ðA single person spends $2,657 per month in Crookston, MN vs $1,270 in Phuket, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $3,907 per month in Crookston, MN vs $2,304 in Phuket, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $5,157 per month in Crookston, MN vs $3,339 in Phuket, rent included.
ðCrookston, MN costs about 109% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðCrookston, MN sits 98% above the global median, while Phuket is 5% below â they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Crookston, MN
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.85$18.85
$4.66āļŋ150
304.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.2$74.2
$46.44āļŋ1,496
59.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.19$11.19
$8.68āļŋ280
28.92%
Cappuccino
$4.99$4.99
$2.95āļŋ95.0
69.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59$2.59
$0.70āļŋ22.52
270.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95$1.95
$0.39āļŋ12.70
400.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.94$5.94
$2.53āļŋ81.6
134.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.18$7.18
$3.78āļŋ122
89.95%
ð Groceries & Markets
Crookston, MN
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05$1.05
$2.22āļŋ71.5
-52.70%
White Bread(500g)
$3.41$3.41
$1.80āļŋ57.8
89.44%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.44$4.44
$2.19āļŋ70.4
102.74%
Eggs
$4.24$4.24
$2.31āļŋ74.5
83.55%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.31$12.31
$19.34āļŋ623
-36.35%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.72$11.72
$3.77āļŋ121
210.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.18$15.18
$13.22āļŋ426
14.83%
Apples(1kg)
$4.93$4.93
$3.33āļŋ107
48.05%
Banana(1kg)
$1.63$1.63
$1.65āļŋ53.1
-1.21%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.21$4.21
$2.29āļŋ73.7
83.84%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.64$4.64
$1.99āļŋ64.1
133.17%
Potato(1kg)
$2.89$2.89
$1.53āļŋ49.24
88.89%
Onion(1kg)
$2.82$2.82
$1.51āļŋ48.77
86.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.11$2.11
$1.03āļŋ33.12
104.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.18$2.18
$0.51āļŋ16.57
327.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.75$9.75
$4.41āļŋ142
121.09%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.19$15.19
$19.41āļŋ625
-21.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84$1.84
$1.80āļŋ58.0
2.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26$3.26
$2.68āļŋ86.4
21.64%
ð Getting Around
Crookston, MN
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.94$1.94
$1.43āļŋ46.11
35.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$87.9$87.9
$11.70āļŋ377
651.54%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.45$3.45
$3.04āļŋ97.9
13.49%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.57$1.57
$1.04āļŋ33.37
50.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.22$29.22
$13.68āļŋ441
113.60%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.83$0.83
$1.30āļŋ41.85
-36.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K$29.7K
$27.9Kāļŋ898.9K
6.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0K$26.0K
$33.0Kāļŋ1.1M
-21.35%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Crookston, MN
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188$188
$123āļŋ3,962
53.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.8$51.8
$13.82āļŋ445
274.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.5$68.5
$18.86āļŋ608
263.26%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Crookston, MN
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.40$43.40
$61.2āļŋ1,970
-29.03%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.81āļŋ541
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.62$13.62
$8.87āļŋ286
53.55%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Crookston, MN
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,272$1,272
$696āļŋ22.4K
82.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.3K$23.3K
$16.1Kāļŋ517.4K
45.31%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Crookston, MN
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.6$50.6
$59.3āļŋ1,910
-14.66%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.04$40.04
$34.85āļŋ1,123
14.89%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.8$87.8
$113āļŋ3,646
-22.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111$111
$85.1āļŋ2,740
30.14%
ð Accommodation & Living
Crookston, MN
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,603$1,603
$615āļŋ19.8K
160.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,376$1,376
$448āļŋ14.4K
206.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,679$2,679
$2,085āļŋ67.2K
28.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,262$2,262
$1,496āļŋ48.2K
51.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,458$2,458
$3,734āļŋ120.3K
-34.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,372$2,372
$2,662āļŋ85.8K
-10.88%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Crookston, MN
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,432$3,432
$534āļŋ17.2K
543.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.51
5.33
22.14%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Crookston, MN: April 20, 2026
Last update for Phuket: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $1,603 in Crookston, MN versus $615 in Phuket. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
ð°Salaries run about 543% higher in Crookston, MN, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
ðA mid-range dinner for two costs $74 in Crookston, MN versus $46 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $390 vs $291 â 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
Crookston, MN vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Crookston, MN or Phuket?
Crookston, MN costs about 109% more than Phuket, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Crookston, MN vs Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,985 per month in Crookston, MN and $1,904 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Crookston, MN or Phuket?
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.
How expensive is transport in Crookston, MN vs Phuket?
Public transport costs about 652% less in Phuket. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Crookston, MN and Phuket?
Kindergarten costs $1,272 per month in Crookston, MN and $696 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Crookston, MN or Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,270, than in Crookston, MN at $2,657. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Crookston, MN it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Crookston, MN or Phuket?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,270 versus $2,657 in Crookston, MN. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Crookston, MN compared to Phuket?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison â central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Crookston, MN or Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Crookston, MN makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Crookston, MN vs other spots: cost of living compared