Cost of Living Comparison Between Highlands Ranch, CO and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Highlands Ranch, CO and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,473 per month in Highlands Ranch, CO vs $1,270 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,579 per month in Highlands Ranch, CO vs $2,304 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,686 per month in Highlands Ranch, CO vs $3,339 in Phuket, rent included.

Highlands Ranch, CO costs about 95% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Highlands Ranch, CO sits 85% above the global median, while Phuket is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.03 $15.03

$4.66 ฿150

222.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.2 $73.2

$46.44 ฿1,496

57.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.13 $10.13

$8.68 ฿280

16.71%

Cappuccino

$4.81 $4.81

$2.95 ฿95.0

63.05%

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

$1.95 $1.95

$0.70 ฿22.52

178.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 $2.40

$0.39 ฿12.70

515.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.09 $5.09

$2.53 ฿81.6

101.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.97 $5.97

$3.78 ฿122

57.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$2.22 ฿71.5

-52.25%

White Bread (500g)

$3.08 $3.08

$1.80 ฿57.8

71.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.32 $3.32

$2.19 ฿70.4

51.60%

Eggs

$4.23 $4.23

$2.31 ฿74.5

83.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.99 $10.99

$19.34 ฿623

-43.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.19 $7.19

$3.77 ฿121

90.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.68 $16.68

$13.22 ฿426

26.17%

Apples (1kg)

$3.97 $3.97

$3.33 ฿107

19.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 $1.49

$1.65 ฿53.1

-9.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.21 $4.21

$2.29 ฿73.7

83.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.09 $5.09

$1.99 ฿64.1

155.78%

Potato (1kg)

$2.37 $2.37

$1.53 ฿49.24

54.90%

Onion (1kg)

$1.87 $1.87

$1.51 ฿48.77

23.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.51 $2.51

$1.03 ฿33.12

143.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

$0.51 ฿16.57

301.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.47 $9.47

$4.41 ฿142

114.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.76 $17.76

$19.41 ฿625

-8.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$1.80 ฿58.0

25.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.68 ฿86.4

-0.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.43 ฿46.11

37.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.70 ฿377

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.44 $2.44

$3.04 ฿97.9

-19.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.04 ฿33.37

32.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.62 $24.62

$13.68 ฿441

79.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$1.30 ฿41.85

-33.08%

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

$27.2K $27.2K

$27.9K ฿898.9K

-2.46%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$33.0K ฿1.1M

-21.72%

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

$168 $168

$123 ฿3,962

36.38%

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

$42.35 $42.35

$13.82 ฿445

206.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$77.3 $77.3

$18.86 ฿608

309.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.10 $43.10

$61.2 ฿1,970

-29.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.81 ฿541

Cinema Ticket

$11.90 $11.90

$8.87 ฿286

34.16%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$696 ฿22.4K

119.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.4K $12.4K

$16.1K ฿517.4K

-22.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.6 $60.6

$59.3 ฿1,910

2.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$91.1 $91.1

$34.85 ฿1,123

161.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.9 $78.9

$113 ฿3,646

-30.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 $107

$85.1 ฿2,740

25.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$615 ฿19.8K

157.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,370 $1,370

$448 ฿14.4K

205.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,625 $2,625

$2,085 ฿67.2K

25.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,225 $2,225

$1,496 ฿48.2K

48.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,346 $2,346

$3,734 ฿120.3K

-37.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,212 $2,212

$2,662 ฿85.8K

-16.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,560 $7,560

$534 ฿17.2K

1316.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.59

5.33

23.64%

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

Last update for Highlands Ranch, CO: April 20, 2026

Last update for Phuket: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,584 in Highlands Ranch, CO 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 1317% higher in Highlands Ranch, CO, 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 $73 in Highlands Ranch, CO versus $46 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $359 vs $291 – making Phuket the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Highlands Ranch, CO vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,473 in Highlands Ranch, CO, $1,270 in Phuket – roughly 95% apart. Highlands Ranch, CO costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,709 per month in Highlands Ranch, CO 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,473 in Highlands Ranch, CO and $1,270 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,526 per month in Highlands Ranch, CO and $696 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,270, than in Highlands Ranch, CO at $2,473. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Highlands Ranch, CO it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,270 in Phuket to $2,473 in Highlands Ranch, CO. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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, Highlands Ranch, CO makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.