Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Duluth, MN and Phuket

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,278 a month against $2,214 in Duluth, MN, rent and utilities included – about $11,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Duluth, MN, United States
Phuket, Thailand
Duluth, MN
🇺🇸 United States
$2,214
/mo nomad
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,278
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Duluth, MN and in Phuket

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Duluth, MN and in Phuket actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,214 per month in Duluth, MN vs $1,278 in Phuket, rent included.

  • Duluth, MN $2,214
  • Phuket $1,278

A couple spends around $3,542 per month in Duluth, MN vs $2,216 in Phuket, rent included.

  • Duluth, MN $3,542
  • Phuket $2,216

A family of three spends $4,870 per month in Duluth, MN vs $3,154 in Phuket, rent included.

  • Duluth, MN $4,870
  • Phuket $3,154

Duluth, MN costs about 73% more than Phuket, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Duluth, MN sits 63% above the global median, while Phuket is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Duluth, MN
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.10 $20.10
$4.47 ฿151
349.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$66.4 $66.4
$32.41 ฿1,094
104.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.87 $9.87
$8.81 ฿297
12.03%
Cappuccino
$5.32 $5.32
$2.83 ฿95.4
87.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57 $2.57
$0.87 ฿29.42
195.40%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90 $1.90
$0.49 ฿16.66
287.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.59 $6.59
$2.56 ฿86.3
157.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.97 $7.97
$3.68 ฿124
116.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Duluth, MN
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.84 $0.84
$1.66 ฿56.0
-49.40%
White Bread (500g)
$2.97 $2.97
$1.46 ฿49.32
103.42%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.80 $3.80
$1.50 ฿50.5
153.33%
Eggs
$3.63 $3.63
$2.09 ฿70.5
73.68%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.37 $10.37
$19.07 ฿643
-45.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.13 $10.13
$3.30 ฿111
206.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.40 $19.40
$10.91 ฿368
77.82%
Apples (1kg)
$5.22 $5.22
$2.93 ฿98.9
78.16%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 $1.55
$1.69 ฿57.0
-8.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.79 $2.79
$2.25 ฿75.8
24.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$2.08 ฿70.1
112.02%
Potato (1kg)
$1.09 $1.09
$1.51 ฿51.0
-27.81%
Onion (1kg)
$2.20 $2.20
$1.38 ฿46.54
59.42%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.11 $1.11
$1.07 ฿35.97
3.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.40 $1.40
$0.52 ฿17.51
169.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.11 $13.11
$4.20 ฿142
212.14%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.23 $16.23
$18.79 ฿634
-13.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 $1.77
$1.82 ฿61.5
-2.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79 $2.79
$2.84 ฿95.9
-1.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Duluth, MN
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.93 $1.93
$1.45 ฿49.00
33.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$39.81 $39.81
$56.7 ฿1,912
-29.74%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.14 $5.14
$3.02 ฿102
70.20%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.53 $1.53
$1.02 ฿34.34
50.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.18 $24.18
$3.69 ฿125
555.28%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.90 $0.90
$1.47 ฿49.78
-38.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8K $22.8K
$26.8K ฿903.7K
-14.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5K $23.5K
$26.7K ฿900.8K
-12.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Duluth, MN
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$180 $180
$96.4 ฿3,252
86.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$43.17 $43.17
$11.26 ฿380
283.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.5 $67.5
$16.85 ฿569
300.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Duluth, MN
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$63.4 $63.4
$67.2 ฿2,269
-5.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.84 $25.84
$10.73 ฿362
140.82%
Cinema Ticket
$11.55 $11.55
$7.50 ฿253
54.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Duluth, MN
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,032 $1,032
$476 ฿16.1K
116.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,973 $9,973
$11.3K ฿380.1K
-11.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Duluth, MN
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8 $57.8
$62.4 ฿2,105
-7.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.26 $44.26
$28.41 ฿959
55.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.8 $98.8
$94.3 ฿3,182
4.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.3 $86.3
$85.8 ฿2,896
0.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Duluth, MN
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,283 $1,283
$716 ฿24.2K
79.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$974 $974
$491 ฿16.6K
98.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,304 $2,304
$1,927 ฿65.0K
19.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,132 $2,132
$1,431 ฿48.3K
49.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,231 $2,231
$4,175 ฿140.9K
-46.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,161 $2,161
$3,045 ฿102.8K
-29.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Duluth, MN
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,747 $3,747
$502 ฿17.0K
645.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.19
5.57
11.13%

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

Last update for Duluth, MN: October 26, 2026

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Duluth, MN
$974
Phuket
$491 49.6% $483
Groceries & Markets
Duluth, MN
$352
Phuket
$266 24.4% $86
Eating Out
Duluth, MN
$321
Phuket
$122 62.1% $199
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Duluth, MN
$291
Phuket
$124 57.2% $166
Clothing & Footwear
Duluth, MN
$129
Phuket
$122 5.7% $7.4
Sport & Entertainment
Duluth, MN
$86
Phuket
$82 4.9% $4.2
Getting Around
Duluth, MN
$60
Phuket
$71 17% $10

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,283 in Duluth, MN versus $716 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 in Duluth, MN are about 7.5 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $66 in Duluth, MN versus $32 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $352 vs $266 – making Phuket the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Duluth, MN
🇹🇭 Phuket
🕒 Local time
01:01 1:01 AM
14:01 2:01 PM
13 h ahead of Duluth, MN
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
86,265
79,308
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.896 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.75 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.68 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Duluth, MN Phuket 13,850 km ≈ 18 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Duluth, MN
  • Phuket

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Is Phuket cheaper than Duluth, MN?
Yes – Duluth, MN is pricier by about 73%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,321 per month in Duluth, MN and $1,917 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $716 there versus $1,283 in Duluth, MN.
What are total monthly expenses in Duluth, MN and in Phuket?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,214 in Duluth, MN and $1,278 in Phuket. That makes Phuket about 42% cheaper.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 30% less in Duluth, MN. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Duluth, MN or in Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,278, than in Duluth, MN at $2,214. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Duluth, MN it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Duluth, MN or Phuket more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Duluth, MN makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Duluth, MN vs other spots: cost of living compared

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