
164.98%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.61 $12.61
$19.70 ฿658
-35.99%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.62 $11.62
$3.34 ฿112
247.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.07 $17.07
$11.16 ฿373
52.96%
Apples (1kg)
$5.54 $5.54
$2.85 ฿95.1
94.39%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 $1.73
$1.70 ฿56.9
1.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.16 $6.16
$2.19 ฿73.3
181.28%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.14 $6.14
$2.05 ฿68.4
199.51%
Potato (1kg)
$5.47 $5.47
$1.45 ฿48.57
277.24%
Onion (1kg)
$3.77 $3.77
$1.38 ฿46.16
173.19%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.79 $2.79
$1.07 ฿35.69
160.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.94 $2.94
$0.51 ฿16.91
476.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.50 $11.50
$4.26 ฿142
169.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$24.08 $24.08
$18.58 ฿621
29.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.78 ฿59.7
-3.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.49 $5.49
$2.85 ฿95.2
92.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Brookhaven, NY
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.86 $1.86
$2.26 ฿75.6
-17.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$22.10 ฿738
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.93 $2.93
$3.01 ฿101
-2.66%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.03 $2.03
$1.06 ฿35.34
91.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$23.54 $23.54
$3.86 ฿129
509.84%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.10 $1.10
$1.45 ฿48.45
-24.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.6K $27.6K
$26.3K ฿879.9K
4.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K $26.7K
$26.9K ฿900.4K
-0.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brookhaven, NY
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$211 $211
$96.4 ฿3,221
118.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$75.6 $75.6
$11.04 ฿369
584.60%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.3 $64.3
$17.14 ฿573
275.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brookhaven, NY
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.96 $40.96
$52.2 ฿1,744
-21.50%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$11.16 ฿373
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.76 $14.76
$7.81 ฿261
88.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brookhaven, NY
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,237 $2,237
$556 ฿18.6K
302.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.6K $23.6K
$11.6K ฿387.0K
103.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brookhaven, NY
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.13 $41.13
$64.2 ฿2,146
-35.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.5 $56.5
$28.69 ฿959
96.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.1 $76.1
$95.4 ฿3,187
-20.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$158 $158
$88.0 ฿2,940
79.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brookhaven, NY
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,587 $1,587
$737 ฿24.6K
115.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,275 $1,275
$462 ฿15.5K
175.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,527 $2,527
$2,095 ฿70.0K
20.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,118 $2,118
$1,201 ฿40.1K
76.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,099 $3,099
$3,488 ฿116.6K
-11.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,127 $2,127
$2,523 ฿84.3K
-15.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brookhaven, NY
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$501 ฿16.7K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.75
5.57
21.18%

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

Last update for Brookhaven, NY: October 18, 2026

Last update for Phuket: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Brookhaven, NY
$1.3K
Phuket
$462 63.7% $813
Groceries & Markets
Brookhaven, NY
$489
Phuket
$269 45% $220
Eating Out
Brookhaven, NY
$367
Phuket
$121 67% $246
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brookhaven, NY
$351
Phuket
$125 64.5% $226
Clothing & Footwear
Brookhaven, NY
$149
Phuket
$124 16.7% $25
Sport & Entertainment
Brookhaven, NY
$70
Phuket
$68 3.8% $2.7
Getting Around
Brookhaven, NY
$21 *
Phuket
$39 92.4% $19

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,587 in Brookhaven, NY and $737 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $99.0 in Brookhaven, NY vs $32.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $489 vs $269 per month, with Phuket cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Brookhaven, NY
🇹🇭 Phuket
🕒 Local time
07:42 7:42 AM
18:42 6:42 PM
11 h ahead of Brookhaven, NY
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
11,674
79,308
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Brookhaven, NY Phuket 14,530 km ≈ 19 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Brookhaven, NY
  • Phuket

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Brookhaven, NY vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Brookhaven, NY?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 125% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $4,083 in Brookhaven, NY and $1,813 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 Brookhaven, NY and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,587 in Brookhaven, NY versus $737 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Brookhaven, NY and in Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 82% higher in Brookhaven, NY. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Brookhaven, NY and in Phuket?
All in, you'll spend $2,722 per month in Brookhaven, NY versus $1,208 in Phuket – a 125% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Brookhaven, NY or in Phuket?
At $1,208 in Phuket versus $2,722 in Brookhaven, NY, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Brookhaven, NY. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Brookhaven, NY or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Brookhaven, NY, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Brookhaven, NY or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Brookhaven, NY 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 – expenses run 125% less than in Brookhaven, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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