🙂A single person spends $1,240 per month in Jamestown vs $1,264 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,748 per month in Jamestown vs $2,256 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,255 per month in Jamestown vs $3,248 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂Jamestown is about 2% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Jamestown and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Jamestown7% lower, Phuket5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jamestown
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.09SHP 11.92
$4.48฿150
259.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.49SHP 35.92
$45.59฿1,521
6.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.64SHP 6.40
$8.76฿292
-1.37%
Cappuccino
$3.11SHP 2.31
$2.97฿99.0
4.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.19SHP 0.88
$0.69฿22.90
72.46%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.21SHP 0.89
$0.39฿13.04
210.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.82SHP 3.57
$2.53฿84.4
90.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69SHP 2.00
$3.75฿125
-28.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jamestown
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.82SHP 1.35
$2.15฿71.6
-15.35%
White Bread(500g)
$1.59SHP 1.18
$1.82฿60.6
-12.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.37SHP 1.02
$2.18฿72.9
-37.16%
Eggs
$4.32SHP 3.20
$2.25฿75.0
92.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.08SHP 5.99
$20.00฿667
-59.60%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.80SHP 8.00
$3.63฿121
197.52%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86SHP 8.05
$13.56฿452
-19.91%
Apples(1kg)
-
$3.24฿108
-
Banana(1kg)
-
$1.64฿54.6
-
Oranges(1kg)
-
$2.33฿77.8
-
Tomato(1kg)
-
$2.07฿69.1
-
Potato(1kg)
-
$1.55฿51.6
-
Onion(1kg)
-
$1.46฿48.54
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.68SHP 1.99
$0.98฿32.86
173.47%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.22SHP 1.64
$0.48฿16.09
362.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.00SHP 8.15
$4.35฿145
152.87%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$18.57฿620
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.86฿61.9
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.65฿88.6
-
🚌 Getting Around
Jamestown
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$1.42฿47.28
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.32SHP 30.61
$11.57฿386
257.13%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.80SHP 2.07
$3.17฿106
-11.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.03฿34.41
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$13.89฿463
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
-
$1.34฿44.84
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$27.8K฿927.1K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$33.4K฿1.1M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jamestown
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$123฿4,105
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$13.77฿459
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$108SHP 79.7
$18.33฿611
486.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jamestown
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$6.88SHP 5.10
$60.7฿2,025
-88.66%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.16฿573
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$8.87฿296
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jamestown
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$688฿22.9K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$15.8K฿526.4K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jamestown
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.10SHP 29.70
$59.3฿1,978
-32.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.11SHP 14.90
$34.69฿1,157
-42.03%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$47.20SHP 34.97
$115฿3,843
-59.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$83.8฿2,794
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jamestown
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$673SHP 499
$621฿20.7K
8.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$617SHP 457
$446฿14.9K
38.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$705SHP 522
$2,034฿67.8K
-65.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$716SHP 530
$1,496฿49.9K
-52.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,455฿115.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,531฿84.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jamestown
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$494฿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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $673 in Jamestown versus $621 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 $46.00 in Phuket. Groceries tell a different story – $205 in Jamestown vs $291 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
Is Phuket cheaper than Jamestown?
Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 2%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,860 per month in Jamestown and $1,896 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Jamestown, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 257% less in Jamestown. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do food prices compare in Jamestown and in Phuket?
Groceries cost about 42% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Jamestown or in Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Jamestown, where all-in costs run around $1,240, than in Phuket at $1,264. In Jamestown it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Jamestown or Phuket more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Jamestown – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Jamestown or 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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Jamestown. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.