Cost of Living Comparison Between Los Alamos, NM and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Los Alamos, NM and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,071 per month in Los Alamos, NM vs $1,253 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,671 per month in Los Alamos, NM vs $2,043 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,272 per month in Los Alamos, NM vs $2,833 in Phuket, rent included.

Los Alamos, NM is about 15% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Los Alamos, NM and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Los Alamos, NM 22% lower, Phuket 9% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.67 $16.67

$4.56 ฿150

265.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.36 $40.36

$32.62 ฿1,073

23.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 $9.92

$8.90 ฿293

11.46%

Cappuccino

$5.11 $5.11

$2.80 ฿92.3

82.50%

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

$2.53 $2.53

$0.88 ฿28.96

187.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 $1.46

$0.49 ฿16.09

197.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.14 $6.14

$2.39 ฿78.6

156.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.97 $6.97

$3.71 ฿122

87.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$1.79 ฿58.8

-50.84%

White Bread (500g)

$2.23 $2.23

$1.44 ฿47.43

54.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.54 $4.54

$1.58 ฿52.1

187.34%

Eggs

$3.91 $3.91

$2.13 ฿70.0

83.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.90 $11.90

$19.92 ฿655

-40.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.21 $9.21

$3.43 ฿113

168.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.60 $17.60

$11.33 ฿373

55.34%

Apples (1kg)

$4.70 $4.70

$2.95 ฿97.0

59.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.72 ฿56.6

-16.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.91 $2.91

$2.32 ฿76.5

25.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.44 $4.44

$2.08 ฿68.5

113.46%

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 $1.12

$1.47 ฿48.37

-23.81%

Onion (1kg)

$3.36 $3.36

$1.36 ฿44.68

147.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.10 ฿36.15

77.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 $0.48

$0.57 ฿18.90

-15.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.49 $10.49

$4.27 ฿140

145.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.81 $13.81

$18.42 ฿606

-25.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.49 $2.49

$1.87 ฿61.6

33.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 $3.58

$2.92 ฿96.1

22.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.22 ฿73.0

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.90 ฿753

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.70 $3.70

$3.03 ฿99.7

22.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.03 $2.03

$1.07 ฿35.34

89.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$31.94 $31.94

$3.93 ฿129

712.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 $0.84

$1.49 ฿49.09

-43.62%

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

$30.8K $30.8K

$27.1K ฿892.5K

13.70%

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

$24.6K $24.6K

$27.5K ฿903.2K

-10.33%

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

$155 $155

$103 ฿3,382

50.42%

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

$40.16 $40.16

$10.99 ฿362

265.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.3 $73.3

$17.51 ฿576

318.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.5 ฿1,761

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.20 ฿368

Cinema Ticket

$13.14 $13.14

$7.48 ฿246

75.67%

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

$1,473 $1,473

$557 ฿18.3K

164.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.3K $25.3K

$11.9K ฿390.0K

113.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.97 $19.97

$64.1 ฿2,108

-68.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.85 $42.85

$29.07 ฿957

47.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$96.0 ฿3,157

7.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 $118

$90.3 ฿2,972

30.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,103 $1,103

$730 ฿24.0K

51.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$500 ฿16.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,933 $1,933

$2,090 ฿68.8K

-7.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,209 ฿39.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,325 $3,325

$3,596 ฿118.3K

-7.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,336 $3,336

$2,512 ฿82.7K

32.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,216 $8,216

$503 ฿16.6K

1532.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.1

5.57

9.52%

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

Last update for Los Alamos, NM: September 1, 2026

Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,103 in Los Alamos, NM 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 1532% higher in Los Alamos, NM, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $40.00 in Los Alamos, NM versus $33.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $336 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

Los Alamos, NM vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 17%, 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 $1,607 per month in Los Alamos, NM 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 Los Alamos, NM, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,071 in Los Alamos, NM and $1,253 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,473 per month in Los Alamos, NM and $557 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Los Alamos, NM, where all-in costs run around $1,071, than in Phuket at $1,253. In Los Alamos, NM it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Los Alamos, NM – 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 Los Alamos, NM. 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.