Cost of Living Comparison Between Manitowoc, WI and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Manitowoc, WI and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,579 per month in Manitowoc, WI vs $1,261 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,770 per month in Manitowoc, WI vs $2,276 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,962 per month in Manitowoc, WI vs $3,291 in Phuket, rent included.

Manitowoc, WI costs about 105% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Manitowoc, WI sits 93% above the global median, while Phuket is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.59 $20.59

$4.53 ฿153

354.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.2 $99.2

$46.36 ฿1,565

114.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.89 $11.89

$8.65 ฿292

37.46%

Cappuccino

$5.65 $5.65

$3.09 ฿104

82.85%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$0.68 ฿22.89

352.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$0.37 ฿12.44

564.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.91 $6.91

$2.42 ฿81.6

185.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.48 $8.48

$3.81 ฿129

122.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.81 $0.81

$2.18 ฿73.5

-62.84%

White Bread (500g)

$2.93 $2.93

$1.82 ฿61.3

60.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.40 $5.40

$2.18 ฿73.5

147.71%

Eggs

$1.56 $1.56

$2.24 ฿75.4

-30.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.98 $12.98

$19.93 ฿673

-34.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.08 $6.08

$3.64 ฿123

67.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.48 $15.48

$13.56 ฿458

14.16%

Apples (1kg)

$5.13 $5.13

$3.29 ฿111

55.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.75 $1.75

$1.69 ฿56.9

3.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.19 $4.19

$2.33 ฿78.8

79.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.40 $4.40

$2.03 ฿68.4

116.75%

Potato (1kg)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.60 ฿54.0

53.13%

Onion (1kg)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.49 ฿50.5

80.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.41 $2.41

$1.01 ฿34.17

138.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$0.48 ฿16.09

450.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.97 $9.97

$4.45 ฿150

124.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.99 $9.99

$18.63 ฿629

-46.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.38 $2.38

$1.79 ฿60.3

32.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$2.80 ฿94.4

33.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.42 ฿47.90

38.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.33 ฿382

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.09 ฿104

8.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.04 ฿35.19

36.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.54 $24.54

$13.63 ฿460

80.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$1.31 ฿44.23

-32.06%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$27.3K ฿920.7K

18.81%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$33.2K ฿1.1M

-22.02%

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

$119 $119

$123 ฿4,157

-3.61%

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

$63.9 $63.9

$13.81 ฿466

362.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.5 $65.5

$18.52 ฿625

253.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.53 $43.53

$60.4 ฿2,037

-27.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.80 ฿567

Cinema Ticket

$11.93 $11.93

$8.89 ฿300

34.20%

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

$2,096 $2,096

$687 ฿23.2K

205.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.9K $38.9K

$15.6K ฿524.8K

150.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.4 $65.4

$57.6 ฿1,945

13.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.2 $52.2

$34.66 ฿1,170

50.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.8 $94.8

$115 ฿3,879

-17.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$84.9 ฿2,865

68.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,600 $1,600

$618 ฿20.8K

159.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,350 $1,350

$443 ฿15.0K

204.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,663 $2,663

$2,047 ฿69.1K

30.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,257 $2,257

$1,506 ฿50.8K

49.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,529 $2,529

$3,568 ฿120.4K

-29.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,737 $2,737

$2,511 ฿84.7K

9.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,474 $3,474

$503 ฿17.0K

591.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

5.33

21.95%

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

Last update for Manitowoc, WI: July 20, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,600 in Manitowoc, WI 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 591% higher in Manitowoc, WI, 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 $99.0 in Manitowoc, WI versus $46.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $349 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

Manitowoc, WI vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,579 in Manitowoc, WI, $1,261 in Phuket – roughly 105% apart. Manitowoc, WI costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,868 per month in Manitowoc, WI 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $99.0 in Manitowoc, WI and $46.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 20% more in Manitowoc, WI, 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 Manitowoc, WI at $2,579. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Manitowoc, WI 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 $2,579 in Manitowoc, WI. 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, Manitowoc, WI makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.