Cost of Living Comparison Between Iowa City, IA and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Iowa City, IA and Phuket

😐 Solo nomad: Iowa City, IA is 48.3% more expensive than Phuket without rent, and 78.9% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Iowa City, IA is 42.7% more expensive than Phuket without rent, and 27.8% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.77 $14.77

$4.73 ฿153

212.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.6 $74.6

$45.92 ฿1,486

62.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.74 $8.74

$8.59 ฿278

1.75%

Cappuccino

$5.27 $5.27

$2.92 ฿94.6

80.48%

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

$2.46 $2.46

$0.69 ฿22.42

256.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.8 $1.8

$0.4 ฿12.81

350.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.9 $4.9

$2.41 ฿78

103.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.84 $6.84

$3.8 ฿123

80.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$2.25 ฿72.7

-61.33%

White Bread (500g)

$2.63 $2.63

$1.79 ฿58.1

46.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.83 $4.83

$2.18 ฿70.6

121.56%

Eggs

$4.06 $4.06

$2.29 ฿74.3

77.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.47 $9.47

$19.52 ฿632

-51.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.59 $10.59

$3.68 ฿119

187.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.69 $16.69

$13.18 ฿427

26.63%

Apples (1kg)

$3.31 $3.31

$3.24 ฿105

2.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 $1.16

$1.62 ฿52.5

-28.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.41 ฿78

12.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.73 $4.73

$2.03 ฿65.6

133.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.52 ฿49.3

30.26%

Onion (1kg)

$2.78 $2.78

$1.51 ฿48.86

84.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.03 $2.03

$0.97 ฿31.45

109.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.04 $2.04

$0.52 ฿16.68

292.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.73 $8.73

$4.49 ฿145

94.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.85 $11.85

$21.36 ฿691

-44.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 $1.68

$1.78 ฿57.5

-5.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.7 $4.7

$2.79 ฿90.3

68.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.05 $2.05

$1.36 ฿44.15

50.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.82 $15.82

$11.51 ฿372

37.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.38 $4.38

$3.17 ฿103

38.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.21 $2.21

$1.04 ฿33.64

112.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.03 $42.03

$14.03 ฿454

199.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 $0.85

$1.32 ฿42.59

-35.61%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$28K ฿904.8K

-8.86%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$33.2K ฿1.1M

-22.64%

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

$221 $221

$120 ฿3,899

83.80%

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

$51.6 $51.6

$13.55 ฿438

280.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.6 $75.6

$18.62 ฿603

306.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.58 $48.58

$61.4 ฿1,987

-20.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.17 $20.17

$16.68 ฿540

20.92%

Cinema Ticket

$12.09 $12.09

$8.76 ฿283

38.01%

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

$1,250 $1,250

$703 ฿22.7K

77.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.4K $24.4K

$15.7K ฿507.5K

55.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.9 $66.9

$57.9 ฿1,873

15.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.23 $48.23

$35.4 ฿1,145

36.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.2 $99.2

$113 ฿3,659

-12.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 $113

$83.2 ฿2,691

36.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,248 $1,248

$604 ฿19.5K

106.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,080 $1,080

$441 ฿14.3K

144.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,428 $2,428

$2,027 ฿65.6K

19.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,540 $1,540

$1,492 ฿48.3K

3.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,775 $3,775

$4,195 ฿135.7K

-10.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,799 $1,799

$2,909 ฿94.1K

-38.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,809 $3,809

$706 ฿22.8K

439.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.43

5.33

20.64%

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

Last update for Iowa City, IA: November 5, 2025

Last update for Phuket: November 4, 2025

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