Cost of Living Comparison Between Emporia, KS and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Emporia, KS and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,462 per month in Emporia, KS vs $1,232 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,415 per month in Emporia, KS vs $2,255 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,369 per month in Emporia, KS vs $3,279 in Phuket, rent included.

Emporia, KS costs about 19% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Emporia, KS sits 9% above the global median, while Phuket is 8% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.38 $12.38

$4.63 ฿151

167.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$57.3 $57.3

$46.84 ฿1,532

22.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.72 $9.72

$8.84 ฿289

9.95%

Cappuccino

$4.62 $4.62

$3.00 ฿98.0

54.00%

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

$2.18 $2.18

$0.74 ฿24.25

194.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 $1.59

$0.37 ฿11.95

329.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.14 $5.14

$2.44 ฿79.8

110.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.84 $5.84

$3.61 ฿118

61.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$2.26 ฿73.9

-63.27%

White Bread (500g)

$3.07 $3.07

$1.84 ฿60.1

66.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.24 ฿73.4

-11.61%

Eggs

$2.85 $2.85

$2.32 ฿75.7

22.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.24 $8.24

$19.67 ฿643

-58.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.11 $11.11

$3.65 ฿119

204.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.06 $14.06

$13.10 ฿428

7.33%

Apples (1kg)

$4.85 $4.85

$3.39 ฿111

43.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.64 ฿53.7

-26.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.41 ฿79.0

17.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.03 ฿66.4

39.90%

Potato (1kg)

$1.62 $1.62

$1.56 ฿50.9

3.85%

Onion (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.50 ฿48.94

88.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.89 $1.89

$1.02 ฿33.50

85.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$0.49 ฿16.00

359.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.79 $9.79

$4.45 ฿145

120.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.24 $9.24

$18.88 ฿617

-51.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 $1.78

$1.78 ฿58.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 $3.27

$2.75 ฿90.1

18.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.40 ฿45.81

40.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.48 ฿376

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.70 $6.70

$3.12 ฿102

114.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.21 $1.21

$1.00 ฿32.67

21.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.16 $35.16

$14.09 ฿461

149.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

$1.35 ฿44.19

-42.96%

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

$30.0K $30.0K

$27.2K ฿888.9K

10.51%

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

$24.7K $24.7K

$32.9K ฿1.1M

-24.97%

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

$110 $110

$125 ฿4,087

-12.05%

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

$49.05 $49.05

$13.57 ฿444

261.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.39 $49.39

$18.52 ฿606

166.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.70 $45.70

$61.5 ฿2,010

-25.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.84 ฿551

Cinema Ticket

$12.56 $12.56

$9.19 ฿300

36.67%

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

$1,081 $1,081

$698 ฿22.8K

54.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.1K $23.1K

$15.6K ฿509.9K

48.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.74 $49.74

$57.8 ฿1,889

-13.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.67 $24.67

$35.24 ฿1,152

-29.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.6 $86.6

$113 ฿3,699

-23.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.1 $85.1

$86.4 ฿2,825

-1.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$635 $635

$616 ฿20.1K

3.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$510 $510

$446 ฿14.6K

14.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,084 $2,084

$2,048 ฿67.0K

1.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,155 $1,155

$1,492 ฿48.8K

-22.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,250 $1,250

$3,779 ฿123.6K

-66.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,250 $1,250

$2,649 ฿86.6K

-52.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,576 $5,576

$524 ฿17.1K

964.42%

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 Emporia, KS: April 27, 2026

Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $635 in Emporia, KS versus $616 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 964% higher in Emporia, KS, 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 $57.0 in Emporia, KS versus $47.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $317 vs $292 – 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

Emporia, KS vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Emporia, KS costs about 19% 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 $2,193 per month in Emporia, KS 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 $57.0 in Emporia, KS and $47.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 8% more in Emporia, KS, 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 Emporia, KS at $1,462. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Emporia, KS it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,232 versus $1,462 in Emporia, KS. 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, Emporia, KS makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.