Cost of Living Comparison Between Melbourne, FL and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Melbourne, FL and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,931 per month in Melbourne, FL vs $1,250 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,037 per month in Melbourne, FL vs $2,284 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,143 per month in Melbourne, FL vs $3,317 in Phuket, rent included.

Melbourne, FL costs about 134% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Melbourne, FL sits 119% above the global median, while Phuket is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.19 $25.19

$4.55 ฿153

453.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.9 $74.9

$46.18 ฿1,553

62.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.71 $9.71

$8.84 ฿297

9.84%

Cappuccino

$5.03 $5.03

$3.06 ฿103

64.38%

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

$2.67 $2.67

$0.73 ฿24.40

265.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 $2.10

$0.40 ฿13.39

425.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.16 $6.16

$2.43 ฿81.8

153.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.44 $6.44

$3.78 ฿127

70.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$2.26 ฿76.0

-63.27%

White Bread (500g)

$3.82 $3.82

$1.81 ฿60.9

111.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.25 ฿75.8

24.89%

Eggs

$3.91 $3.91

$2.25 ฿75.5

73.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.60 $11.60

$19.51 ฿656

-40.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.34 $8.34

$3.65 ฿123

128.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.39 $14.39

$13.05 ฿439

10.27%

Apples (1kg)

$4.91 $4.91

$3.23 ฿109

52.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.62 ฿54.4

-6.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.65 $3.65

$2.38 ฿80.1

53.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$2.03 ฿68.1

144.83%

Potato (1kg)

$2.59 $2.59

$1.53 ฿51.6

69.28%

Onion (1kg)

$3.34 $3.34

$1.50 ฿50.5

122.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.30 $2.30

$0.98 ฿32.91

134.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.01 $2.01

$0.52 ฿17.39

286.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.62 $9.62

$4.44 ฿149

116.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.33 $15.33

$18.32 ฿616

-16.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.86 ฿62.7

-4.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 $2.78

$2.68 ฿90.1

3.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.67 $3.67

$1.41 ฿47.46

160.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.59 $42.59

$11.70 ฿393

264.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.60 $4.60

$3.11 ฿105

47.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.59 $0.59

$1.04 ฿35.06

-43.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.41 $22.41

$14.11 ฿474

58.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$1.31 ฿44.10

-36.64%

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

$23.4K $23.4K

$27.8K ฿935.4K

-15.88%

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

$24.1K $24.1K

$33.2K ฿1.1M

-27.51%

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

$169 $169

$122 ฿4,118

38.25%

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

$56.7 $56.7

$13.59 ฿457

316.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.1 $63.1

$18.70 ฿629

237.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$70.9 $70.9

$60.5 ฿2,034

17.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$1.96 $1.96

$16.98 ฿571

-88.46%

Cinema Ticket

$12.97 $12.97

$9.07 ฿305

43.00%

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

$915 $915

$706 ฿23.8K

29.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K $15.7K

$15.8K ฿531.5K

-0.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.25 $47.25

$58.6 ฿1,969

-19.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.90 $44.90

$35.36 ฿1,189

26.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.0 $87.0

$115 ฿3,883

-24.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$97.1 $97.1

$83.7 ฿2,816

15.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,668 $1,668

$626 ฿21.0K

166.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,589 $1,589

$445 ฿15.0K

256.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,085 $3,085

$2,040 ฿68.6K

51.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,271 $2,271

$1,492 ฿50.2K

52.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,463 $2,463

$3,483 ฿117.1K

-29.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,488 $2,488

$2,577 ฿86.7K

-3.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,681 $3,681

$500 ฿16.8K

636.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.53

5.33

22.51%

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

Last update for Melbourne, FL: July 12, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,668 in Melbourne, FL 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 636% higher in Melbourne, FL, 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 $75.0 in Melbourne, FL versus $46.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $359 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

Melbourne, FL vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Melbourne, FL is pricier by about 134%, 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 $4,397 per month in Melbourne, FL 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 $2,931 in Melbourne, FL and $1,250 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 264% less in Phuket. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,250, than in Melbourne, FL at $2,931. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Melbourne, FL 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, Melbourne, FL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.