Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Freehold, NJ and Phuket

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,278 a month against $2,635 in Freehold, NJ, rent and utilities included – about $16,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Freehold, NJ, United States
Phuket, Thailand
Freehold, NJ
🇺🇸 United States
$2,635
/mo nomad
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,278
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Freehold, NJ 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 Freehold, NJ and in Phuket actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,635 per month in Freehold, NJ vs $1,278 in Phuket, rent included.

  • Freehold, NJ $2,635
  • Phuket $1,278

A couple spends around $3,842 per month in Freehold, NJ vs $2,216 in Phuket, rent included.

  • Freehold, NJ $3,842
  • Phuket $2,216

A family of three spends $5,050 per month in Freehold, NJ vs $3,154 in Phuket, rent included.

  • Freehold, NJ $5,050
  • Phuket $3,154

Freehold, NJ costs about 106% more than Phuket, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Freehold, NJ sits 94% above the global median, while Phuket is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Freehold, NJ
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.77 $19.77
$4.47 ฿151
342.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.9 $69.9
$32.41 ฿1,094
115.52%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.33 $11.33
$8.81 ฿297
28.60%
Cappuccino
$4.47 $4.47
$2.83 ฿95.5
57.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30 $2.30
$0.87 ฿29.43
164.37%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 $1.86
$0.49 ฿16.67
279.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.95 $5.95
$2.56 ฿86.4
132.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.64 $6.64
$3.68 ฿124
80.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Freehold, NJ
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 $1.05
$1.66 ฿56.0
-36.75%
White Bread (500g)
$3.50 $3.50
$1.46 ฿49.35
139.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.40 $4.40
$1.50 ฿50.6
193.33%
Eggs
$4.09 $4.09
$2.09 ฿70.5
95.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.44 $12.44
$19.07 ฿644
-34.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.61 $11.61
$3.30 ฿111
251.82%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.79 $16.79
$10.91 ฿368
53.90%
Apples (1kg)
$4.99 $4.99
$2.93 ฿99.0
70.31%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 $1.63
$1.69 ฿57.1
-3.55%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.22 $4.22
$2.25 ฿75.8
87.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.74 $4.74
$2.08 ฿70.1
127.88%
Potato (1kg)
$2.85 $2.85
$1.51 ฿51.0
88.74%
Onion (1kg)
$2.93 $2.93
$1.38 ฿46.56
112.32%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.20 $2.20
$1.07 ฿35.99
105.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.21 $2.21
$0.52 ฿17.52
325.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.91 $9.91
$4.20 ฿142
135.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.76 $14.76
$18.79 ฿634
-21.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.02 $2.02
$1.82 ฿61.5
10.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40 $3.40
$2.84 ฿95.9
19.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Freehold, NJ
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.18 $2.18
$1.45 ฿49.03
50.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$65.8 $65.8
$56.7 ฿1,913
16.17%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.05 $3.05
$3.02 ฿102
0.99%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.97 $1.97
$1.02 ฿34.36
93.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.38 $33.38
$3.69 ฿125
804.61%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 $1.02
$1.47 ฿49.81
-30.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$26.8K ฿904.3K
-1.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K $26.1K
$26.7K ฿901.3K
-2.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Freehold, NJ
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$198 $198
$96.4 ฿3,254
105.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.3 $59.3
$11.26 ฿380
426.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.1 $70.1
$16.85 ฿569
316.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Freehold, NJ
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.50 $40.50
$67.2 ฿2,270
-39.76%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$10.73 ฿362
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.21 $14.21
$7.50 ฿253
89.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Freehold, NJ
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,357 $1,357
$476 ฿16.1K
185.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.9K $23.9K
$11.3K ฿380.4K
111.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Freehold, NJ
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.3 $52.3
$62.4 ฿2,106
-16.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.24 $41.24
$28.41 ฿959
45.16%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.3 $88.3
$94.3 ฿3,184
-6.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 $113
$85.8 ฿2,898
31.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Freehold, NJ
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,590 $1,590
$716 ฿24.2K
122.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,316 $1,316
$491 ฿16.6K
168.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,513 $2,513
$1,927 ฿65.1K
30.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,174 $2,174
$1,431 ฿48.3K
52.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,800 $2,800
$4,175 ฿141.0K
-32.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,308 $2,308
$3,045 ฿102.8K
-24.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Freehold, NJ
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,850 $3,850
$502 ฿17.0K
666.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.57
5.57
17.95%

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

Last update for Freehold, NJ: 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
Freehold, NJ
$1.3K
Phuket
$491 62.7% $825
Groceries & Markets
Freehold, NJ
$397
Phuket
$266 32.9% $130
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Freehold, NJ
$327
Phuket
$124 62% $203
Eating Out
Freehold, NJ
$306
Phuket
$122 60.2% $184
Clothing & Footwear
Freehold, NJ
$133
Phuket
$122 8.2% $11
Getting Around
Freehold, NJ
$87
Phuket
$71 19.3% $17
Sport & Entertainment
Freehold, NJ
$69
Phuket
$82 19.3% $13

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,590 in Freehold, NJ versus $716 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 in Freehold, NJ are about 7.7 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $70 in Freehold, NJ versus $32 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $397 vs $266 – making Phuket the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Freehold, NJ
🇹🇭 Phuket
🕒 Local time
17:20 5:20 PM
04:20 4:20 AM
11 h ahead of Freehold, NJ
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
11,394
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 October 28, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.898 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 33.77 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.59 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Freehold, NJ Phuket 14,610 km ≈ 19 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Freehold, NJ
  • 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
Freehold, NJ vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Freehold, NJ?
Yes – Freehold, NJ is pricier by about 106%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,952 per month in Freehold, NJ and $1,917 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $716 there versus $1,590 in Freehold, NJ.
What are total monthly expenses in Freehold, NJ and in Phuket?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,635 in Freehold, NJ and $1,278 in Phuket. That makes Phuket about 51% cheaper.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 14% less in Phuket. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Freehold, NJ or in Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,278, than in Freehold, NJ at $2,635. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Freehold, NJ it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Freehold, NJ or Phuket more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Phuket – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Freehold, NJ makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Freehold, NJ vs other spots: cost of living compared

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