Cost of Living Comparison Between Hays, KS and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Hays, KS and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,613 per month in Hays, KS vs $1,270 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,721 per month in Hays, KS vs $2,304 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,829 per month in Hays, KS vs $3,339 in Phuket, rent included.

Hays, KS costs about 106% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Hays, KS sits 95% above the global median, while Phuket is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.18 $15.18

$4.66 ฿150

225.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.86 $44.86

$46.44 ฿1,496

-3.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.02 $10.02

$8.68 ฿280

15.44%

Cappuccino

$4.58 $4.58

$2.95 ฿95.0

55.25%

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

$2.45 $2.45

$0.70 ฿22.52

250.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 $1.02

$0.39 ฿12.70

161.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.52 $3.52

$2.53 ฿81.6

39.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.52 $4.52

$3.78 ฿122

19.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 $0.94

$2.22 ฿71.5

-57.66%

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

$1.80 ฿57.8

108.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.31 $4.31

$2.19 ฿70.4

96.80%

Eggs

$3.96 $3.96

$2.31 ฿74.5

71.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.72 $9.72

$19.34 ฿623

-49.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.90 $7.90

$3.77 ฿121

109.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.83 $17.83

$13.22 ฿426

34.87%

Apples (1kg)

$5.49 $5.49

$3.33 ฿107

64.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 $1.61

$1.65 ฿53.1

-2.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.91 $4.91

$2.29 ฿73.7

114.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.57 $4.57

$1.99 ฿64.1

129.65%

Potato (1kg)

$2.57 $2.57

$1.53 ฿49.24

67.97%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$1.51 ฿48.77

78.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.03 ฿33.12

98.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 $1.85

$0.51 ฿16.57

262.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.10 $9.10

$4.41 ฿142

106.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.79 $11.79

$19.41 ฿625

-39.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.20 $2.20

$1.80 ฿58.0

22.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 $3.91

$2.68 ฿86.4

45.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.05 $2.05

$1.43 ฿46.11

43.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.70 ฿377

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.43 $2.43

$3.04 ฿97.9

-20.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.50 $1.50

$1.04 ฿33.37

44.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.54 $26.54

$13.68 ฿441

94.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.75 $0.75

$1.30 ฿41.85

-42.31%

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

$28.5K $28.5K

$27.9K ฿898.9K

2.25%

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

$23.8K $23.8K

$33.0K ฿1.1M

-28.08%

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

$315 $315

$123 ฿3,962

156.23%

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

$56.0 $56.0

$13.82 ฿445

305.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.1 $74.1

$18.86 ฿608

292.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.76 $42.76

$61.2 ฿1,970

-30.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.81 ฿541

Cinema Ticket

$12.90 $12.90

$8.87 ฿286

45.43%

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

$903 $903

$696 ฿22.4K

29.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.1K $16.1K

$16.1K ฿517.4K

0.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.89 $45.89

$59.3 ฿1,910

-22.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.99 $37.99

$34.85 ฿1,123

9.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 $108

$113 ฿3,646

-4.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 $112

$85.1 ฿2,740

31.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,604 $1,604

$615 ฿19.8K

160.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,367 $1,367

$448 ฿14.4K

204.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,614 $2,614

$2,085 ฿67.2K

25.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,195 $2,195

$1,496 ฿48.2K

46.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,734 ฿120.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,662 ฿85.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,430 $2,430

$534 ฿17.2K

355.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.52

5.33

22.33%

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

Last update for Hays, KS: April 20, 2026

Last update for Phuket: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,604 in Hays, KS 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.

Salaries run about 356% higher in Hays, KS, 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 $45 in Hays, KS versus $46 in Phuket. Groceries tell a different story – $368 in Hays, KS vs $291 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

Hays, KS vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Hays, KS is pricier by about 106%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,920 per month in Hays, KS and $1,904 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Hays, KS and $46.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 26% more in Hays, KS, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,270, than in Hays, KS at $2,613. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hays, KS it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hays, KS makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.