ðA single person spends $2,226 per month in Great Falls, MT vs $1,270 in Phuket, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $3,276 per month in Great Falls, MT vs $2,304 in Phuket, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $4,326 per month in Great Falls, MT vs $3,339 in Phuket, rent included.
ðGreat Falls, MT costs about 75% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðGreat Falls, MT sits 66% above the global median, while Phuket is 5% below â they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Great Falls, MT
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.33$11.33
$4.66āļŋ150
143.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.17$37.17
$46.44āļŋ1,496
-19.96%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.45$14.45
$8.68āļŋ280
66.47%
Cappuccino
$4.10$4.10
$2.95āļŋ95.0
38.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16$2.16
$0.70āļŋ22.52
208.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97$1.97
$0.39āļŋ12.70
405.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.83$6.83
$2.53āļŋ81.6
169.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.84$3.84
$3.78āļŋ122
1.59%
ð Groceries & Markets
Great Falls, MT
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10$1.10
$2.22āļŋ71.5
-50.45%
White Bread(500g)
$3.28$3.28
$1.80āļŋ57.8
82.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$6.06$6.06
$2.19āļŋ70.4
176.71%
Eggs
$3.12$3.12
$2.31āļŋ74.5
35.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.02$14.02
$19.34āļŋ623
-27.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.64$13.64
$3.77āļŋ121
261.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.81$12.81
$13.22āļŋ426
-3.10%
Apples(1kg)
$4.43$4.43
$3.33āļŋ107
33.03%
Banana(1kg)
$1.47$1.47
$1.65āļŋ53.1
-10.91%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.89$4.89
$2.29āļŋ73.7
113.54%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.22$3.22
$1.99āļŋ64.1
61.81%
Potato(1kg)
$1.77$1.77
$1.53āļŋ49.24
15.69%
Onion(1kg)
$1.65$1.65
$1.51āļŋ48.77
9.27%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.20$2.20
$1.03āļŋ33.12
113.59%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.89$2.89
$0.51āļŋ16.57
466.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.16$8.16
$4.41āļŋ142
85.03%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.61$17.61
$19.41āļŋ625
-9.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78$1.78
$1.80āļŋ58.0
-1.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.15$4.15
$2.68āļŋ86.4
54.85%
ð Getting Around
Great Falls, MT
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.03$2.03
$1.43āļŋ46.11
41.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$30.17$30.17
$11.70āļŋ377
157.86%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.46$2.46
$3.04āļŋ97.9
-19.08%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.63$1.63
$1.04āļŋ33.37
56.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.40$29.40
$13.68āļŋ441
114.91%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.86$0.86
$1.30āļŋ41.85
-33.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.1K$30.1K
$27.9Kāļŋ898.9K
7.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.1K$25.1K
$33.0Kāļŋ1.1M
-24.07%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Great Falls, MT
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$159$159
$123āļŋ3,962
28.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.0$51.0
$13.82āļŋ445
268.74%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$76.3$76.3
$18.86āļŋ608
304.35%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Great Falls, MT
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.8$61.8
$61.2āļŋ1,970
0.98%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.81āļŋ541
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.03$12.03
$8.87āļŋ286
35.63%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Great Falls, MT
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$800$800
$696āļŋ22.4K
14.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$32.5K$32.5K
$16.1Kāļŋ517.4K
102.31%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Great Falls, MT
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.4$65.4
$59.3āļŋ1,910
10.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.55$32.55
$34.85āļŋ1,123
-6.60%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$70.7$70.7
$113āļŋ3,646
-37.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.7$98.7
$85.1āļŋ2,740
16.07%
ð Accommodation & Living
Great Falls, MT
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,457$1,457
$615āļŋ19.8K
136.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,059$1,059
$448āļŋ14.4K
136.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,957$1,957
$2,085āļŋ67.2K
-6.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,821$1,821
$1,496āļŋ48.2K
21.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,091$2,091
$3,734āļŋ120.3K
-44.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,094$2,094
$2,662āļŋ85.8K
-21.35%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Great Falls, MT
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,549$3,549
$534āļŋ17.2K
565.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.62
5.33
24.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Great Falls, MT: April 21, 2026
Last update for Phuket: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $1,457 in Great Falls, MT versus $615 in Phuket. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
ð°Salaries run about 565% higher in Great Falls, MT, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
ðA mid-range dinner for two costs $37 in Great Falls, MT versus $46 in Phuket. Groceries tell a different story â $400 in Great Falls, MT vs $291 in Phuket â 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 75% 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 $3,340 per month in Great Falls, MT and $1,904 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â 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 $46.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafÃĐ 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 $1,270, than in Great Falls, MT at $2,226. 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 $1,270 versus $2,226 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 â 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.
Great Falls, MT vs other spots: cost of living compared