Cost of Living Comparison Between Jamestown and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Jamestown and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,273 per month in Jamestown vs $1,261 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,749 per month in Jamestown vs $2,286 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,226 per month in Jamestown vs $3,310 in Phuket, rent included.

Jamestown costs about 1% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Jamestown and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Jamestown 5% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.06 SHP 11.97

$4.56 ฿149

252.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.42 SHP 36.07

$46.63 ฿1,519

3.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.07 SHP 6.76

$8.47 ฿276

7.08%

Cappuccino

$2.98 SHP 2.22

$3.03 ฿98.6

-1.65%

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

$1.19 SHP 0.89

$0.69 ฿22.45

72.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.18 SHP 0.88

$0.37 ฿11.92

218.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.87 SHP 3.63

$2.49 ฿81.0

95.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.59 SHP 1.93

$3.66 ฿119

-29.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 SHP 1.41

$2.18 ฿71.0

-13.30%

White Bread (500g)

$1.67 SHP 1.24

$1.90 ฿62.0

-12.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 SHP 1.04

$2.20 ฿71.6

-36.82%

Eggs

$4.39 SHP 3.27

$2.22 ฿72.4

97.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.35 SHP 6.22

$19.99 ฿651

-58.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.95 SHP 8.15

$3.66 ฿119

199.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.93 SHP 8.14

$13.25 ฿432

-17.51%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ฿105

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.3

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 ฿78.0

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿67.7

Potato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.31

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.64 SHP 1.97

$1.03 ฿33.54

156.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.17 SHP 1.62

$0.52 ฿16.83

317.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.74 SHP 8.00

$4.25 ฿138

152.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.79 ฿612

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 ฿57.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 ฿89.8

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 ฿44.32

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.12 SHP 30.63

$11.36 ฿370

261.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 SHP 1.99

$3.14 ฿102

-14.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿33.74

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.77 ฿448

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ฿43.79

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

$27.7K ฿901.4K

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

$33.9K ฿1.1M

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

$124 ฿4,025

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

$13.52 ฿440

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$108 SHP 80.7

$18.69 ฿609

479.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$6.90 SHP 5.14

$61.8 ฿2,013

-88.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.25 ฿562

Cinema Ticket

$9.14 ฿298

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

$703 ฿22.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K ฿517.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.97 SHP 30.52

$59.5 ฿1,937

-31.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.20 SHP 15.05

$35.07 ฿1,142

-42.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$46.90 SHP 34.94

$115 ฿3,754

-59.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.1 ฿2,737

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$689 SHP 513

$619 ฿20.1K

11.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$604 SHP 450

$433 ฿14.1K

39.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$726 SHP 541

$2,062 ฿67.2K

-64.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$706 SHP 526

$1,511 ฿49.2K

-53.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,646 ฿118.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,626 ฿85.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$507 ฿16.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.2

5.33

16.32%

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

Last update for Jamestown: June 8, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $689 in Jamestown 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Jamestown versus $47.00 in Phuket. Groceries tell a different story – $208 in Jamestown vs $293 in Phuket – so Jamestown wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Jamestown vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Jamestown is pricier by about 1%, 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 $1,910 per month in Jamestown 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.

Public transport costs about 262% less in Phuket. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Interestingly, groceries are about 41% cheaper in Jamestown – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,261, than in Jamestown at $1,273. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Jamestown 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, Jamestown makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.