Cost of Living Comparison Between Fort Collins, CO and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Fort Collins, CO and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,467 in Fort Collins, CO versus $1,250 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,757 in Fort Collins, CO versus $2,284 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,048 in Fort Collins, CO versus $3,317 in Phuket.

Living in Fort Collins, CO is roughly 97% more expensive than in Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Fort Collins, CO is 85% above, Phuket is 6% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fort Collins, CO
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.33 $18.33
$4.55 ฿153
302.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$72.2 $72.2
$46.18 ฿1,553
56.43%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.33 $11.33
$8.84 ฿297
28.17%
Cappuccino
$4.69 $4.69
$3.06 ฿103
53.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 $1.99
$0.73 ฿24.40
172.60%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 $2.48
$0.40 ฿13.39
520.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.93 $6.93
$2.43 ฿81.8
185.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.54 $6.54
$3.78 ฿127
73.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fort Collins, CO
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 $1.05
$2.26 ฿76.0
-53.54%
White Bread (500g)
$3.14 $3.14
$1.81 ฿60.9
73.48%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.32 $3.32
$2.25 ฿75.8
47.56%
Eggs
$4.24 $4.24
$2.25 ฿75.5
88.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.94 $10.94
$19.51 ฿656
-43.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.66 $8.66
$3.65 ฿123
137.26%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.79 $16.79
$13.05 ฿439
28.66%
Apples (1kg)
$3.99 $3.99
$3.23 ฿109
23.53%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 $1.57
$1.62 ฿54.4
-3.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.37 $4.37
$2.38 ฿80.1
83.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.05 $5.05
$2.03 ฿68.1
148.77%
Potato (1kg)
$2.37 $2.37
$1.53 ฿51.6
54.90%
Onion (1kg)
$1.96 $1.96
$1.50 ฿50.5
30.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.48 $2.48
$0.98 ฿32.91
153.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.05 $2.05
$0.52 ฿17.39
294.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.47 $9.47
$4.44 ฿149
113.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.08 $19.08
$18.32 ฿616
4.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.20 $2.20
$1.86 ฿62.7
18.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 $2.68
$2.68 ฿90.1
-
🚌 Getting Around
Fort Collins, CO
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.02 $2.02
$1.41 ฿47.46
43.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$11.70 ฿393
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.57 $2.57
$3.11 ฿105
-17.36%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.04 ฿35.06
36.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.62 $24.62
$14.11 ฿474
74.49%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 $0.82
$1.31 ฿44.10
-37.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K $28.0K
$27.8K ฿935.4K
0.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K $26.1K
$33.2K ฿1.1M
-21.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fort Collins, CO
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$168 $168
$122 ฿4,118
37.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$42.77 $42.77
$13.59 ฿457
214.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$77.0 $77.0
$18.70 ฿629
311.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fort Collins, CO
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.1 $61.1
$60.5 ฿2,034
0.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.98 $14.98
$16.98 ฿571
-11.78%
Cinema Ticket
$11.77 $11.77
$9.07 ฿305
29.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fort Collins, CO
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,547 $1,547
$706 ฿23.8K
119.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.5K $12.5K
$15.8K ฿531.5K
-21.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fort Collins, CO
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.1 $67.1
$58.6 ฿1,969
14.67%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$92.2 $92.2
$35.36 ฿1,189
160.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.6 $80.6
$115 ฿3,883
-30.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 $108
$83.7 ฿2,816
29.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fort Collins, CO
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,807 $1,807
$626 ฿21.0K
188.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,231 $1,231
$445 ฿15.0K
176.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,816 $2,816
$2,040 ฿68.6K
38.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,304 $2,304
$1,492 ฿50.2K
54.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,923 $2,923
$3,483 ฿117.1K
-16.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,990 $2,990
$2,577 ฿86.7K
16.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fort Collins, CO
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,326 $4,326
$500 ฿16.8K
765.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.59
5.33
23.64%

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

Last update for Fort Collins, CO: July 12, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,807 in Fort Collins, CO and $626 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Fort Collins, CO pays 765% 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: $72.0 in Fort Collins, CO vs $46.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $371 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
Fort Collins, CO vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Fort Collins, CO or Phuket?
Phuket wins on cost – living expenses run 97% lower than in Fort Collins, CO. 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 Fort Collins, CO or in Phuket?
Average pay runs 765% higher in Fort Collins, CO, 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 Fort Collins, CO compared to Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,807 in Fort Collins, CO versus $626 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Fort Collins, CO or in Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 28% higher in Fort Collins, CO. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Fort Collins, CO compared to Phuket?
All in, you'll spend $2,467 per month in Fort Collins, CO versus $1,250 in Phuket – a 97% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Fort Collins, CO or in Phuket?
At $1,250 in Phuket versus $2,467 in Fort Collins, CO, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Fort Collins, CO. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Fort Collins, CO or Phuket?
Both work as nomad bases, but Phuket delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,250 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Phuket hard to pass up.
How safe is Fort Collins, CO compared to Phuket?
Safety-wise, Fort Collins, CO 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 – expenses run 97% less than in Fort Collins, CO. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Fort Collins, CO vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities