πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $3,222 in Farmington, NM versus $1,261 in Phuket.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $4,522 in Farmington, NM versus $2,286 in Phuket.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,822 in Farmington, NM versus $3,310 in Phuket.
πLiving in Farmington, NM is roughly 155% more expensive than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πThe two cities straddle the global median: Farmington, NM is 140% above, Phuket is 6% below.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Farmington, NM
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.35$19.35
$4.56ΰΈΏ149
324.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.9$73.9
$46.63ΰΈΏ1,519
58.55%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.03$11.03
$8.47ΰΈΏ276
30.22%
Cappuccino
$5.05$5.05
$3.03ΰΈΏ98.6
66.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56$2.56
$0.69ΰΈΏ22.45
271.01%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99$1.99
$0.37ΰΈΏ11.92
437.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.86$5.86
$2.49ΰΈΏ81.0
135.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.19$7.19
$3.66ΰΈΏ119
96.45%
π Groceries & Markets
Farmington, NM
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05$1.05
$2.18ΰΈΏ71.0
-51.83%
White Bread(500g)
$3.49$3.49
$1.90ΰΈΏ62.0
83.68%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.42$4.42
$2.20ΰΈΏ71.6
100.91%
Eggs
$4.26$4.26
$2.22ΰΈΏ72.4
91.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.35$12.35
$19.99ΰΈΏ651
-38.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.56$11.56
$3.66ΰΈΏ119
215.85%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.51$15.51
$13.25ΰΈΏ432
17.06%
Apples(1kg)
$4.99$4.99
$3.23ΰΈΏ105
54.49%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64$1.64
$1.70ΰΈΏ55.3
-3.53%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.17$4.17
$2.39ΰΈΏ78.0
74.48%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.81$4.81
$2.08ΰΈΏ67.7
131.25%
Potato(1kg)
$2.86$2.86
$1.59ΰΈΏ51.8
79.87%
Onion(1kg)
$2.87$2.87
$1.48ΰΈΏ48.31
93.92%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.11$2.11
$1.03ΰΈΏ33.54
104.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.19$2.19
$0.52ΰΈΏ16.83
321.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.72$9.72
$4.25ΰΈΏ138
128.71%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.14$15.14
$18.79ΰΈΏ612
-19.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86$1.86
$1.76ΰΈΏ57.2
5.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26$3.26
$2.76ΰΈΏ89.8
18.12%
π Getting Around
Farmington, NM
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.98$1.98
$1.36ΰΈΏ44.32
45.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.84$29.84
$11.36ΰΈΏ370
162.68%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.41$3.41
$3.14ΰΈΏ102
8.60%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.59$1.59
$1.04ΰΈΏ33.74
52.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.63$28.63
$13.77ΰΈΏ448
107.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.83$0.83
$1.34ΰΈΏ43.79
-38.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.3K$29.3K
$27.7KΰΈΏ901.4K
6.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0K$26.0K
$33.9KΰΈΏ1.1M
-23.34%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Farmington, NM
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$185$185
$124ΰΈΏ4,025
49.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.8$53.8
$13.52ΰΈΏ440
298.15%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.8$66.8
$18.69ΰΈΏ609
257.41%
π Sport & Entertainment
Farmington, NM
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.21$43.21
$61.8ΰΈΏ2,013
-30.10%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.25ΰΈΏ562
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.47$13.47
$9.14ΰΈΏ298
47.37%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Farmington, NM
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,304$1,304
$703ΰΈΏ22.9K
85.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.8K$23.8K
$15.9KΰΈΏ517.0K
49.99%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Farmington, NM
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.2$51.2
$59.5ΰΈΏ1,937
-13.94%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.46$40.46
$35.07ΰΈΏ1,142
15.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.4$85.4
$115ΰΈΏ3,754
-25.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113$113
$84.1ΰΈΏ2,737
34.63%
π Accommodation & Living
Farmington, NM
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,038$2,038
$619ΰΈΏ20.1K
229.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,979$1,979
$433ΰΈΏ14.1K
357.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,127$3,127
$2,062ΰΈΏ67.2K
51.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$3,152$3,152
$1,511ΰΈΏ49.2K
108.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,042$2,042
$3,646ΰΈΏ118.7K
-43.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,393$2,393
$2,626ΰΈΏ85.5K
-8.84%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Farmington, NM
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$7,156$7,156
$507ΰΈΏ16.5K
1311.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.51
5.33
22.14%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Farmington, NM: June 8, 2026
Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,038 in Farmington, NM and $619 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Farmington, NM pays 1312% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $74.0 in Farmington, NM vs $47.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $392 vs $293 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
Farmington, NM vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Farmington, NM or Phuket?
Phuket wins on cost β living expenses run 155% lower than in Farmington, NM. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Phuket the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Farmington, NM or Phuket?
Farmington, NM pays 1312% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Farmington, NM vs Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,038 in Farmington, NM versus $619 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Farmington, NM and Phuket?
Childcare runs $1,304 in Farmington, NM versus $703 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Farmington, NM or Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 34% higher in Farmington, NM. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Farmington, NM or Phuket?
At $1,261 in Phuket versus $3,222 in Farmington, NM, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Farmington, NM. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Farmington, NM or Phuket?
Both work as nomad bases, but Phuket delivers better value β similar infrastructure at $1,261 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Phuket hard to pass up.
How safe is Farmington, NM compared to Phuket?
Safety-wise, Farmington, NM 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet β expenses run 155% less than in Farmington, NM. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Farmington, NM vs other spots: cost of living compared