Cost of Living Comparison Between Hot Springs, AR and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Hot Springs, AR and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,526 per month in Hot Springs, AR vs $1,250 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,431 per month in Hot Springs, AR vs $2,284 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,335 per month in Hot Springs, AR vs $3,317 in Phuket, rent included.

Hot Springs, AR costs about 22% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Hot Springs, AR sits 14% above the global median, while Phuket is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.62 $19.62

$4.55 ฿153

331.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$66.1 $66.1

$46.18 ฿1,554

43.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.64 $9.64

$8.84 ฿298

9.05%

Cappuccino

$5.07 $5.07

$3.06 ฿103

65.69%

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

$2.36 $2.36

$0.73 ฿24.42

223.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 $1.72

$0.40 ฿13.40

330.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.87 $4.87

$2.43 ฿81.8

100.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.09 $6.09

$3.78 ฿127

61.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.96 $0.96

$2.26 ฿76.0

-57.52%

White Bread (500g)

$2.80 $2.80

$1.81 ฿60.9

54.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.89 $2.89

$2.25 ฿75.8

28.44%

Eggs

$2.29 $2.29

$2.25 ฿75.6

1.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.56 $7.56

$19.51 ฿656

-61.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.10 $11.10

$3.65 ฿123

204.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.17 $15.17

$13.05 ฿439

16.25%

Apples (1kg)

$3.70 $3.70

$3.23 ฿109

14.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 $1.62

$1.62 ฿54.4

Oranges (1kg)

$4.64 $4.64

$2.38 ฿80.2

94.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.52 $3.52

$2.03 ฿68.2

73.40%

Potato (1kg)

$3.18 $3.18

$1.53 ฿51.6

107.84%

Onion (1kg)

$3.11 $3.11

$1.50 ฿50.5

107.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.89 $1.89

$0.98 ฿32.93

92.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 $1.55

$0.52 ฿17.40

198.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.76 $7.76

$4.44 ฿149

74.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.26 $19.26

$18.32 ฿616

5.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.86 ฿62.7

-7.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.86 $1.86

$2.68 ฿90.2

-30.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.41 ฿47.49

-13.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.08 $28.08

$11.70 ฿394

140.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.99 $1.99

$3.11 ฿105

-36.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.04 ฿35.08

33.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.94 $19.94

$14.11 ฿475

41.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 $0.72

$1.31 ฿44.13

-45.04%

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

$16.7K $16.7K

$27.8K ฿936.0K

-39.97%

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

$23.0K $23.0K

$33.2K ฿1.1M

-30.81%

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

$214 $214

$122 ฿4,120

74.49%

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

$58.0 $58.0

$13.59 ฿457

326.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.61 $40.61

$18.70 ฿629

117.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.70 $34.70

$60.5 ฿2,035

-42.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.88 $9.88

$16.98 ฿572

-41.81%

Cinema Ticket

$12.72 $12.72

$9.07 ฿305

40.24%

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

$592 $592

$706 ฿23.8K

-16.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$27.6K $27.6K

$15.8K ฿531.8K

74.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.45 $39.45

$58.6 ฿1,970

-32.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.96 $31.96

$35.36 ฿1,190

-9.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.2 $74.2

$115 ฿3,885

-35.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.0 $81.0

$83.7 ฿2,818

-3.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$602 $602

$626 ฿21.1K

-3.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$400 $400

$445 ฿15.0K

-10.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,013 $1,013

$2,040 ฿68.7K

-50.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$811 $811

$1,492 ฿50.2K

-45.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,973 $1,973

$3,483 ฿117.2K

-43.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,974 $1,974

$2,577 ฿86.7K

-23.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,445 $3,445

$500 ฿16.8K

589.18%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.36

5.33

19.32%

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

Last update for Hot Springs, AR: July 11, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $602 in Hot Springs, AR versus $626 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 589% higher in Hot Springs, AR, 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 $66.0 in Hot Springs, AR versus $46.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $339 vs $289 – 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

Hot Springs, AR vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Hot Springs, AR costs about 22% 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 $2,290 per month in Hot Springs, AR and $1,875 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.

Kindergarten costs $592 per month in Hot Springs, AR and $706 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 17% more in Hot Springs, AR, 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 $1,250, than in Hot Springs, AR at $1,526. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hot Springs, AR it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,250 versus $1,526 in Hot Springs, AR. 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, Hot Springs, AR makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.