Cost of Living Comparison Between Great Falls, MT and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Great Falls, MT and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,279 per month in Great Falls, MT vs $1,265 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,260 per month in Great Falls, MT vs $2,297 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,241 per month in Great Falls, MT vs $3,329 in Phuket, rent included.

Great Falls, MT costs about 80% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Great Falls, MT sits 70% above the global median, while Phuket is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Great Falls, MT
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.62 $11.62
$4.70 ฿154
147.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.80 $36.80
$45.37 ฿1,489
-18.89%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.26 $14.26
$8.43 ฿277
69.16%
Cappuccino
$4.22 $4.22
$2.93 ฿96.1
44.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23 $2.23
$0.69 ฿22.50
223.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 $2.05
$0.37 ฿12.04
454.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.96 $6.96
$2.41 ฿79.0
188.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.76 $3.76
$3.72 ฿122
1.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Great Falls, MT
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.07 $1.07
$2.23 ฿73.3
-52.02%
White Bread (500g)
$3.34 $3.34
$1.83 ฿60.1
82.51%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.33 $6.33
$2.17 ฿71.1
191.71%
Eggs
$3.15 $3.15
$2.21 ฿72.6
42.53%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.76 $13.76
$19.74 ฿648
-30.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.85 $13.85
$3.63 ฿119
281.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.47 $12.47
$13.53 ฿444
-7.83%
Apples (1kg)
$4.49 $4.49
$3.28 ฿108
36.89%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 $1.46
$1.61 ฿52.9
-9.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.77 $4.77
$2.41 ฿79.0
97.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.36 $3.36
$2.08 ฿68.4
61.54%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 $1.86
$1.53 ฿50.2
21.57%
Onion (1kg)
$1.65 $1.65
$1.48 ฿48.58
11.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.22 $2.22
$0.99 ฿32.44
124.24%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.85 $2.85
$0.51 ฿16.74
458.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.82 $7.82
$4.41 ฿145
77.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.66 $17.66
$19.38 ฿636
-8.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 $1.77
$1.78 ฿58.4
-0.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.32 $4.32
$2.71 ฿89.0
59.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Great Falls, MT
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.95 $1.95
$1.37 ฿44.99
42.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.88 $29.88
$11.39 ฿374
162.34%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.47 $2.47
$3.02 ฿99.1
-18.21%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.61 $1.61
$0.99 ฿32.63
62.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.99 $28.99
$14.10 ฿463
105.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.87 $0.87
$1.36 ฿44.71
-36.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.1K $30.1K
$28.2K ฿925.3K
6.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.1K $25.1K
$32.9K ฿1.1M
-23.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Great Falls, MT
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$156 $156
$122 ฿3,993
28.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.6 $52.6
$13.57 ฿445
287.40%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$76.3 $76.3
$18.31 ฿601
316.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Great Falls, MT
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$62.5 $62.5
$60.2 ฿1,976
3.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.14 ฿562
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.07 $12.07
$8.69 ฿285
38.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Great Falls, MT
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$802 $802
$693 ฿22.8K
15.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.6K $31.6K
$15.7K ฿514.7K
101.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Great Falls, MT
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.5 $66.5
$59.5 ฿1,953
11.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.90 $32.90
$34.77 ฿1,141
-5.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.3 $71.3
$115 ฿3,760
-37.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.4 $98.4
$83.3 ฿2,733
18.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Great Falls, MT
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,451 $1,451
$613 ฿20.1K
136.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,050 $1,050
$437 ฿14.3K
140.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,013 $2,013
$2,094 ฿68.7K
-3.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,790 $1,790
$1,509 ฿49.5K
18.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,080 $2,080
$3,749 ฿123.0K
-44.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,096 $2,096
$2,616 ฿85.8K
-19.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Great Falls, MT
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,478 $3,478
$508 ฿16.7K
584.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.62
5.33
24.20%

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

Last update for Great Falls, MT: May 30, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,451 in Great Falls, MT versus $613 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 585% higher in Great Falls, MT, 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 $37.00 in Great Falls, MT versus $45.00 in Phuket. Groceries tell a different story – $402 in Great Falls, MT vs $293 in Phuket – so Phuket 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
Great Falls, MT vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Great Falls, MT or Phuket?
Great Falls, MT costs about 80% more than Phuket, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Great Falls, MT vs Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,418 per month in Great Falls, MT and $1,898 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Great Falls, MT or 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.
Are groceries more expensive in Great Falls, MT or Phuket?
Groceries cost about 37% more in Great Falls, MT, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Great Falls, MT vs Phuket?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $37.00 in Great Falls, MT and $45.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Great Falls, MT or Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,265, than in Great Falls, MT at $2,279. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Great Falls, MT it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Great Falls, MT or Phuket?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,265 versus $2,279 in Great Falls, MT. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Great Falls, MT compared to 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.
Should I move to Great Falls, MT or Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Great Falls, MT makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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