Cost of Living Comparison Between Houma, LA and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Houma, LA and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,036 per month in Houma, LA vs $1,265 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,988 per month in Houma, LA vs $2,089 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,941 per month in Houma, LA vs $2,913 in Phuket, rent included.

Houma, LA costs about 61% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Houma, LA sits 48% above the global median, while Phuket is 8% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.80 $19.80

$4.66 ฿154

324.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.16 $49.16

$32.22 ฿1,065

52.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.13 $12.13

$8.68 ฿287

39.75%

Cappuccino

$5.57 $5.57

$2.90 ฿95.8

92.07%

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

$2.23 $2.23

$0.84 ฿27.89

165.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 $1.66

$0.49 ฿16.16

238.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.07 $3.07

$2.48 ฿82.0

23.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.83 $4.83

$3.73 ฿123

29.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.89 ฿62.3

-42.33%

White Bread (500g)

$3.92 $3.92

$1.41 ฿46.54

178.01%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.00 $5.00

$1.62 ฿53.6

208.64%

Eggs

$1.71 $1.71

$2.24 ฿74.1

-23.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.40 $10.40

$19.84 ฿656

-47.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.08 $10.08

$3.48 ฿115

189.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.17 $15.17

$11.37 ฿376

33.42%

Apples (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$2.90 ฿95.8

77.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.30 $1.30

$1.72 ฿57.0

-24.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.36 $5.36

$2.27 ฿75.1

136.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.14 $4.14

$2.13 ฿70.4

94.37%

Potato (1kg)

$2.07 $2.07

$1.47 ฿48.72

40.82%

Onion (1kg)

$3.27 $3.27

$1.42 ฿46.92

130.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 $2.01

$1.10 ฿36.25

82.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.69 $2.69

$0.60 ฿19.76

348.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.53 $8.53

$4.31 ฿142

97.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.25 $13.25

$18.60 ฿615

-28.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.80 ฿59.5

37.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.99 $3.99

$2.97 ฿98.0

34.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.25 ฿74.2

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.49 ฿776

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.40 $3.40

$3.10 ฿102

9.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.08 ฿35.56

40.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.51 $34.51

$3.87 ฿128

791.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$1.43 ฿47.16

-39.86%

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

$35.1K $35.1K

$27.8K ฿918.0K

26.20%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$27.0K ฿891.5K

-3.58%

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

$151 $151

$105 ฿3,462

43.75%

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

$71.1 $71.1

$11.39 ฿376

524.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$47.00 $47.00

$17.54 ฿580

167.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.26 $27.26

$54.3 ฿1,795

-49.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.44 ฿378

Cinema Ticket

$12.39 $12.39

$7.78 ฿257

59.25%

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

$1,539 $1,539

$576 ฿19.0K

167.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.4K $10.4K

$11.6K ฿382.7K

-10.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 $58.1

$63.6 ฿2,103

-8.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.03 $43.03

$29.10 ฿961

47.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.3 $87.3

$96.2 ฿3,179

-9.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 $122

$90.0 ฿2,974

35.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,044 $1,044

$733 ฿24.2K

42.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$922 $922

$501 ฿16.5K

84.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,552 $1,552

$2,126 ฿70.2K

-26.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,442 $1,442

$1,252 ฿41.4K

15.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,461 $1,461

$3,534 ฿116.8K

-58.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 $1,444

$2,622 ฿86.6K

-44.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,709 $3,709

$508 ฿16.8K

630.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-28.19%

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

Last update for Houma, LA: September 7, 2026

Last update for Phuket: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,044 in Houma, LA versus $733 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 631% higher in Houma, LA, 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 $49.00 in Houma, LA versus $32.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $380 vs $275 – 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

Houma, LA vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Houma, LA is pricier by about 61%, 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 $3,053 per month in Houma, LA and $1,898 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 $2,036 in Houma, LA and $1,265 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,539 per month in Houma, LA and $576 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 $1,265, than in Houma, LA at $2,036. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Houma, LA 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, Houma, LA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.