Cost of Living Comparison Between Columbia, SC and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Columbia, SC and Phuket

😐 Solo nomad: Columbia, SC is 48.5% more expensive than Phuket without rent, and 74.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Columbia, SC is 47.1% more expensive than Phuket without rent, and 19.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Columbia, SC
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.21 $18.21
$4.68 ฿151
289.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.5 $60.5
$46.4 ฿1,502
30.30%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.9 $11.9
$8.65 ฿280
37.57%
Cappuccino
$3.82 $3.82
$3.09 ฿100
23.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 $2.37
$0.73 ฿23.53
224.66%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 $1.86
$0.37 ฿11.95
402.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.41 $4.41
$2.39 ฿77.4
84.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.6 $5.6
$3.62 ฿117
54.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Columbia, SC
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.87 $0.87
$2.24 ฿72.5
-61.16%
White Bread (500g)
$2.61 $2.61
$1.8 ฿58.2
45.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.64 $3.64
$2.24 ฿72.3
62.50%
Eggs
$4.26 $4.26
$2.23 ฿72.1
91.03%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.39 $9.39
$19.31 ฿625
-51.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.99 $12.99
$3.77 ฿122
244.56%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.61 $22.61
$13.05 ฿422
73.26%
Apples (1kg)
$5.21 $5.21
$3.28 ฿106
58.84%
Banana (1kg)
$1.84 $1.84
$1.63 ฿52.6
12.88%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.27 $5.27
$2.4 ฿77.7
119.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.27 $3.27
$1.99 ฿64.3
64.32%
Potato (1kg)
$3.19 $3.19
$1.53 ฿49.62
108.50%
Onion (1kg)
$4.63 $4.63
$1.49 ฿48.11
210.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.99 $1.99
$1.02 ฿32.87
95.10%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.89 $1.89
$0.48 ฿15.61
293.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.53 $8.53
$4.32 ฿140
97.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.84 $14.84
$21.68 ฿702
-31.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.02 $2.02
$1.77 ฿57.3
14.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64 $2.64
$2.79 ฿90.4
-5.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Columbia, SC
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.96 $1.96
$1.35 ฿43.74
45.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.68 $40.68
$11.76 ฿380
245.92%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.03 $2.03
$3.15 ฿102
-35.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.52 $1.52
$1 ฿32.3
52.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.06 $18.06
$13.64 ฿442
32.40%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.76 $0.76
$1.3 ฿42.2
-41.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4K $30.4K
$27.4K ฿885.2K
11.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6K $25.6K
$33.9K ฿1.1M
-24.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Columbia, SC
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$218 $218
$123 ฿3,970
78.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.7 $53.7
$13.93 ฿451
285.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.2 $60.2
$18.24 ฿590
230.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Columbia, SC
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.01 $40.01
$60.8 ฿1,966
-34.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.01 $7.01
$17.11 ฿554
-59.03%
Cinema Ticket
$15.19 $15.19
$9.07 ฿294
67.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Columbia, SC
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,431 $1,431
$694 ฿22.5K
106.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.3K $22.3K
$15.9K ฿514.4K
40.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Columbia, SC
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7 $56.7
$57.5 ฿1,861
-1.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.31 $35.31
$34.51 ฿1,117
2.32%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.3 $80.3
$115 ฿3,727
-30.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116 $116
$84.8 ฿2,743
36.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Columbia, SC
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,306 $1,306
$611 ฿19.8K
113.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$904 $904
$442 ฿14.3K
104.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,200 $2,200
$2,014 ฿65.2K
9.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,290 $1,290
$1,460 ฿47.2K
-11.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,827 $1,827
$4,244 ฿137.3K
-56.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,750 $1,750
$2,886 ฿93.4K
-39.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Columbia, SC
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,526 $3,526
$697 ฿22.5K
406.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.54
5.33
22.70%

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

Last update for Columbia, SC: October 29, 2025

Last update for Phuket: October 29, 2025

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