Cost of Living Comparison Between Carmel, IN and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Carmel, IN and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,564 per month in Carmel, IN vs $1,264 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,653 per month in Carmel, IN vs $2,256 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,742 per month in Carmel, IN vs $3,248 in Phuket, rent included.

Carmel, IN costs about 103% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Carmel, IN sits 93% above the global median, while Phuket is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.67 $24.67

$4.48 ฿150

450.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.9 $75.9

$45.59 ฿1,521

66.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.20 $11.20

$8.76 ฿292

27.85%

Cappuccino

$4.87 $4.87

$2.97 ฿99.0

63.97%

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

$2.69 $2.69

$0.69 ฿22.90

289.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 $2.03

$0.39 ฿13.04

420.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.16 $6.16

$2.53 ฿84.4

143.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.53 $6.53

$3.75 ฿125

74.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

$2.15 ฿71.6

-64.19%

White Bread (500g)

$2.65 $2.65

$1.82 ฿60.6

45.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.73 $4.73

$2.18 ฿72.9

116.97%

Eggs

$3.58 $3.58

$2.25 ฿75.0

59.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.82 $9.82

$20.00 ฿667

-50.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.04 $11.04

$3.63 ฿121

204.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.39 $14.39

$13.56 ฿452

6.12%

Apples (1kg)

$5.26 $5.26

$3.24 ฿108

62.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.64 ฿54.6

-3.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.66 $4.66

$2.33 ฿77.8

100.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$2.07 ฿69.1

98.07%

Potato (1kg)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.55 ฿51.6

58.06%

Onion (1kg)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.46 ฿48.54

76.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.78 $1.78

$0.98 ฿32.86

81.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 $2.07

$0.48 ฿16.09

331.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.78 $8.78

$4.35 ฿145

101.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.24 $15.24

$18.57 ฿620

-17.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.13 $2.13

$1.86 ฿61.9

14.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 $3.92

$2.65 ฿88.6

47.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.38 $2.38

$1.42 ฿47.28

67.61%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.57 ฿386

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.94 $1.94

$3.17 ฿106

-38.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.03 ฿34.41

39.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.64 $33.64

$13.89 ฿463

142.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$1.34 ฿44.84

-35.82%

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

$25.2K $25.2K

$27.8K ฿927.1K

-9.33%

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

$22.6K $22.6K

$33.4K ฿1.1M

-32.41%

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

$241 $241

$123 ฿4,105

95.82%

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

$64.4 $64.4

$13.77 ฿459

367.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$18.33 ฿611

255.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$70.0 $70.0

$60.7 ฿2,025

15.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$31.90 $31.90

$17.16 ฿573

85.90%

Cinema Ticket

$12.64 $12.64

$8.87 ฿296

42.50%

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

$1,779 $1,779

$688 ฿22.9K

158.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$27.7K $27.7K

$15.8K ฿526.4K

75.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.10 $48.10

$59.3 ฿1,978

-18.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.55 $41.55

$34.69 ฿1,157

19.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.7 $85.7

$115 ฿3,843

-25.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 $107

$83.8 ฿2,794

27.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,509 $1,509

$621 ฿20.7K

142.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,237 $1,237

$446 ฿14.9K

177.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,525 $2,525

$2,034 ฿67.8K

24.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,948 $1,948

$1,496 ฿49.9K

30.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,853 $1,853

$3,455 ฿115.3K

-46.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,780 $1,780

$2,531 ฿84.4K

-29.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,129 $6,129

$494 ฿16.5K

1141.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.56

5.33

23.08%

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

Last update for Carmel, IN: July 26, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,509 in Carmel, IN versus $621 in Phuket. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 1142% higher in Carmel, IN, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $76.0 in Carmel, IN versus $46.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $364 vs $291 – 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

Carmel, IN vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,564 in Carmel, IN, $1,264 in Phuket – roughly 103% apart. Carmel, IN costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,847 per month in Carmel, IN and $1,896 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 $76.0 in Carmel, IN and $46.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 25% more in Carmel, IN, 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 $1,264, than in Carmel, IN at $2,564. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Carmel, IN 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 $1,264 in Phuket to $2,564 in Carmel, IN. 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, Carmel, IN makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.