Cost of Living Comparison Between Cleveland, TN and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Cleveland, TN and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,265 in Cleveland, TN versus $1,261 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,432 in Cleveland, TN versus $2,276 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,599 in Cleveland, TN versus $3,291 in Phuket.

Living in Cleveland, TN is roughly 80% more expensive than in Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Cleveland, TN is 70% above, Phuket is 6% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cleveland, TN
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.74 $14.74
$4.53 ฿153
225.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.42 $39.42
$46.36 ฿1,565
-14.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.06 $10.06
$8.65 ฿292
16.30%
Cappuccino
$4.74 $4.74
$3.09 ฿104
53.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02 $2.02
$0.68 ฿22.89
197.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66 $1.66
$0.37 ฿12.44
348.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.06 $6.06
$2.42 ฿81.6
150.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.88 $6.88
$3.81 ฿129
80.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cleveland, TN
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.89 $0.89
$2.18 ฿73.5
-59.17%
White Bread (500g)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.82 ฿61.3
32.97%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.71 $2.71
$2.18 ฿73.5
24.31%
Eggs
$2.46 $2.46
$2.24 ฿75.4
9.82%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.72 $9.72
$19.93 ฿673
-51.23%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.57 $7.57
$3.64 ฿123
107.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.01 $12.01
$13.56 ฿458
-11.43%
Apples (1kg)
$5.07 $5.07
$3.29 ฿111
54.10%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 $1.59
$1.69 ฿56.9
-5.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.62 $3.62
$2.33 ฿78.8
55.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.94 $3.94
$2.03 ฿68.4
94.09%
Potato (1kg)
$3.04 $3.04
$1.60 ฿54.0
90.00%
Onion (1kg)
$2.02 $2.02
$1.49 ฿50.5
35.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.18 $2.18
$1.01 ฿34.17
115.84%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.51 $1.51
$0.48 ฿16.09
214.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.42 $5.42
$4.45 ฿150
21.80%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.94 $13.94
$18.63 ฿629
-25.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 $1.72
$1.79 ฿60.3
-3.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.71 $4.71
$2.80 ฿94.4
68.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Cleveland, TN
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.03 $2.03
$1.42 ฿47.90
42.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$11.33 ฿382
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.96 $4.96
$3.09 ฿104
60.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.58 $1.58
$1.04 ฿35.19
51.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.74 $17.74
$13.63 ฿460
30.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.76 $0.76
$1.31 ฿44.23
-41.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$27.3K ฿920.7K
-3.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K $26.6K
$33.2K ฿1.1M
-19.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cleveland, TN
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$181 $181
$123 ฿4,157
46.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.3 $51.3
$13.81 ฿466
271.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.8 $66.8
$18.52 ฿625
260.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cleveland, TN
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.06 $43.06
$60.4 ฿2,037
-28.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.80 ฿567
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.33 $9.33
$8.89 ฿300
4.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cleveland, TN
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$984 $984
$687 ฿23.2K
43.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,263 $8,263
$15.6K ฿524.8K
-46.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cleveland, TN
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.45 $42.45
$57.6 ฿1,945
-26.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.13 $36.13
$34.66 ฿1,170
4.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.3 $80.3
$115 ฿3,879
-30.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.3 $94.3
$84.9 ฿2,865
11.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cleveland, TN
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,619 $1,619
$618 ฿20.8K
162.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,227 $1,227
$443 ฿15.0K
177.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,732 $2,732
$2,047 ฿69.1K
33.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,496 $2,496
$1,506 ฿50.8K
65.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,216 $2,216
$3,568 ฿120.4K
-37.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,196 $2,196
$2,511 ฿84.7K
-12.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cleveland, TN
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,736 $3,736
$503 ฿17.0K
643.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6
5.33
12.57%

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

Last update for Cleveland, TN: July 20, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,619 in Cleveland, TN and $618 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cleveland, TN pays 643% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $39.00 in Cleveland, TN vs $46.00 in Phuket. Groceries flip the comparison at $312 vs $292, with Phuket cheaper for home cooking.

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
Cleveland, TN vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Cleveland, TN or Phuket?
Phuket wins on cost – living expenses run 80% lower than in Cleveland, TN. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Phuket the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Cleveland, TN or in Phuket?
Average pay runs 643% higher in Cleveland, TN, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Cleveland, TN compared to Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,619 in Cleveland, TN versus $618 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Cleveland, TN or in Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 7% higher in Cleveland, TN. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Cleveland, TN compared to Phuket?
All in, you'll spend $2,265 per month in Cleveland, TN versus $1,261 in Phuket – a 80% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Cleveland, TN or in Phuket?
At $1,261 in Phuket versus $2,265 in Cleveland, TN, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Cleveland, TN. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Cleveland, TN or Phuket?
Both work as nomad bases, but Phuket delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,261 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Phuket hard to pass up.
How safe is Cleveland, TN compared to Phuket?
Safety-wise, Cleveland, TN 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 80% less than in Cleveland, TN. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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