ðA single person spends $1,998 per month in Frankfort, KY vs $1,270 in Phuket, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $3,167 per month in Frankfort, KY vs $2,304 in Phuket, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $4,335 per month in Frankfort, KY vs $3,339 in Phuket, rent included.
ðFrankfort, KY costs about 57% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðFrankfort, KY sits 49% above the global median, while Phuket is 5% below â they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Frankfort, KY
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.75$12.75
$4.66āļŋ150
173.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.08$48.08
$46.44āļŋ1,496
3.53%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.90$7.90
$8.68āļŋ280
-8.99%
Cappuccino
$4.24$4.24
$2.95āļŋ95.0
43.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82$1.82
$0.70āļŋ22.52
160.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27$1.27
$0.39āļŋ12.70
225.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.28$3.28
$2.53āļŋ81.6
29.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$12.21$12.21
$3.78āļŋ122
223.02%
ð Groceries & Markets
Frankfort, KY
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.76$0.76
$2.22āļŋ71.5
-65.77%
White Bread(500g)
$2.45$2.45
$1.80āļŋ57.8
36.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.77$3.77
$2.19āļŋ70.4
72.15%
Eggs
$3.26$3.26
$2.31āļŋ74.5
41.13%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.24$11.24
$19.34āļŋ623
-41.88%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.08$9.08
$3.77āļŋ121
140.85%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.07$15.07
$13.22āļŋ426
13.99%
Apples(1kg)
$2.56$2.56
$3.33āļŋ107
-23.12%
Banana(1kg)
$1.27$1.27
$1.65āļŋ53.1
-23.03%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.24$2.24
$2.29āļŋ73.7
-2.18%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.18$3.18
$1.99āļŋ64.1
59.80%
Potato(1kg)
$2.40$2.40
$1.53āļŋ49.24
56.86%
Onion(1kg)
$1.67$1.67
$1.51āļŋ48.77
10.60%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.88$1.88
$1.03āļŋ33.12
82.52%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.06$2.06
$0.51āļŋ16.57
303.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.55$8.55
$4.41āļŋ142
93.88%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.17$10.17
$19.41āļŋ625
-47.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75$1.75
$1.80āļŋ58.0
-2.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69$2.69
$2.68āļŋ86.4
0.37%
ð Getting Around
Frankfort, KY
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.95$1.95
$1.43āļŋ46.11
36.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$11.70āļŋ377
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.98$4.98
$3.04āļŋ97.9
63.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.73$1.73
$1.04āļŋ33.37
66.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.22$29.22
$13.68āļŋ441
113.60%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.87$0.87
$1.30āļŋ41.85
-33.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.2K$22.2K
$27.9Kāļŋ898.9K
-20.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.0K$25.0K
$33.0Kāļŋ1.1M
-24.31%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Frankfort, KY
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$243$243
$123āļŋ3,962
97.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$44.61$44.61
$13.82āļŋ445
222.79%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.9$62.9
$18.86āļŋ608
233.40%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Frankfort, KY
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.43$42.43
$61.2āļŋ1,970
-30.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.81āļŋ541
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.37$10.37
$8.87āļŋ286
16.91%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Frankfort, KY
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$559$559
$696āļŋ22.4K
-19.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,995$4,995
$16.1Kāļŋ517.4K
-68.89%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Frankfort, KY
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.08$37.08
$59.3āļŋ1,910
-37.45%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$15.10$15.10
$34.85āļŋ1,123
-56.67%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.4$72.4
$113āļŋ3,646
-36.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.1$68.1
$85.1āļŋ2,740
-19.96%
ð Accommodation & Living
Frankfort, KY
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,597$1,597
$615āļŋ19.8K
159.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$967$967
$448āļŋ14.4K
115.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,603$2,603
$2,085āļŋ67.2K
24.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,222$2,222
$1,496āļŋ48.2K
48.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,839$1,839
$3,734āļŋ120.3K
-50.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,788$1,788
$2,662āļŋ85.8K
-32.83%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Frankfort, KY
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,202$4,202
$534āļŋ17.2K
687.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.54
5.33
22.70%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Frankfort, KY: April 20, 2026
Last update for Phuket: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $1,597 in Frankfort, KY versus $615 in Phuket. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
ð°Salaries run about 688% higher in Frankfort, KY, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
ðA mid-range dinner for two costs $48 in Frankfort, KY versus $46 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $307 vs $291 â 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
Frankfort, KY vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Frankfort, KY?
Yes â Frankfort, KY is pricier by about 57%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,998 per month in Frankfort, KY and $1,904 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
Is eating out cheaper in Frankfort, KY or Phuket?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Frankfort, KY and $46.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafÃĐ pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Frankfort, KY and Phuket?
Groceries cost about 5% more in Frankfort, KY, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Frankfort, KY or Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,270, than in Frankfort, KY at $1,998. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Frankfort, KY it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Frankfort, KY or Phuket more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Phuket â lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Frankfort, KY or Phuket?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison â central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Frankfort, KY makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Frankfort, KY vs other spots: cost of living compared