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 $2,429 per month in Los Alamos, NM vs $1,250 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,562 per month in Los Alamos, NM vs $2,284 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,695 per month in Los Alamos, NM vs $3,317 in Phuket, rent included.

Los Alamos, NM costs about 94% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Los Alamos, NM sits 82% above the global median, while Phuket is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.45 $17.45

$4.55 ฿153

283.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.8 $59.8

$46.18 ฿1,554

29.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.03 $10.03

$8.84 ฿298

13.46%

Cappuccino

$5.32 $5.32

$3.06 ฿103

73.86%

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

$2.29 $2.29

$0.73 ฿24.42

213.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.53 $1.53

$0.40 ฿13.40

282.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.05 $6.05

$2.43 ฿81.8

148.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.06 $6.06

$3.78 ฿127

60.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 $0.94

$2.26 ฿76.0

-58.41%

White Bread (500g)

$2.15 $2.15

$1.81 ฿60.9

18.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.27 $3.27

$2.25 ฿75.8

45.33%

Eggs

$4.11 $4.11

$2.25 ฿75.6

82.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.67 $12.67

$19.51 ฿656

-35.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.32 $10.32

$3.65 ฿123

182.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.68 $17.68

$13.05 ฿439

35.48%

Apples (1kg)

$4.98 $4.98

$3.23 ฿109

54.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 $1.45

$1.62 ฿54.4

-10.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$2.38 ฿80.2

21.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.43 $4.43

$2.03 ฿68.2

118.23%

Potato (1kg)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.53 ฿51.6

-29.41%

Onion (1kg)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.50 ฿50.5

65.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$0.98 ฿32.93

108.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 $0.49

$0.52 ฿17.40

-5.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.81 $9.81

$4.44 ฿149

120.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.95 $13.95

$18.32 ฿616

-23.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.81 $1.81

$1.86 ฿62.7

-2.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 $2.73

$2.68 ฿90.2

1.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.05 $2.05

$1.41 ฿47.49

45.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.70 ฿394

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.46 $3.46

$3.11 ฿105

11.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.80 $1.80

$1.04 ฿35.08

73.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.38 $29.38

$14.11 ฿475

108.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 $0.85

$1.31 ฿44.13

-35.11%

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

$31.3K $31.3K

$27.8K ฿936.0K

12.52%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$33.2K ฿1.1M

-21.26%

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

$169 $169

$122 ฿4,120

38.17%

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

$40.04 $40.04

$13.59 ฿457

194.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.7 $68.7

$18.70 ฿629

267.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.63 $43.63

$60.5 ฿2,035

-27.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.98 ฿572

Cinema Ticket

$13.50 $13.50

$9.07 ฿305

48.84%

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

$1,250 $1,250

$706 ฿23.8K

76.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,116 $6,116

$15.8K ฿531.8K

-61.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.34 $20.34

$58.6 ฿1,970

-65.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.3 $50.3

$35.36 ฿1,190

42.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.1 $98.1

$115 ฿3,885

-15.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$83.7 ฿2,818

35.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,082 $1,082

$626 ฿21.1K

73.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,378 $1,378

$445 ฿15.0K

209.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,864 $1,864

$2,040 ฿68.7K

-8.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,209 $2,209

$1,492 ฿50.2K

48.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,306 $3,306

$3,483 ฿117.2K

-5.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,294 $3,294

$2,577 ฿86.7K

27.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,257 $8,257

$500 ฿16.8K

1551.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.49

5.33

21.76%

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

Last update for Los Alamos, NM: July 12, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,082 in Los Alamos, NM versus $626 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 1552% higher in Los Alamos, NM, 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 $60.0 in Los Alamos, NM versus $46.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $335 vs $289 – 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 – Los Alamos, NM is pricier by about 94%, 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 $3,643 per month in Los Alamos, NM and $1,875 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,429 in Los Alamos, NM and $1,250 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,250 per month in Los Alamos, NM and $706 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 Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,250, than in Los Alamos, NM at $2,429. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Los Alamos, NM it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Phuket – 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 Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Los Alamos, NM makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.