Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Gulfport, MS and Phuket

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,208 a month against $2,030 in Gulfport, MS, rent and utilities included – about $9,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Gulfport, MS
🇺🇸 United States
$2,030
/mo nomad
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,208
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Gulfport, MS and in Phuket

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Gulfport, MS and in Phuket actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,030 per month in Gulfport, MS vs $1,208 in Phuket, rent included.

  • Gulfport, MS $2,030
  • Phuket $1,208

A couple spends around $3,018 per month in Gulfport, MS vs $2,027 in Phuket, rent included.

  • Gulfport, MS $3,018
  • Phuket $2,027

A family of three spends $4,006 per month in Gulfport, MS vs $2,845 in Phuket, rent included.

  • Gulfport, MS $4,006
  • Phuket $2,845

Gulfport, MS costs about 68% more than Phuket, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Gulfport, MS sits 50% above the global median, while Phuket is 11% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gulfport, MS
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.36 $18.36
$4.40 ฿147
317.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.1 $54.1
$32.26 ฿1,078
67.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.20 $12.20
$8.76 ฿293
39.27%
Cappuccino
$4.91 $4.91
$2.83 ฿94.5
73.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 $2.22
$0.90 ฿30.14
146.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79 $1.79
$0.47 ฿15.56
280.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.96 $3.96
$2.55 ฿85.2
55.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.87 $4.87
$3.83 ฿128
27.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gulfport, MS
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.89 $0.89
$1.73 ฿57.7
-48.55%
White Bread (500g)
$3.51 $3.51
$1.47 ฿49.11
138.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.76 $2.76
$1.51 ฿50.6
82.78%
Eggs
$3.25 $3.25
$2.17 ฿72.7
49.77%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.78 $10.78
$19.70 ฿658
-45.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.77 $11.77
$3.34 ฿112
252.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.58 $14.58
$11.16 ฿373
30.65%
Apples (1kg)
$4.09 $4.09
$2.85 ฿95.1
43.51%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 $1.50
$1.70 ฿56.9
-11.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.63 $2.63
$2.19 ฿73.3
20.09%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.33 $4.33
$2.05 ฿68.4
111.22%
Potato (1kg)
$2.22 $2.22
$1.45 ฿48.57
53.10%
Onion (1kg)
$1.80 $1.80
$1.38 ฿46.16
30.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.07 $2.07
$1.07 ฿35.69
93.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.43 $1.43
$0.51 ฿16.91
180.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.42 $8.42
$4.26 ฿142
97.65%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.04 $15.04
$18.58 ฿621
-19.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.04 $2.04
$1.78 ฿59.7
14.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91 $3.91
$2.85 ฿95.2
37.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Gulfport, MS
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$2.26 ฿75.6
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$22.10 ฿738
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.45 $2.45
$3.01 ฿101
-18.60%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.65 $1.65
$1.06 ฿35.34
55.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.89 $25.89
$3.86 ฿129
570.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.75 $0.75
$1.45 ฿48.45
-48.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.0K $37.0K
$26.3K ฿879.9K
40.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0K $26.0K
$26.9K ฿900.4K
-3.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gulfport, MS
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$219 $219
$96.4 ฿3,221
126.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$50.1 $50.1
$11.04 ฿369
353.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.9 $69.9
$17.14 ฿573
307.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gulfport, MS
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.18 $25.18
$52.2 ฿1,744
-51.74%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$11.16 ฿373
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.94 $8.94
$7.81 ฿261
14.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gulfport, MS
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$618 $618
$556 ฿18.6K
11.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.1K $14.1K
$11.6K ฿387.0K
21.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gulfport, MS
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$31.45 $31.45
$64.2 ฿2,146
-51.01%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05 $40.05
$28.69 ฿959
39.60%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.7 $84.7
$95.4 ฿3,187
-11.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.6 $73.6
$88.0 ฿2,940
-16.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gulfport, MS
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,105 $1,105
$737 ฿24.6K
49.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$897 $897
$462 ฿15.5K
94.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,647 $1,647
$2,095 ฿70.0K
-21.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,631 $1,631
$1,201 ฿40.1K
35.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,736 $1,736
$3,488 ฿116.6K
-50.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,739 $1,739
$2,523 ฿84.3K
-31.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gulfport, MS
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,150 $3,150
$501 ฿16.7K
529.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.54
5.57
17.41%

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

Last update for Gulfport, MS: October 17, 2026

Last update for Phuket: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Gulfport, MS
$897
Phuket
$462 48.5% $435
Groceries & Markets
Gulfport, MS
$348
Phuket
$269 22.9% $80
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gulfport, MS
$339
Phuket
$125 63.2% $214
Eating Out
Gulfport, MS
$288
Phuket
$121 57.9% $167
Clothing & Footwear
Gulfport, MS
$103
Phuket
$124 20.2% $21
Sport & Entertainment
Gulfport, MS
$43
Phuket
$68 57.4% $25
Getting Around
Gulfport, MS
$11 *
Phuket
$39 268% $29

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,105 in Gulfport, MS versus $737 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 529% higher in Gulfport, MS, 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 $54.0 in Gulfport, MS versus $32.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $348 vs $269 – making Phuket the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Gulfport, MS
🇹🇭 Phuket
🕒 Local time
07:31 7:31 AM
19:31 7:31 PM
12 h ahead of Gulfport, MS
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
64,316
79,308
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Gulfport, MS Phuket 15,690 km ≈ 20 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Gulfport, MS
  • Phuket

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Gulfport, MS vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Gulfport, MS or Phuket?
Gulfport, MS costs about 68% more than Phuket, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from 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 Gulfport, MS and in Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,044 per month in Gulfport, MS and $1,813 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Gulfport, MS 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.
How do dining costs compare in Gulfport, MS and in Phuket?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $54.0 in Gulfport, MS and $32.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Gulfport, MS or in Phuket?
Groceries cost about 30% more in Gulfport, MS, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Gulfport, MS or in Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,208, than in Gulfport, MS at $2,030. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Gulfport, MS it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Gulfport, MS or Phuket?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,208 versus $2,030 in Gulfport, MS. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Gulfport, MS 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 Gulfport, MS or to Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Gulfport, MS makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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