Cost of Living Comparison Between Duluth, MN and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Duluth, MN and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,188 per month in Duluth, MN vs $1,250 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,476 per month in Duluth, MN vs $2,284 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,763 per month in Duluth, MN vs $3,317 in Phuket, rent included.

Duluth, MN costs about 75% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Duluth, MN sits 64% above the global median, while Phuket is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.70 $17.70

$4.55 ฿153

289.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.6 $65.6

$46.18 ฿1,553

41.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.93 $9.93

$8.84 ฿297

12.33%

Cappuccino

$5.52 $5.52

$3.06 ฿103

80.39%

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

$2.70 $2.70

$0.73 ฿24.40

269.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.87 $1.87

$0.40 ฿13.39

367.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.32 $6.32

$2.43 ฿81.8

160.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.98 $6.98

$3.78 ฿127

84.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.91 $0.91

$2.26 ฿76.0

-59.73%

White Bread (500g)

$2.84 $2.84

$1.81 ฿60.9

56.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.69 $3.69

$2.25 ฿75.8

64.00%

Eggs

$4.10 $4.10

$2.25 ฿75.5

82.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.45 $11.45

$19.51 ฿656

-41.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.11 $11.11

$3.65 ฿123

204.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.61 $17.61

$13.05 ฿439

34.94%

Apples (1kg)

$6.27 $6.27

$3.23 ฿109

94.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.48 $1.48

$1.62 ฿54.4

-8.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.63 $7.63

$2.38 ฿80.1

220.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.43 $5.43

$2.03 ฿68.1

167.49%

Potato (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$1.53 ฿51.6

101.96%

Onion (1kg)

$3.73 $3.73

$1.50 ฿50.5

148.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.11 $1.11

$0.98 ฿32.91

13.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 $2.22

$0.52 ฿17.39

326.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.20 $11.20

$4.44 ฿149

152.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.26 $16.26

$18.32 ฿616

-11.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 $1.75

$1.86 ฿62.7

-5.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.93 $3.93

$2.68 ฿90.1

46.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.30 $2.30

$1.41 ฿47.46

63.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.63 $39.63

$11.70 ฿393

238.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.34 $4.34

$3.11 ฿105

39.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.04 ฿35.06

62.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.05 $24.05

$14.11 ฿474

70.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 $0.79

$1.31 ฿44.10

-39.69%

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

$22.4K $22.4K

$27.8K ฿935.4K

-19.44%

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

$23.4K $23.4K

$33.2K ฿1.1M

-29.46%

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

$161 $161

$122 ฿4,118

31.58%

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

$43.34 $43.34

$13.59 ฿457

218.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.6 $69.6

$18.70 ฿629

272.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.5 $62.5

$60.5 ฿2,034

3.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.54 $25.54

$16.98 ฿571

50.41%

Cinema Ticket

$14.43 $14.43

$9.07 ฿305

59.10%

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

$1,036 $1,036

$706 ฿23.8K

46.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.0K $10.0K

$15.8K ฿531.5K

-36.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.0 $64.0

$58.6 ฿1,969

9.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.29 $44.29

$35.36 ฿1,189

25.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 $88.6

$115 ฿3,883

-23.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 $117

$83.7 ฿2,816

39.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,213 $1,213

$626 ฿21.0K

93.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$904 $904

$445 ฿15.0K

103.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,293 $2,293

$2,040 ฿68.6K

12.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,985 $1,985

$1,492 ฿50.2K

33.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,380 $2,380

$3,483 ฿117.1K

-31.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,269 $2,269

$2,577 ฿86.7K

-11.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,779 $3,779

$500 ฿16.8K

656.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.37

5.33

19.51%

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

Last update for Duluth, MN: July 13, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,213 in Duluth, MN versus $626 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 656% higher in Duluth, MN, 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 $66.0 in Duluth, MN versus $46.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $406 vs $289 – 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

Duluth, MN vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Duluth, MN is pricier by about 75%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,283 per month in Duluth, MN and $1,875 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,188 in Duluth, MN and $1,250 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 239% less in Phuket. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,250, than in Duluth, MN at $2,188. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Duluth, MN it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Phuket – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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, Duluth, MN makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.