Cost of Living Comparison Between Camden, NJ and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Camden, NJ and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,652 in Camden, NJ versus $1,232 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,896 in Camden, NJ versus $2,054 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,140 in Camden, NJ versus $2,876 in Phuket.

Living in Camden, NJ is roughly 115% more expensive than in Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Camden, NJ is 94% above, Phuket is 10% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Camden, NJ
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.39 $20.39
$4.41 ฿147
362.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.4 $80.4
$32.26 ฿1,074
149.23%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.10 $12.10
$8.93 ฿297
35.50%
Cappuccino
$5.34 $5.34
$2.90 ฿96.4
84.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55 $2.55
$0.88 ฿29.30
189.77%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01 $2.01
$0.48 ฿16.01
318.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.13 $6.13
$2.35 ฿78.3
160.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.93 $7.93
$3.72 ฿124
113.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Camden, NJ
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 $1.43
$1.87 ฿62.1
-23.53%
White Bread (500g)
$4.37 $4.37
$1.47 ฿48.81
197.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$7.17 $7.17
$1.55 ฿51.7
362.58%
Eggs
$5.09 $5.09
$2.10 ฿70.0
142.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.23 $12.23
$19.59 ฿652
-37.57%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.11 $13.11
$3.42 ฿114
283.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.91 $17.91
$11.38 ฿379
57.38%
Apples (1kg)
$5.90 $5.90
$2.98 ฿99.3
97.99%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 $1.70
$1.68 ฿56.1
1.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.26 $5.26
$2.21 ฿73.5
138.01%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.27 $5.27
$2.16 ฿72.0
143.98%
Potato (1kg)
$2.85 $2.85
$1.52 ฿50.8
87.50%
Onion (1kg)
$3.03 $3.03
$1.34 ฿44.55
126.12%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.13 ฿37.57
115.04%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.39 $2.39
$0.55 ฿18.19
334.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.81 $12.81
$4.26 ฿142
200.70%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.01 $15.01
$19.09 ฿635
-21.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.29 $2.29
$1.78 ฿59.2
28.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.28 $3.28
$2.78 ฿92.6
17.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Camden, NJ
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.87 $1.87
$2.23 ฿74.2
-16.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$22.74 ฿757
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.68 $2.68
$3.03 ฿101
-11.55%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.53 $1.53
$1.02 ฿34.06
50.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$23.74 $23.74
$3.89 ฿130
510.28%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 $1.16
$1.49 ฿49.63
-22.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K $35.3K
$26.6K ฿884.9K
32.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.0K $25.0K
$27.0K ฿899.8K
-7.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Camden, NJ
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$215 $215
$102 ฿3,411
110.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$54.8 $54.8
$11.33 ฿377
383.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.8 $62.8
$17.40 ฿579
260.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Camden, NJ
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.82 $40.82
$52.1 ฿1,734
-21.62%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$11.07 ฿369
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.72 $15.72
$7.69 ฿256
104.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Camden, NJ
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,204 $2,204
$561 ฿18.7K
293.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$34.8K $34.8K
$11.5K ฿383.0K
202.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Camden, NJ
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.54 $48.54
$63.0 ฿2,098
-22.99%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.52 $46.52
$29.52 ฿983
57.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 $102
$98.0 ฿3,263
3.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 $119
$88.5 ฿2,946
34.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Camden, NJ
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,494 $1,494
$738 ฿24.6K
102.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,149 $1,149
$482 ฿16.1K
138.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,141 $2,141
$2,107 ฿70.1K
1.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,372 $2,372
$1,226 ฿40.8K
93.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,584 $2,584
$3,617 ฿120.4K
-28.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,213 $2,213
$2,603 ฿86.7K
-14.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Camden, NJ
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$494 ฿16.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.16
5.57
10.59%

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

Last update for Camden, NJ: September 15, 2026

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,494 in Camden, NJ and $738 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $80.0 in Camden, NJ vs $32.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $451 vs $274 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
Camden, NJ vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Camden, NJ and in Phuket?
Camden, NJ and Phuket differ by about 115% in total monthly costs ($2,652 vs $1,232 including rent). Phuket is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Camden, NJ compared to Phuket?
You'd need roughly $3,979 in Camden, NJ and $1,847 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 do apartment prices compare in Camden, NJ and in Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,494 in Camden, NJ versus $738 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 65% higher in Camden, NJ. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Camden, NJ or Phuket?
All in, you'll spend $2,652 per month in Camden, NJ versus $1,232 in Phuket – a 115% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,232 in Phuket versus $2,652 in Camden, NJ, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Camden, NJ. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Camden, NJ and Phuket?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Camden, NJ or Phuket safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Camden, 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.
Where should expats move: Camden, NJ or Phuket?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 115% less than in Camden, NJ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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