Cost of Living Comparison Between Hilton Head Island, SC and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Hilton Head Island, SC and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,892 per month in Hilton Head Island, SC vs $1,261 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,788 per month in Hilton Head Island, SC vs $2,286 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,684 per month in Hilton Head Island, SC vs $3,310 in Phuket, rent included.

Hilton Head Island, SC costs about 129% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Hilton Head Island, SC sits 115% above the global median, while Phuket is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.60 $19.60

$4.56 ฿149

329.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.9 $59.9

$46.63 ฿1,519

28.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.90 $11.90

$8.47 ฿276

40.50%

Cappuccino

$4.87 $4.87

$3.03 ฿98.6

60.73%

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

$3.03 $3.03

$0.69 ฿22.45

339.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 $1.96

$0.37 ฿11.92

429.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.87 $4.87

$2.49 ฿81.0

95.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.54 $5.54

$3.66 ฿119

51.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.76 $0.76

$2.18 ฿71.0

-65.14%

White Bread (500g)

$3.65 $3.65

$1.90 ฿62.0

92.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.13 $3.13

$2.20 ฿71.6

42.27%

Eggs

$2.84 $2.84

$2.22 ฿72.4

27.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.65 $8.65

$19.99 ฿651

-56.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.03 $9.03

$3.66 ฿119

146.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.08 $13.08

$13.25 ฿432

-1.28%

Apples (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$3.23 ฿105

36.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 $1.45

$1.70 ฿55.3

-14.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.14 $3.14

$2.39 ฿78.0

31.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.18 $4.18

$2.08 ฿67.7

100.96%

Potato (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$1.59 ฿51.8

76.10%

Onion (1kg)

$3.37 $3.37

$1.48 ฿48.31

127.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.03 ฿33.54

190.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.69 $2.69

$0.52 ฿16.83

417.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.23 $8.23

$4.25 ฿138

93.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.63 $14.63

$18.79 ฿612

-22.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.89 $1.89

$1.76 ฿57.2

7.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 $3.27

$2.76 ฿89.8

18.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.36 ฿44.32

45.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.36 ฿370

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.96 $3.96

$3.14 ฿102

26.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.52 $2.52

$1.04 ฿33.74

142.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.75 $24.75

$13.77 ฿448

79.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 $0.64

$1.34 ฿43.79

-52.24%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$27.7K ฿901.4K

-4.83%

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

$25.2K $25.2K

$33.9K ฿1.1M

-25.58%

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

$191 $191

$124 ฿4,025

54.94%

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

$43.12 $43.12

$13.52 ฿440

218.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.4 $59.4

$18.69 ฿609

217.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.27 $20.27

$61.8 ฿2,013

-67.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.25 ฿562

Cinema Ticket

$14.12 $14.12

$9.14 ฿298

54.49%

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

$1,288 $1,288

$703 ฿22.9K

83.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.3K $11.3K

$15.9K ฿517.0K

-28.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$34.39 $34.39

$59.5 ฿1,937

-42.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.07 $35.07

$35.07 ฿1,142

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.0 $81.0

$115 ฿3,754

-29.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.0 $70.0

$84.1 ฿2,737

-16.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,132 $2,132

$619 ฿20.1K

244.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,787 $1,787

$433 ฿14.1K

313.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,287 $2,287

$2,062 ฿67.2K

10.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,234 $2,234

$1,511 ฿49.2K

47.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,680 $3,680

$3,646 ฿118.7K

0.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,605 $3,605

$2,626 ฿85.5K

37.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,401 $3,401

$507 ฿16.5K

570.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.53

5.33

22.51%

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

Last update for Hilton Head Island, SC: June 8, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,132 in Hilton Head Island, SC versus $619 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 571% higher in Hilton Head Island, SC, 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 $60.0 in Hilton Head Island, SC versus $47.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $347 vs $293 – 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

Hilton Head Island, SC vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Hilton Head Island, SC costs about 129% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,338 per month in Hilton Head Island, SC and $1,892 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 $2,892 in Hilton Head Island, SC and $1,261 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,288 per month in Hilton Head Island, SC and $703 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 $1,261, than in Hilton Head Island, SC at $2,892. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hilton Head Island, SC it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,261 versus $2,892 in Hilton Head Island, SC. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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, Hilton Head Island, SC makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.