😐A single person spends $2,101 per month in Goulburn vs $1,264 in Phuket, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,117 per month in Goulburn vs $2,256 in Phuket, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,133 per month in Goulburn vs $3,248 in Phuket, rent included.
😐Goulburn costs about 66% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Goulburn sits 58% above the global median, while Phuket is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Goulburn
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.75A$25.19
$4.48฿150
296.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$94.4A$134
$45.59฿1,521
106.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.72A$10.95
$8.76฿292
-11.87%
Cappuccino
$2.96A$4.20
$2.97฿99.0
-0.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98A$4.23
$0.69฿22.90
331.88%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09A$2.96
$0.39฿13.04
435.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.69A$9.49
$2.53฿84.4
164.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.37A$9.04
$3.75฿125
69.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Goulburn
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.13A$1.60
$2.15฿71.6
-47.44%
White Bread(500g)
$2.39A$3.39
$1.82฿60.6
31.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16A$3.07
$2.18฿72.9
-0.92%
Eggs
$3.74A$5.30
$2.25฿75.0
66.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.32A$13.22
$20.00฿667
-53.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.88A$11.18
$3.63฿121
117.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.12A$20.04
$13.56฿452
4.13%
Apples(1kg)
$3.14A$4.45
$3.24฿108
-3.09%
Banana(1kg)
$2.14A$3.04
$1.64฿54.6
30.49%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.61A$2.29
$2.33฿77.8
-30.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.64A$5.17
$2.07฿69.1
75.85%
Potato(1kg)
$2.43A$3.44
$1.55฿51.6
56.77%
Onion(1kg)
$1.26A$1.78
$1.46฿48.54
-13.70%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.27A$1.81
$0.98฿32.86
29.59%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.94A$1.33
$0.48฿16.09
95.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$29.29A$41.56
$4.35฿145
573.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.60A$12.20
$18.57฿620
-53.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.07A$5.77
$1.86฿61.9
118.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04A$4.31
$2.65฿88.6
14.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Goulburn
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.63A$3.73
$1.42฿47.28
85.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$63.8A$90.5
$11.57฿386
451.17%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.21A$3.14
$3.17฿106
-30.28%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.55A$2.20
$1.03฿34.41
50.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$38.21A$54.2
$13.89฿463
175.09%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.17A$1.66
$1.34฿44.84
-12.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.3KA$41.6K
$27.8K฿927.1K
5.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.2KA$30.0K
$33.4K฿1.1M
-36.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Goulburn
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$98.2A$139
$123฿4,105
-20.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.07A$41.24
$13.77฿459
111.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.0A$82.3
$18.33฿611
216.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Goulburn
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.81A$69.3
$60.7฿2,025
-19.57%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.45A$21.93
$17.16฿573
-9.97%
Cinema Ticket
$7.76A$11.01
$8.87฿296
-12.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Goulburn
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$923A$1,310
$688฿22.9K
34.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.9KA$16.9K
$15.8K฿526.4K
-24.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Goulburn
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.6A$109
$59.3฿1,978
29.12%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.55A$63.2
$34.69฿1,157
28.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.0A$129
$115฿3,843
-21.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109A$154
$83.8฿2,794
29.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Goulburn
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,270A$1,801
$621฿20.7K
104.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,049A$1,489
$446฿14.9K
135.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,024A$2,871
$2,034฿67.8K
-0.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,706A$2,421
$1,496฿49.9K
14.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,912A$8,388
$3,455฿115.3K
71.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,266A$7,472
$2,531฿84.4K
108.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Goulburn
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,048A$5,743
$494฿16.5K
720.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.75
5.33
26.64%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Goulburn: July 26, 2026
Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,270 in Goulburn versus $621 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 720% higher in Goulburn, 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 $94.0 in Goulburn versus $46.00 in Phuket. Groceries tell a different story – $291 in Goulburn vs $291 in Phuket – so Goulburn wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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
Goulburn vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Goulburn?
Yes – Goulburn is pricier by about 66%, 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 $3,151 per month in Goulburn and $1,896 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. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Goulburn and in Phuket?
Groceries cost about 0% more in Goulburn, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Goulburn or in Phuket?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $94.0 in Goulburn and $46.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Goulburn or in Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,264, than in Goulburn at $2,101. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Goulburn it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Goulburn 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 safer, Goulburn 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 – 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, Goulburn makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.