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 $2,133 per month in Little Rock, AR vs $1,253 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,073 per month in Little Rock, AR vs $2,043 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,013 per month in Little Rock, AR vs $2,833 in Phuket, rent included.

Little Rock, AR costs about 70% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Little Rock, AR sits 55% above the global median, while Phuket is 9% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.06 $17.06

$4.56 ฿150

274.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.9 $75.9

$32.62 ฿1,072

132.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.07 $11.07

$8.90 ฿293

24.38%

Cappuccino

$5.13 $5.13

$2.80 ฿92.2

83.21%

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

$2.96 $2.96

$0.88 ฿28.93

236.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 $2.41

$0.49 ฿16.08

391.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.34 $5.34

$2.39 ฿78.5

123.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.53 $6.53

$3.71 ฿122

76.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 $1.07

$1.79 ฿58.7

-40.22%

White Bread (500g)

$2.67 $2.67

$1.44 ฿47.38

85.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.58 ฿52.1

73.42%

Eggs

$3.43 $3.43

$2.13 ฿69.9

61.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.16 $10.16

$19.92 ฿655

-49.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.89 $11.89

$3.43 ฿113

246.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.17 $22.17

$11.33 ฿372

95.68%

Apples (1kg)

$4.93 $4.93

$2.95 ฿96.9

67.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.72 ฿56.6

-16.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.78 $2.78

$2.32 ฿76.4

19.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.92 $3.92

$2.08 ฿68.4

88.46%

Potato (1kg)

$2.85 $2.85

$1.47 ฿48.33

93.88%

Onion (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.36 ฿44.64

86.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.10 ฿36.12

77.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 $1.91

$0.57 ฿18.89

235.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.35 $9.35

$4.27 ฿140

118.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.19 $12.19

$18.42 ฿605

-33.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 $1.83

$1.87 ฿61.5

-2.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 $1.67

$2.92 ฿96.0

-42.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 $1.36

$2.22 ฿72.9

-38.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$36.23 $36.23

$22.90 ฿753

58.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.45 $2.45

$3.03 ฿99.6

-19.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.07 ฿35.31

41.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.20 $24.20

$3.93 ฿129

515.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$1.49 ฿49.04

-42.28%

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

$36.6K $36.6K

$27.1K ฿891.7K

35.04%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$27.5K ฿902.3K

-6.66%

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

$218 $218

$103 ฿3,379

112.26%

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

$60.1 $60.1

$10.99 ฿361

447.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.4 $68.4

$17.51 ฿576

290.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.28 $28.28

$53.5 ฿1,760

-47.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.94 $13.94

$11.20 ฿368

24.46%

Cinema Ticket

$12.84 $12.84

$7.48 ฿246

71.66%

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

$1,033 $1,033

$557 ฿18.3K

85.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.8K $18.8K

$11.9K ฿389.6K

58.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.7 $50.7

$64.1 ฿2,106

-20.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.76 $38.76

$29.07 ฿956

33.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.1 $83.1

$96.0 ฿3,154

-13.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$150 $150

$90.3 ฿2,970

66.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,119 $1,119

$730 ฿24.0K

53.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$884 $884

$500 ฿16.4K

76.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,533 $1,533

$2,090 ฿68.7K

-26.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,279 $1,279

$1,209 ฿39.7K

5.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,874 $1,874

$3,596 ฿118.2K

-47.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,326 $1,326

$2,512 ฿82.6K

-47.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,750 $3,750

$503 ฿16.5K

644.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.25

5.57

12.21%

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

Last update for Little Rock, AR: August 30, 2026

Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,119 in Little Rock, AR versus $730 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 645% 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 $76.0 in Little Rock, AR versus $33.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $364 vs $273 – 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: $2,133 in Little Rock, AR, $1,253 in Phuket – roughly 70% apart. Little Rock, AR costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,200 per month in Little Rock, AR and $1,880 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 $1,033 per month in Little Rock, AR and $557 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 33% 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 $1,253, than in Little Rock, AR at $2,133. 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 $1,253 in Phuket to $2,133 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.