Cost of Living Comparison Between Ellensburg, WA and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Ellensburg, WA and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,369 per month in Ellensburg, WA vs $1,232 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,509 per month in Ellensburg, WA vs $2,054 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,648 per month in Ellensburg, WA vs $2,876 in Phuket, rent included.

Ellensburg, WA costs about 92% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Ellensburg, WA sits 73% above the global median, while Phuket is 10% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.08 $15.08

$4.41 ฿147

241.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$32.26 ฿1,077

213.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.09 $12.09

$8.93 ฿298

35.39%

Cappuccino

$5.45 $5.45

$2.90 ฿96.6

87.93%

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

$1.51 $1.51

$0.88 ฿29.38

71.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.28 $1.28

$0.48 ฿16.06

166.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.92 $4.92

$2.35 ฿78.5

109.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.92 $7.92

$3.72 ฿124

112.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$1.87 ฿62.3

-43.32%

White Bread (500g)

$2.77 $2.77

$1.47 ฿48.94

88.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.98 $4.98

$1.55 ฿51.8

221.29%

Eggs

$4.12 $4.12

$2.10 ฿70.1

96.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.28 $15.28

$19.59 ฿654

-22.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.52 $6.52

$3.42 ฿114

90.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.91 $13.91

$11.38 ฿380

22.23%

Apples (1kg)

$4.83 $4.83

$2.98 ฿99.6

62.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.68 ฿56.2

-14.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.33 $4.33

$2.21 ฿73.7

95.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$2.16 ฿72.1

89.81%

Potato (1kg)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.52 ฿50.9

1.97%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 $2.20

$1.34 ฿44.67

64.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.02 $2.02

$1.13 ฿37.67

78.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.88 $1.88

$0.55 ฿18.24

241.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.91 $9.91

$4.26 ฿142

132.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$19.09 ฿637

-20.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.18 $4.18

$1.78 ฿59.4

134.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.66 $5.66

$2.78 ฿92.9

103.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.23 ฿74.4

-12.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.74 ฿759

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.59 $2.59

$3.03 ฿101

-14.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.02 ฿34.15

67.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.20 $30.20

$3.89 ฿130

676.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.49 ฿49.77

-26.85%

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

$31.7K $31.7K

$26.6K ฿887.3K

19.41%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$27.0K ฿902.2K

-3.76%

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

$148 $148

$102 ฿3,420

44.39%

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

$40.59 $40.59

$11.33 ฿378

258.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.2 $71.2

$17.40 ฿581

309.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.28 $42.28

$52.1 ฿1,738

-18.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.07 ฿370

Cinema Ticket

$16.03 $16.03

$7.69 ฿257

108.45%

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

$1,409 $1,409

$561 ฿18.7K

151.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.5K $31.5K

$11.5K ฿384.1K

173.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$34.65 $34.65

$63.0 ฿2,104

-45.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.57 $35.57

$29.52 ฿986

20.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 $111

$98.0 ฿3,272

13.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.69 $40.69

$88.5 ฿2,954

-54.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 $1,578

$738 ฿24.6K

113.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,271 $1,271

$482 ฿16.1K

163.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,506 $2,506

$2,107 ฿70.3K

18.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,149 $2,149

$1,226 ฿40.9K

75.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,490 $4,490

$3,617 ฿120.7K

24.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,364 $4,364

$2,603 ฿86.9K

67.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,793 $1,793

$494 ฿16.5K

263.18%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

5.57

15.80%

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

Last update for Ellensburg, WA: September 14, 2026

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,578 in Ellensburg, WA versus $738 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 263% higher in Ellensburg, WA, 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 $101 in Ellensburg, WA versus $32.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $368 vs $274 – 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

Ellensburg, WA vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ellensburg, WA costs about 92% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,553 per month in Ellensburg, WA and $1,847 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $101 in Ellensburg, WA and $32.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 34% more in Ellensburg, WA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,232, than in Ellensburg, WA at $2,369. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ellensburg, WA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,232 versus $2,369 in Ellensburg, WA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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