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

😐 Solo nomad: Columbia, SC is 50.1% more expensive than Phuket without rent, and 73.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Columbia, SC is 47.9% more expensive than Phuket without rent, and 21.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Columbia, SC
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.68 $17.68
$4.59 ฿147
285.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.3 $60.3
$46.83 ฿1,497
28.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.87 $11.87
$8.70 ฿278
36.44%
Cappuccino
$3.80 $3.80
$2.92 ฿93.5
30.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40 $2.40
$0.68 ฿21.86
252.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88 $1.88
$0.40 ฿12.66
370.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.46 $4.46
$2.51 ฿80.2
77.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.56 $5.56
$3.80 ฿122
46.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Columbia, SC
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.93 $0.93
$2.16 ฿69.1
-56.94%
White Bread (500g)
$2.68 $2.68
$1.88 ฿60.1
42.55%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.55 $3.55
$2.16 ฿69.0
64.35%
Eggs
$4.32 $4.32
$2.22 ฿71.0
94.59%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.70 $9.70
$19.57 ฿626
-50.43%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.77 $12.77
$3.80 ฿122
236.05%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.27 $22.27
$13.41 ฿429
66.07%
Apples (1kg)
$5.19 $5.19
$3.26 ฿104
59.20%
Banana (1kg)
$1.77 $1.77
$1.61 ฿51.5
9.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.15 $5.15
$2.31 ฿73.8
122.94%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.15 $3.15
$2.06 ฿65.8
52.91%
Potato (1kg)
$3.32 $3.32
$1.61 ฿51.3
106.21%
Onion (1kg)
$4.72 $4.72
$1.44 ฿46.13
227.78%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.94 $1.94
$1.03 ฿32.91
88.35%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.87 $1.87
$0.48 ฿15.34
289.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.88 $8.88
$4.50 ฿144
97.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.02 $15.02
$19.18 ฿613
-21.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.02 $2.02
$1.82 ฿58.3
10.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 $2.67
$2.69 ฿86.0
-0.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Columbia, SC
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.99 $1.99
$1.38 ฿44.04
44.20%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$39.59 $39.59
$11.76 ฿376
236.65%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.01 $2.01
$3.11 ฿99.3
-35.37%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.52 $1.52
$1.00 ฿32.09
52.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.80 $17.80
$13.74 ฿439
29.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.76 $0.76
$1.30 ฿41.49
-41.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.9K $29.9K
$27.4K ฿874.5K
9.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.3K $25.3K
$33.0K ฿1.1M
-23.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Columbia, SC
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$225 $225
$125 ฿3,993
80.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$55.1 $55.1
$13.74 ฿439
301.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.7 $59.7
$18.61 ฿595
220.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Columbia, SC
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.09 $40.09
$60.6 ฿1,936
-33.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.12 $7.12
$17.15 ฿548
-58.48%
Cinema Ticket
$15.27 $15.27
$9.01 ฿288
69.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Columbia, SC
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,472 $1,472
$698 ฿22.3K
111.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.4K $22.4K
$16.1K ฿515.1K
39.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Columbia, SC
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.7 $55.7
$59.2 ฿1,893
-5.89%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.37 $35.37
$34.86 ฿1,115
1.46%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.3 $79.3
$114 ฿3,651
-30.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 $111
$85.8 ฿2,743
29.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Columbia, SC
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,283 $1,283
$619 ฿19.8K
107.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$917 $917
$437 ฿14.0K
109.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,180 $2,180
$2,075 ฿66.3K
5.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,303 $1,303
$1,509 ฿48.2K
-13.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,084 $2,084
$3,764 ฿120.3K
-44.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,687 $1,687
$2,694 ฿86.1K
-37.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Columbia, SC
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,225 $3,225
$528 ฿16.9K
510.25%
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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Phuket: April 13, 2026

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

Columbia, SC vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities