Cost of Living Comparison Between Lincoln, NE and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Lincoln, NE and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,134 in Lincoln, NE versus $1,232 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,207 in Lincoln, NE versus $2,054 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,281 in Lincoln, NE versus $2,876 in Phuket.

Living in Lincoln, NE is roughly 73% more expensive than in Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lincoln, NE is 56% above, Phuket is 10% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lincoln, NE
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.81 $19.81
$4.41 ฿147
349.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.1 $79.1
$32.26 ฿1,073
145.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.03 $12.03
$8.93 ฿297
34.71%
Cappuccino
$5.54 $5.54
$2.90 ฿96.3
91.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 $2.37
$0.88 ฿29.27
169.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 $1.75
$0.48 ฿16.00
264.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.04 $5.04
$2.35 ฿78.2
114.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.71 $7.71
$3.72 ฿124
107.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lincoln, NE
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.82 $0.82
$1.87 ฿62.0
-56.15%
White Bread (500g)
$3.17 $3.17
$1.47 ฿48.75
115.65%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.20 $6.20
$1.55 ฿51.6
300.00%
Eggs
$4.70 $4.70
$2.10 ฿69.9
123.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.71 $11.71
$19.59 ฿651
-40.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.16 $9.16
$3.42 ฿114
167.84%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.01 $15.01
$11.38 ฿378
31.90%
Apples (1kg)
$6.72 $6.72
$2.98 ฿99.2
125.50%
Banana (1kg)
$2.36 $2.36
$1.68 ฿56.0
40.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.10 $6.10
$2.21 ฿73.5
176.02%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.23 $4.23
$2.16 ฿71.9
95.83%
Potato (1kg)
$3.10 $3.10
$1.52 ฿50.7
103.95%
Onion (1kg)
$3.70 $3.70
$1.34 ฿44.49
176.12%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.88 $1.88
$1.13 ฿37.53
66.37%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.56 $2.56
$0.55 ฿18.17
365.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.97 $9.97
$4.26 ฿142
134.04%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.83 $16.83
$19.09 ฿635
-11.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 $1.86
$1.78 ฿59.2
4.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 $2.54
$2.78 ฿92.5
-8.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Lincoln, NE
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.71 $1.71
$2.23 ฿74.1
-23.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$34.31 $34.31
$22.74 ฿756
50.88%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.06 $5.06
$3.03 ฿101
67.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.91 $1.91
$1.02 ฿34.02
87.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.32 $34.32
$3.89 ฿129
782.26%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.88 $0.88
$1.49 ฿49.57
-40.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.1K $36.1K
$26.6K ฿883.8K
35.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.3K $25.3K
$27.0K ฿898.7K
-6.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lincoln, NE
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$126 $126
$102 ฿3,407
22.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$50.1 $50.1
$11.33 ฿377
342.10%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.5 $65.5
$17.40 ฿578
276.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lincoln, NE
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58.1 $58.1
$52.1 ฿1,732
11.64%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.13 $27.13
$11.07 ฿368
145.08%
Cinema Ticket
$14.74 $14.74
$7.69 ฿256
91.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lincoln, NE
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$815 $815
$561 ฿18.6K
45.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$11.5K ฿382.6K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lincoln, NE
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.9 $50.9
$63.0 ฿2,096
-19.23%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.49 $34.49
$29.52 ฿982
16.84%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.1 $92.1
$98.0 ฿3,259
-6.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130 $130
$88.5 ฿2,943
46.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lincoln, NE
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,061 $1,061
$738 ฿24.5K
43.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$899 $899
$482 ฿16.0K
86.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,907 $1,907
$2,107 ฿70.0K
-9.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,448 $1,448
$1,226 ฿40.8K
18.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,860 $1,860
$3,617 ฿120.3K
-48.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,890 $1,890
$2,603 ฿86.5K
-27.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lincoln, NE
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,795 $3,795
$494 ฿16.4K
668.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.03
5.57
8.26%

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

Last update for Lincoln, NE: September 15, 2026

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,061 in Lincoln, NE and $738 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lincoln, NE pays 669% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $79.0 in Lincoln, NE vs $32.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $406 vs $274 per month, with Phuket cheaper across the board.

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
Lincoln, NE vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lincoln, NE or Phuket?
Phuket wins on cost – living expenses run 73% lower than in Lincoln, NE. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Phuket the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Lincoln, NE or in Phuket?
Average pay runs 669% higher in Lincoln, NE, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Lincoln, NE compared to Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,061 in Lincoln, NE versus $738 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Lincoln, NE and in Phuket?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket – a meal for two runs $32.00 versus $79.0 in Lincoln, NE. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Lincoln, NE compared to Phuket?
All in, you'll spend $2,134 per month in Lincoln, NE versus $1,232 in Phuket – a 73% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Lincoln, NE or in Phuket?
At $1,232 in Phuket versus $2,134 in Lincoln, NE, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Lincoln, NE. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lincoln, NE or Phuket?
Both work as nomad bases, but Phuket delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,232 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Phuket hard to pass up.
How safe is Lincoln, NE compared to Phuket?
Safety-wise, Lincoln, NE and Phuket are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 73% less than in Lincoln, NE. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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