😐A single person spends $2,835 per month in Garland, TX vs $1,261 in Phuket, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $4,215 per month in Garland, TX vs $2,286 in Phuket, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,596 per month in Garland, TX vs $3,310 in Phuket, rent included.
😐Garland, TX costs about 125% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Garland, TX sits 111% above the global median, while Phuket is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Garland, TX
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.75$17.75
$4.56฿149
289.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.8$75.8
$46.63฿1,519
62.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.90$9.90
$8.47฿276
16.88%
Cappuccino
$4.96$4.96
$3.03฿98.6
63.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56$2.56
$0.69฿22.45
271.01%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00$2.00
$0.37฿11.92
440.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.91$5.91
$2.49฿81.0
137.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.86$7.86
$3.66฿119
114.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Garland, TX
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.95$0.95
$2.18฿71.0
-56.42%
White Bread(500g)
$2.99$2.99
$1.90฿62.0
57.37%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.38$3.38
$2.20฿71.6
53.64%
Eggs
$4.86$4.86
$2.22฿72.4
118.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.96$11.96
$19.99฿651
-40.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.68$10.68
$3.66฿119
191.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.45$14.45
$13.25฿432
9.06%
Apples(1kg)
$4.96$4.96
$3.23฿105
53.56%
Banana(1kg)
$1.45$1.45
$1.70฿55.3
-14.71%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.72$3.72
$2.39฿78.0
55.65%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.97$3.97
$2.08฿67.7
90.87%
Potato(1kg)
$2.76$2.76
$1.59฿51.8
73.58%
Onion(1kg)
$1.88$1.88
$1.48฿48.31
27.03%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.94$1.94
$1.03฿33.54
88.35%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.19$2.19
$0.52฿16.83
321.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.26$9.26
$4.25฿138
117.88%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.79$10.79
$18.79฿612
-42.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.38$2.38
$1.76฿57.2
35.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46$3.46
$2.76฿89.8
25.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Garland, TX
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.06$3.06
$1.36฿44.32
125.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$95.2$95.2
$11.36฿370
738.12%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.98$2.98
$3.14฿102
-5.10%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.23$1.23
$1.04฿33.74
18.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$35.23$35.23
$13.77฿448
155.85%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.80$0.80
$1.34฿43.79
-40.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.9K$25.9K
$27.7K฿901.4K
-6.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K$26.4K
$33.9K฿1.1M
-21.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Garland, TX
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$175$175
$124฿4,025
41.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$48.29$48.29
$13.52฿440
257.17%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.2$66.2
$18.69฿609
254.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Garland, TX
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$30.84$30.84
$61.8฿2,013
-50.11%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.21$16.21
$17.25฿562
-6.03%
Cinema Ticket
$15.19$15.19
$9.14฿298
66.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Garland, TX
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,359$1,359
$703฿22.9K
93.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$22.5K$22.5K
$15.9K฿517.0K
41.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Garland, TX
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.1$53.1
$59.5฿1,937
-10.63%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.45$29.45
$35.07฿1,142
-16.03%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.4$87.4
$115฿3,754
-24.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116$116
$84.1฿2,737
37.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Garland, TX
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,999$1,999
$619฿20.1K
223.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,564$1,564
$433฿14.1K
261.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,572$3,572
$2,062฿67.2K
73.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,711$2,711
$1,511฿49.2K
79.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,221$3,221
$3,646฿118.7K
-11.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,948$1,948
$2,626฿85.5K
-25.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Garland, TX
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,775$3,775
$507฿16.5K
644.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.49
5.33
21.76%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Garland, TX: June 8, 2026
Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,999 in Garland, TX 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 645% higher in Garland, TX, 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 $76.0 in Garland, TX versus $47.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $360 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
Garland, TX vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Garland, TX and Phuket compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,835 in Garland, TX, $1,261 in Phuket – roughly 125% apart. Garland, TX costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Garland, TX compared to Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,253 per month in Garland, TX and $1,892 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Garland, TX and Phuket?
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.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Garland, TX and Phuket?
Kindergarten costs $1,359 per month in Garland, TX and $703 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 23% more in Garland, TX, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,261, than in Garland, TX at $2,835. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Garland, TX it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Garland, TX and Phuket?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,261 in Phuket to $2,835 in Garland, TX. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Garland, TX or Phuket safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Garland, TX and Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Garland, TX makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Garland, TX vs other spots: cost of living compared