Cost of Living Comparison Between Fort Lauderdale, FL and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Fort Lauderdale, FL and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,331 per month in Fort Lauderdale, FL vs $1,261 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,056 per month in Fort Lauderdale, FL vs $2,286 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,782 per month in Fort Lauderdale, FL vs $3,310 in Phuket, rent included.

Fort Lauderdale, FL costs about 164% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Fort Lauderdale, FL sits 148% above the global median, while Phuket is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.27 $21.27

$4.56 ฿149

366.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$110 $110

$46.63 ฿1,519

134.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.43 $10.43

$8.47 ฿276

23.14%

Cappuccino

$5.04 $5.04

$3.03 ฿98.6

66.34%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$0.69 ฿22.45

282.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$0.37 ฿11.92

489.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.90 $5.90

$2.49 ฿81.0

136.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.61 $6.61

$3.66 ฿119

80.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$2.18 ฿71.0

-56.42%

White Bread (500g)

$4.00 $4.00

$1.90 ฿62.0

110.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.35 $3.35

$2.20 ฿71.6

52.27%

Eggs

$3.76 $3.76

$2.22 ฿72.4

69.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.50 $11.50

$19.99 ฿651

-42.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.58 $9.58

$3.66 ฿119

161.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.40 $19.40

$13.25 ฿432

46.42%

Apples (1kg)

$5.63 $5.63

$3.23 ฿105

74.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.70 ฿55.3

-8.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.33 $4.33

$2.39 ฿78.0

81.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.27 $5.27

$2.08 ฿67.7

153.37%

Potato (1kg)

$3.53 $3.53

$1.59 ฿51.8

122.01%

Onion (1kg)

$3.40 $3.40

$1.48 ฿48.31

129.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.29 $2.29

$1.03 ฿33.54

122.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.10 $2.10

$0.52 ฿16.83

303.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.16 $10.16

$4.25 ฿138

139.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.55 $10.55

$18.79 ฿612

-43.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 $1.68

$1.76 ฿57.2

-4.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.76 ฿89.8

0.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.33 $2.33

$1.36 ฿44.32

71.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$71.5 $71.5

$11.36 ฿370

529.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.60 $4.60

$3.14 ฿102

46.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.04 ฿33.74

45.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.42 $22.42

$13.77 ฿448

62.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$1.34 ฿43.79

-34.33%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$27.7K ฿901.4K

-4.55%

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

$24.4K $24.4K

$33.9K ฿1.1M

-27.81%

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

$168 $168

$124 ฿4,025

35.80%

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

$57.9 $57.9

$13.52 ฿440

327.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.6 $70.6

$18.69 ฿609

277.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.1 $75.1

$61.8 ฿2,013

21.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.08 $13.08

$17.25 ฿562

-24.17%

Cinema Ticket

$14.91 $14.91

$9.14 ฿298

63.13%

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

$801 $801

$703 ฿22.9K

14.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K $15.7K

$15.9K ฿517.0K

-1.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.14 $47.14

$59.5 ฿1,937

-20.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.44 $44.44

$35.07 ฿1,142

26.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.7 $88.7

$115 ฿3,754

-23.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.4 $96.4

$84.1 ฿2,737

14.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,303 $2,303

$619 ฿20.1K

272.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,965 $1,965

$433 ฿14.1K

354.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,800 $3,800

$2,062 ฿67.2K

84.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,654 $3,654

$1,511 ฿49.2K

141.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,420 $5,420

$3,646 ฿118.7K

48.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,108 $4,108

$2,626 ฿85.5K

56.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,676 $4,676

$507 ฿16.5K

822.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.53

5.33

22.51%

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

Last update for Fort Lauderdale, FL: June 9, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,303 in Fort Lauderdale, FL versus $619 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 822% higher in Fort Lauderdale, FL, 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 $110 in Fort Lauderdale, FL versus $47.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $386 vs $293 – 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

Fort Lauderdale, FL vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Fort Lauderdale, FL costs about 164% 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 $4,996 per month in Fort Lauderdale, FL and $1,892 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.

Kindergarten costs $801 per month in Fort Lauderdale, FL and $703 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 32% more in Fort Lauderdale, FL, 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 $1,261, than in Fort Lauderdale, FL at $3,331. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Fort Lauderdale, FL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,261 versus $3,331 in Fort Lauderdale, FL. 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, Fort Lauderdale, FL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.