Cost of Living Comparison Between Hampton, VA and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Hampton, VA and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,296 in Hampton, VA versus $1,264 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,877 in Hampton, VA versus $2,256 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,457 in Hampton, VA versus $3,248 in Phuket.

Living in Hampton, VA is roughly 161% more expensive than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Hampton, VA is 148% above, Phuket is 5% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.21 $22.21

$4.48 ฿150

395.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.4 $74.4

$45.59 ฿1,521

63.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.05 $13.05

$8.76 ฿292

48.97%

Cappuccino

$5.37 $5.37

$2.97 ฿99.0

80.81%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 $3.20

$0.69 ฿22.90

363.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 $2.41

$0.39 ฿13.04

517.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.49 $6.49

$2.53 ฿84.4

156.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.81 $7.81

$3.75 ฿125

108.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$2.15 ฿71.6

-35.81%

White Bread (500g)

$4.22 $4.22

$1.82 ฿60.6

131.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$10.08 $10.08

$2.18 ฿72.9

362.39%

Eggs

$5.65 $5.65

$2.25 ฿75.0

151.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.16 $10.16

$20.00 ฿667

-49.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$26.18 $26.18

$3.63 ฿121

621.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.22 $23.22

$13.56 ฿452

71.24%

Apples (1kg)

$7.78 $7.78

$3.24 ฿108

140.12%

Banana (1kg)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.64 ฿54.6

57.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$10.03 $10.03

$2.33 ฿77.8

330.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$9.59 $9.59

$2.07 ฿69.1

363.29%

Potato (1kg)

$5.96 $5.96

$1.55 ฿51.6

284.52%

Onion (1kg)

$7.44 $7.44

$1.46 ฿48.54

409.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.54 $3.54

$0.98 ฿32.86

261.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$4.39 $4.39

$0.48 ฿16.09

814.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.59 $10.59

$4.35 ฿145

143.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.76 $17.76

$18.57 ฿620

-4.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.86 ฿61.9

-9.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.77 $3.77

$2.65 ฿88.6

42.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.66 $3.66

$1.42 ฿47.28

157.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.8 $54.8

$11.57 ฿386

373.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.09 $5.09

$3.17 ฿106

60.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.81 $1.81

$1.03 ฿34.41

75.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.90 $19.90

$13.89 ฿463

43.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 $0.81

$1.34 ฿44.84

-39.55%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.0K $26.0K

$27.8K ฿927.1K

-6.52%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$24.6K $24.6K

$33.4K ฿1.1M

-26.37%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$217 $217

$123 ฿4,105

75.96%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$52.6 $52.6

$13.77 ฿459

281.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.1 $67.1

$18.33 ฿611

265.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$112 $112

$60.7 ฿2,025

85.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.62 $34.62

$17.16 ฿573

101.75%

Cinema Ticket

$15.07 $15.07

$8.87 ฿296

69.90%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,324 $1,324

$688 ฿22.9K

92.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.2K $15.2K

$15.8K ฿526.4K

-3.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.08 $48.08

$59.3 ฿1,978

-18.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.79 $39.79

$34.69 ฿1,157

14.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$115 ฿3,843

0.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$83.8 ฿2,794

41.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,479 $1,479

$621 ฿20.7K

138.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,547 $1,547

$446 ฿14.9K

246.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,611 $2,611

$2,034 ฿67.8K

28.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,641 $2,641

$1,496 ฿49.9K

76.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,455 ฿115.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,282 $2,282

$2,531 ฿84.4K

-9.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,724 $3,724

$494 ฿16.5K

654.49%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.26

5.33

17.45%

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

Last update for Hampton, VA: July 28, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,479 in Hampton, VA and $621 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Hampton, VA pays 654% 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: $74.0 in Hampton, VA vs $46.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $644 vs $291 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

Hampton, VA vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 161% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 654% higher in Hampton, VA, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,479 in Hampton, VA versus $621 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,296 per month in Hampton, VA versus $1,264 in Phuket – a 161% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Phuket runs roughly 374% less than in Hampton, VA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,264 in Phuket versus $3,296 in Hampton, VA, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Hampton, VA. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Hampton, VA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Hampton, VA 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.

Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 161% less than in Hampton, VA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.