Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Florence, KY and Phuket

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,278 a month against $2,275 in Florence, KY, rent and utilities included – about $12,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Florence, KY, United States
Phuket, Thailand
Florence, KY
🇺🇸 United States
$2,275
/mo nomad
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,278
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Florence, KY and in Phuket

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Florence, KY and in Phuket actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,275 in Florence, KY versus $1,278 in Phuket.

  • Florence, KY $2,275
  • Phuket $1,278

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,341 in Florence, KY versus $2,216 in Phuket.

  • Florence, KY $3,341
  • Phuket $2,216

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,407 in Florence, KY versus $3,154 in Phuket.

  • Florence, KY $4,407
  • Phuket $3,154

Living in Florence, KY is roughly 78% more expensive than in Phuket, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Florence, KY is 67% above, Phuket is 6% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Florence, KY
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.83 $14.83
$4.47 ฿151
231.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$72.4 $72.4
$32.41 ฿1,093
123.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.63 $9.63
$8.81 ฿297
9.31%
Cappuccino
$5.01 $5.01
$2.83 ฿95.4
77.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23 $2.23
$0.87 ฿29.41
156.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 $1.70
$0.49 ฿16.65
246.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.10 $6.10
$2.56 ฿86.3
138.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.09 $7.09
$3.68 ฿124
92.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Florence, KY
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.79 $0.79
$1.66 ฿55.9
-52.41%
White Bread (500g)
$3.39 $3.39
$1.46 ฿49.31
132.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.01 $4.01
$1.50 ฿50.5
167.33%
Eggs
$3.53 $3.53
$2.09 ฿70.5
68.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.87 $12.87
$19.07 ฿643
-32.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.80 $11.80
$3.30 ฿111
257.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.17 $16.17
$10.91 ฿368
48.21%
Apples (1kg)
$5.53 $5.53
$2.93 ฿98.9
88.74%
Banana (1kg)
$1.65 $1.65
$1.69 ฿57.0
-2.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.68 $4.68
$2.25 ฿75.8
108.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.58 $4.58
$2.08 ฿70.0
120.19%
Potato (1kg)
$2.61 $2.61
$1.51 ฿51.0
72.85%
Onion (1kg)
$2.88 $2.88
$1.38 ฿46.52
108.70%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.12 $2.12
$1.07 ฿35.96
98.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 $1.86
$0.52 ฿17.51
257.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.81 $8.81
$4.20 ฿142
109.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.76 $15.76
$18.79 ฿634
-16.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.07 $2.07
$1.82 ฿61.5
13.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99 $2.99
$2.84 ฿95.8
5.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Florence, KY
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.03 $2.03
$1.45 ฿48.98
40.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$65.9 $65.9
$56.7 ฿1,912
16.36%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.80 $2.80
$3.02 ฿102
-7.28%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.27 $1.27
$1.02 ฿34.33
24.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.02 $25.02
$3.69 ฿125
578.05%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 $0.99
$1.47 ฿49.76
-32.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.6K $33.6K
$26.8K ฿903.4K
25.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K $25.8K
$26.7K ฿900.5K
-3.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Florence, KY
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$179 $179
$96.4 ฿3,251
85.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.2 $58.2
$11.26 ฿380
416.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.6 $67.6
$16.85 ฿568
300.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Florence, KY
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$17.18 $17.18
$67.2 ฿2,268
-74.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$10.73 ฿362
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.10 $15.10
$7.50 ฿253
101.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Florence, KY
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,238 $1,238
$476 ฿16.1K
160.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.1K $16.1K
$11.3K ฿380.0K
42.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Florence, KY
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.8 $50.8
$62.4 ฿2,104
-18.54%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.09 $45.09
$28.41 ฿958
58.71%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.7 $89.7
$94.3 ฿3,181
-4.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110 $110
$85.8 ฿2,895
27.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Florence, KY
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,306 $1,306
$716 ฿24.2K
82.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,050 $1,050
$491 ฿16.6K
113.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,024 $2,024
$1,927 ฿65.0K
5.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,694 $1,694
$1,431 ฿48.3K
18.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,889 $1,889
$4,175 ฿140.9K
-54.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,242 $1,242
$3,045 ฿102.7K
-59.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Florence, KY
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,517 $3,517
$502 ฿16.9K
600.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.59
5.57
18.31%

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

Last update for Florence, KY: October 27, 2026

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Florence, KY
$1K
Phuket
$491 53.2% $559
Groceries & Markets
Florence, KY
$389
Phuket
$266 31.6% $123
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Florence, KY
$305
Phuket
$124 59.1% $180
Eating Out
Florence, KY
$268
Phuket
$122 54.6% $146
Clothing & Footwear
Florence, KY
$133
Phuket
$122 8.3% $11
Getting Around
Florence, KY
$83
Phuket
$71 15.2% $13
Sport & Entertainment
Florence, KY
$47
Phuket
$82 73.6% $35

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,306 in Florence, KY and $716 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Florence, KY pays about 7 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $72 in Florence, KY vs $32 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $389 vs $266 per month, with Phuket cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Florence, KY
🇹🇭 Phuket
🕒 Local time
18:54 6:54 PM
06:54 6:54 AM
12 h ahead of Florence, KY
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
40,184
79,308
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.896 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 33.74 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.67 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Florence, KY Phuket 14,790 km ≈ 19 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Florence, KY
  • Phuket

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Florence, KY vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Florence, KY?
Phuket is about 44% cheaper overall, especially in eating out, groceries, and utilities. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Florence, KY or Phuket?
Average pay in Florence, KY is about 7 times higher, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Florence, KY and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,306 in Florence, KY versus $716 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Florence, KY and in Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 46% higher in Florence, KY. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Florence, KY or in Phuket?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket – a meal for two runs $32 versus $72 in Florence, KY. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Florence, KY or in Phuket?
At $1,278 in Phuket versus $2,275 in Florence, KY, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Florence, KY. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Florence, KY or in Phuket?
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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 44% less than in Florence, KY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Florence, KY vs other spots: cost of living compared

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