Cost of Living Comparison Between Edison, NJ and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Edison, NJ and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,336 in Edison, NJ versus $1,250 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,744 in Edison, NJ versus $2,284 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,152 in Edison, NJ versus $3,317 in Phuket.

Living in Edison, NJ is roughly 167% more expensive than in Phuket, driven mainly by Getting Around.

The two cities straddle the global median: Edison, NJ is 150% above, Phuket is 6% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.67 $19.67

$4.55 ฿153

332.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.6 $81.6

$46.18 ฿1,553

76.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.28 $12.28

$8.84 ฿297

38.91%

Cappuccino

$5.35 $5.35

$3.06 ฿103

74.84%

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

$2.53 $2.53

$0.73 ฿24.40

246.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 $2.01

$0.40 ฿13.39

402.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.89 $7.89

$2.43 ฿81.8

224.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.94 $7.94

$3.78 ฿127

110.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$2.26 ฿76.0

-47.35%

White Bread (500g)

$3.99 $3.99

$1.81 ฿60.9

120.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.32 $6.32

$2.25 ฿75.8

180.89%

Eggs

$4.16 $4.16

$2.25 ฿75.5

84.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.64 $13.64

$19.51 ฿656

-30.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.57 $12.57

$3.65 ฿123

244.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.83 $14.83

$13.05 ฿439

13.64%

Apples (1kg)

$6.44 $6.44

$3.23 ฿109

99.38%

Banana (1kg)

$2.52 $2.52

$1.62 ฿54.4

55.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.28 $5.28

$2.38 ฿80.1

121.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.13 $6.13

$2.03 ฿68.1

201.97%

Potato (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$1.53 ฿51.6

191.50%

Onion (1kg)

$4.54 $4.54

$1.50 ฿50.5

202.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.58 $2.58

$0.98 ฿32.91

163.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$0.52 ฿17.39

355.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.98 $10.98

$4.44 ฿149

147.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.77 $14.77

$18.32 ฿616

-19.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.86 ฿62.7

-8.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.65 $3.65

$2.68 ฿90.1

36.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$6.03 $6.03

$1.41 ฿47.46

327.66%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$204 $204

$11.70 ฿393

1643.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.91 $2.91

$3.11 ฿105

-6.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.89 $0.89

$1.04 ฿35.06

-14.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.43 $41.43

$14.11 ฿474

193.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 $0.85

$1.31 ฿44.10

-35.11%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$27.8K ฿935.4K

-7.48%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$33.2K ฿1.1M

-20.80%

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

$177 $177

$122 ฿4,118

44.19%

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

$60.1 $60.1

$13.59 ฿457

342.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.0 $68.0

$18.70 ฿629

263.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.17 $22.17

$60.5 ฿2,034

-63.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.98 ฿571

Cinema Ticket

$14.88 $14.88

$9.07 ฿305

64.06%

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

$1,841 $1,841

$706 ฿23.8K

160.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K $14.6K

$15.8K ฿531.5K

-7.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.4 $61.4

$58.6 ฿1,969

4.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.9 $54.9

$35.36 ฿1,189

55.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$112 $112

$115 ฿3,883

-3.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$130 $130

$83.7 ฿2,816

54.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,124 $2,124

$626 ฿21.0K

239.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,786 $1,786

$445 ฿15.0K

301.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,143 $3,143

$2,040 ฿68.6K

54.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,756 $2,756

$1,492 ฿50.2K

84.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,483 ฿117.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,577 ฿86.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,887 $6,887

$500 ฿16.8K

1277.73%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.55

5.33

22.89%

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

Last update for Edison, NJ: July 14, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,124 in Edison, NJ and $626 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Edison, NJ pays 1278% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $82.0 in Edison, NJ vs $46.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $448 vs $289 per month, with Phuket cheaper across the board.

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

Edison, NJ vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Edison, NJ and Phuket differ by about 167% in total monthly costs ($3,336 vs $1,250 including rent). Phuket is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 1278% higher in Edison, NJ, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,124 in Edison, NJ versus $626 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Phuket runs roughly 1643% less than in Edison, NJ. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $1,841 in Edison, NJ versus $706 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,250 in Phuket versus $3,336 in Edison, NJ, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Edison, NJ. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Edison, NJ and Phuket are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 167% less than in Edison, NJ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.