😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,245 in Gladstone versus $1,261 in Phuket.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,127 in Gladstone versus $2,286 in Phuket.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,009 in Gladstone versus $3,310 in Phuket.
😐Living in Gladstone is roughly 78% more expensive than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Gladstone is 67% above, Phuket is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gladstone
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.95A$22.54
$4.56฿149
249.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.6A$111
$46.63฿1,519
68.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.75A$13.77
$8.47฿276
15.11%
Cappuccino
$3.45A$4.87
$3.03฿98.6
13.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58A$3.64
$0.69฿22.45
273.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10A$2.97
$0.37฿11.92
467.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.48A$9.16
$2.49฿81.0
160.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.97A$9.85
$3.66฿119
90.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gladstone
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.47A$2.08
$2.18฿71.0
-32.57%
White Bread(500g)
$2.42A$3.42
$1.90฿62.0
27.37%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.04A$2.88
$2.20฿71.6
-7.27%
Eggs
$4.23A$5.97
$2.22฿72.4
90.54%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.73A$12.33
$19.99฿651
-56.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.61A$12.16
$3.66฿119
135.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.69A$19.34
$13.25฿432
3.32%
Apples(1kg)
$3.29A$4.64
$3.23฿105
1.86%
Banana(1kg)
$2.71A$3.84
$1.70฿55.3
59.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.88A$4.07
$2.39฿78.0
20.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.99A$5.63
$2.08฿67.7
91.83%
Potato(1kg)
$2.50A$3.54
$1.59฿51.8
57.23%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18A$3.08
$1.48฿48.31
47.30%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.10A$2.96
$1.03฿33.54
103.88%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.53A$2.16
$0.52฿16.83
194.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$31.41A$44.38
$4.25฿138
639.06%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.89A$19.62
$18.79฿612
-26.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.65A$6.57
$1.76฿57.2
164.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.21A$7.37
$2.76฿89.8
88.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Gladstone
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.59A$3.66
$1.36฿44.32
90.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$65.0A$91.8
$11.36฿370
472.10%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.60A$5.09
$3.14฿102
14.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.55A$2.19
$1.04฿33.74
49.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$33.73A$47.66
$13.77฿448
144.95%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14A$1.61
$1.34฿43.79
-14.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.2KA$41.2K
$27.7K฿901.4K
5.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.1KA$31.2K
$33.9K฿1.1M
-34.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gladstone
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$186A$263
$124฿4,025
50.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.08A$36.85
$13.52฿440
92.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.8A$71.7
$18.69฿609
171.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gladstone
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.41A$69.8
$61.8฿2,013
-20.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.56A$21.98
$17.25฿562
-9.80%
Cinema Ticket
$12.58A$17.78
$9.14฿298
37.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gladstone
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,613A$2,278
$703฿22.9K
129.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.1KA$17.1K
$15.9K฿517.0K
-23.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gladstone
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.5A$96.7
$59.5฿1,937
15.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.3A$71.1
$35.07฿1,142
43.46%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$100A$142
$115฿3,754
-12.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106A$150
$84.1฿2,737
25.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gladstone
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,243A$1,756
$619฿20.1K
100.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,074A$1,518
$433฿14.1K
148.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,250A$1,766
$2,062฿67.2K
-39.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,352A$1,911
$1,511฿49.2K
-10.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,658A$9,407
$3,646฿118.7K
82.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,489A$7,755
$2,626฿85.5K
109.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gladstone
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,552A$7,844
$507฿16.5K
995.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.34
5.33
18.95%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Gladstone: June 6, 2026
Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,243 in Gladstone and $619 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Gladstone pays 995% 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: $79.0 in Gladstone vs $47.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $338 vs $293 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
Gladstone vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Gladstone or Phuket?
Phuket wins on cost – living expenses run 78% lower than in Gladstone. 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 Gladstone or Phuket?
Gladstone pays 995% more on average, 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 Gladstone vs Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,243 in Gladstone versus $619 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Gladstone compared to Phuket?
All in, you'll spend $2,245 per month in Gladstone versus $1,261 in Phuket – a 78% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Gladstone vs Phuket?
A monthly transit pass in Phuket runs roughly 472% less than in Gladstone. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Gladstone or Phuket?
At $1,261 in Phuket versus $2,245 in Gladstone, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Gladstone. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Gladstone or Phuket?
Both work as nomad bases, but Phuket delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,261 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Phuket hard to pass up.
How safe is Gladstone compared to Phuket?
Safety-wise, Gladstone 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 78% less than in Gladstone. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.