Cost of Living Comparison Between Durham, NC and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Durham, NC and Phuket

😐 Solo nomad: Durham, NC is 44.5% more expensive than Phuket without rent, and 111.5% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Durham, NC is 27.3% more expensive than Phuket without rent, and 48.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Durham, NC
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.94 $14.94
$4.59 ฿147
225.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$71.4 $71.4
$46.83 ฿1,497
52.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.17 $10.17
$8.70 ฿278
16.90%
Cappuccino
$4.76 $4.76
$2.92 ฿93.5
63.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 $2.24
$0.68 ฿21.86
229.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 $1.83
$0.40 ฿12.66
357.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.14 $5.14
$2.51 ฿80.2
104.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.33 $6.33
$3.80 ฿122
66.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Durham, NC
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.94 $0.94
$2.16 ฿69.1
-56.48%
White Bread (500g)
$3.74 $3.74
$1.88 ฿60.1
98.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.66 $3.66
$2.16 ฿69.0
69.44%
Eggs
$4.54 $4.54
$2.22 ฿71.0
104.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.10 $9.10
$19.57 ฿626
-53.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.23 $12.23
$3.80 ฿122
221.84%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.77 $15.77
$13.41 ฿429
17.60%
Apples (1kg)
$5.49 $5.49
$3.26 ฿104
68.40%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 $1.18
$1.61 ฿51.5
-26.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.74 $3.74
$2.31 ฿73.8
61.90%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.48 $3.48
$2.06 ฿65.8
68.93%
Potato (1kg)
$2.54 $2.54
$1.61 ฿51.3
57.76%
Onion (1kg)
$2.72 $2.72
$1.44 ฿46.13
88.89%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.91 $1.91
$1.03 ฿32.91
85.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.91 $1.91
$0.48 ฿15.34
297.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.05 $10.05
$4.50 ฿144
123.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.72 $14.72
$19.18 ฿613
-23.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 $1.68
$1.82 ฿58.3
-7.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.17 $4.17
$2.69 ฿86.0
55.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Durham, NC
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.04 $2.04
$1.38 ฿44.04
47.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$24.87 $24.87
$11.76 ฿376
111.48%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.96 $1.96
$3.11 ฿99.3
-36.98%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.57 $1.57
$1.00 ฿32.09
57.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$22.51 $22.51
$13.74 ฿439
63.83%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 $0.83
$1.30 ฿41.49
-36.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.4K $28.4K
$27.4K ฿874.5K
3.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K $25.7K
$33.0K ฿1.1M
-22.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Durham, NC
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$158 $158
$125 ฿3,993
26.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$54.3 $54.3
$13.74 ฿439
294.83%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$76.4 $76.4
$18.61 ฿595
310.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Durham, NC
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.78 $39.78
$60.6 ฿1,936
-34.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.15 ฿548
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.08 $12.08
$9.01 ฿288
34.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Durham, NC
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,300 $1,300
$698 ฿22.3K
86.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.1K $31.1K
$16.1K ฿515.1K
93.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Durham, NC
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.5 $52.5
$59.2 ฿1,893
-11.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.10 $35.10
$34.86 ฿1,115
0.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.5 $78.5
$114 ฿3,651
-31.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 $119
$85.8 ฿2,743
39.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Durham, NC
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,846 $1,846
$619 ฿19.8K
198.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,418 $1,418
$437 ฿14.0K
224.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,575 $2,575
$2,075 ฿66.3K
24.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,358 $2,358
$1,509 ฿48.2K
56.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,661 $2,661
$3,764 ฿120.3K
-29.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,673 $2,673
$2,694 ฿86.1K
-0.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Durham, NC
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,493 $4,493
$528 ฿16.9K
750.29%
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 Durham, NC: April 11, 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

Durham, NC vs other spots: cost of living compared

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