Cost of Living Comparison Between Jacksonville, FL and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Jacksonville, FL and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,387 per month in Jacksonville, FL vs $1,232 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,685 per month in Jacksonville, FL vs $2,054 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,984 per month in Jacksonville, FL vs $2,876 in Phuket, rent included.

Jacksonville, FL costs about 94% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Jacksonville, FL sits 74% above the global median, while Phuket is 10% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jacksonville, FL
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.76 $19.76
$4.41 ฿147
348.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$101 $101
$32.26 ฿1,077
214.41%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.11 $12.11
$8.93 ฿298
35.61%
Cappuccino
$5.52 $5.52
$2.90 ฿96.6
90.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 $2.87
$0.88 ฿29.38
226.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 $2.15
$0.48 ฿16.06
347.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.87 $4.87
$2.35 ฿78.5
107.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.89 $6.89
$3.72 ฿124
85.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jacksonville, FL
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.89 $0.89
$1.87 ฿62.3
-52.41%
White Bread (500g)
$3.10 $3.10
$1.47 ฿48.94
110.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.83 $3.83
$1.55 ฿51.8
147.10%
Eggs
$4.38 $4.38
$2.10 ฿70.1
108.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.03 $14.03
$19.59 ฿654
-28.38%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.39 $9.39
$3.42 ฿114
174.56%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.19 $16.19
$11.38 ฿380
42.27%
Apples (1kg)
$4.68 $4.68
$2.98 ฿99.6
57.05%
Banana (1kg)
$1.48 $1.48
$1.68 ฿56.2
-11.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.89 $3.89
$2.21 ฿73.7
76.02%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.68 $4.68
$2.16 ฿72.1
116.67%
Potato (1kg)
$2.83 $2.83
$1.52 ฿50.9
86.18%
Onion (1kg)
$2.94 $2.94
$1.34 ฿44.67
119.40%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.50 $2.50
$1.13 ฿37.67
121.24%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$0.55 ฿18.24
340.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.82 $9.82
$4.26 ฿142
130.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.52 $14.52
$19.09 ฿637
-23.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.07 $2.07
$1.78 ฿59.4
16.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.13 $3.13
$2.78 ฿92.9
12.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Jacksonville, FL
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.92 $1.92
$2.23 ฿74.4
-13.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$62.2 $62.2
$22.74 ฿759
173.57%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.46 $1.46
$3.03 ฿101
-51.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.14 $1.14
$1.02 ฿34.15
11.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.05 $14.05
$3.89 ฿130
261.18%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.00 $1.00
$1.49 ฿49.77
-32.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.7K $36.7K
$26.6K ฿887.3K
38.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.1K $25.1K
$27.0K ฿902.2K
-7.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jacksonville, FL
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$197 $197
$102 ฿3,420
92.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.9 $58.9
$11.33 ฿378
420.04%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.1 $67.1
$17.40 ฿581
285.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jacksonville, FL
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.41 $42.41
$52.1 ฿1,738
-18.57%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.50 $6.50
$11.07 ฿370
-41.28%
Cinema Ticket
$15.11 $15.11
$7.69 ฿257
96.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jacksonville, FL
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,302 $1,302
$561 ฿18.7K
132.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.1K $12.1K
$11.5K ฿384.1K
4.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jacksonville, FL
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.2 $63.2
$63.0 ฿2,104
0.29%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.48 $47.48
$29.52 ฿986
60.84%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$110 $110
$98.0 ฿3,272
12.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$153 $153
$88.5 ฿2,954
72.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jacksonville, FL
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,646 $1,646
$738 ฿24.6K
123.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,109 $1,109
$482 ฿16.1K
129.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,594 $2,594
$2,107 ฿70.3K
23.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,959 $1,959
$1,226 ฿40.9K
59.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,450 $2,450
$3,617 ฿120.7K
-32.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,085 $2,085
$2,603 ฿86.9K
-19.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jacksonville, FL
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,999 $3,999
$494 ฿16.5K
710.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.19
5.57
11.13%

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

Last update for Jacksonville, FL: September 13, 2026

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,646 in Jacksonville, FL versus $738 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 710% higher in Jacksonville, FL, 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 $101 in Jacksonville, FL versus $32.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $381 vs $274 – 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
Jacksonville, FL vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Jacksonville, FL or Phuket?
Jacksonville, FL costs about 94% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Jacksonville, FL and in Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,580 per month in Jacksonville, FL and $1,847 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Jacksonville, FL or Phuket?
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.
How do dining costs compare in Jacksonville, FL and in Phuket?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $101 in Jacksonville, FL and $32.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Jacksonville, FL compared to Phuket?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,387 in Jacksonville, FL and $1,232 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Jacksonville, FL or in Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,232, than in Jacksonville, FL at $2,387. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Jacksonville, FL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Jacksonville, FL or Phuket?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,232 versus $2,387 in Jacksonville, FL. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Jacksonville, FL compared to Phuket?
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.
Should I move to Jacksonville, FL or to Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Jacksonville, FL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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