Cost of Living Comparison Between Little Rock, AR and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Little Rock, AR and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,279 per month in Little Rock, AR vs $1,261 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,123 per month in Little Rock, AR vs $2,276 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,967 per month in Little Rock, AR vs $3,291 in Phuket, rent included.

Little Rock, AR costs about 81% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Little Rock, AR sits 71% above the global median, while Phuket is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.25 $18.25

$4.53 ฿153

302.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.6 $60.6

$46.36 ฿1,565

30.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.40 $11.40

$8.65 ฿292

31.79%

Cappuccino

$4.88 $4.88

$3.09 ฿104

57.93%

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

$2.78 $2.78

$0.68 ฿22.89

308.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$0.37 ฿12.44

532.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.14 $5.14

$2.42 ฿81.6

112.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.09 $6.09

$3.81 ฿129

59.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$2.18 ฿73.5

-51.38%

White Bread (500g)

$3.48 $3.48

$1.82 ฿61.3

91.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.97 $2.97

$2.18 ฿73.5

36.24%

Eggs

$3.02 $3.02

$2.24 ฿75.4

34.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.90 $9.90

$19.93 ฿673

-50.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.51 $11.51

$3.64 ฿123

216.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.83 $16.83

$13.56 ฿458

24.12%

Apples (1kg)

$4.63 $4.63

$3.29 ฿111

40.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.69 ฿56.9

-17.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.33 ฿78.8

25.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$2.03 ฿68.4

99.01%

Potato (1kg)

$4.07 $4.07

$1.60 ฿54.0

154.38%

Onion (1kg)

$2.39 $2.39

$1.49 ฿50.5

60.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.91 $1.91

$1.01 ฿34.17

89.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.03 $2.03

$0.48 ฿16.09

322.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.25 $8.25

$4.45 ฿150

85.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 $12.12

$18.63 ฿629

-34.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.79 ฿60.3

-5.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$2.80 ฿94.4

-19.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.33 $1.33

$1.42 ฿47.90

-6.34%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$36.06 $36.06

$11.33 ฿382

218.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.48 $2.48

$3.09 ฿104

-19.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.04 ฿35.19

48.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.61 $23.61

$13.63 ฿460

73.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

$1.31 ฿44.23

-41.22%

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

$23.7K $23.7K

$27.3K ฿920.7K

-13.26%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$33.2K ฿1.1M

-23.08%

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

$277 $277

$123 ฿4,157

124.51%

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

$56.9 $56.9

$13.81 ฿466

312.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.0 $71.0

$18.52 ฿625

283.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.5 $52.5

$60.4 ฿2,037

-12.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.77 $11.77

$16.80 ฿567

-29.94%

Cinema Ticket

$12.55 $12.55

$8.89 ฿300

41.17%

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

$1,053 $1,053

$687 ฿23.2K

53.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.9K $18.9K

$15.6K ฿524.8K

21.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.1 $54.1

$57.6 ฿1,945

-6.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.43 $41.43

$34.66 ฿1,170

19.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$115 ฿3,879

-12.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

$84.9 ฿2,865

35.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,300 $1,300

$618 ฿20.8K

110.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$952 $952

$443 ฿15.0K

114.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,806 $1,806

$2,047 ฿69.1K

-11.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,281 $1,281

$1,506 ฿50.8K

-14.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,873 $1,873

$3,568 ฿120.4K

-47.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,355 $1,355

$2,511 ฿84.7K

-46.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,823 $3,823

$503 ฿17.0K

660.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.58

5.33

23.45%

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

Last update for Little Rock, AR: July 20, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,300 in Little Rock, AR versus $618 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 661% higher in Little Rock, AR, 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 $61.0 in Little Rock, AR versus $46.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $357 vs $292 – 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

Little Rock, AR vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,279 in Little Rock, AR, $1,261 in Phuket – roughly 81% apart. Little Rock, AR costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,418 per month in Little Rock, AR and $1,891 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.

Kindergarten costs $1,053 per month in Little Rock, AR and $687 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 22% more in Little Rock, AR, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,261, than in Little Rock, AR at $2,279. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Little Rock, AR it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,261 in Phuket to $2,279 in Little Rock, AR. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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, Little Rock, AR makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.