Cost of Living Comparison Between Memphis, TN and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Memphis, TN and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,415 per month in Memphis, TN vs $1,250 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,417 per month in Memphis, TN vs $2,284 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,419 per month in Memphis, TN vs $3,317 in Phuket, rent included.

Memphis, TN costs about 93% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Memphis, TN sits 81% above the global median, while Phuket is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.19 $19.19

$4.55 ฿153

321.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.7 $75.7

$46.18 ฿1,550

63.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.97 $9.97

$8.84 ฿297

12.78%

Cappuccino

$5.11 $5.11

$3.06 ฿103

66.99%

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

$2.56 $2.56

$0.73 ฿24.36

250.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 $2.03

$0.40 ฿13.37

407.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.82 $5.82

$2.43 ฿81.6

139.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.91 $7.91

$3.78 ฿127

109.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 $0.94

$2.26 ฿75.8

-58.41%

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 $2.75

$1.81 ฿60.8

51.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.50 $4.50

$2.25 ฿75.7

100.00%

Eggs

$4.19 $4.19

$2.25 ฿75.4

86.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.95 $10.95

$19.51 ฿655

-43.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.00 $11.00

$3.65 ฿122

201.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.47 $15.47

$13.05 ฿438

18.54%

Apples (1kg)

$6.31 $6.31

$3.23 ฿109

95.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.62 ฿54.3

-2.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.45 $5.45

$2.38 ฿80.0

128.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.86 $4.86

$2.03 ฿68.0

139.41%

Potato (1kg)

$4.92 $4.92

$1.53 ฿51.5

221.57%

Onion (1kg)

$3.35 $3.35

$1.50 ฿50.4

123.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.35 $2.35

$0.98 ฿32.85

139.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$0.52 ฿17.36

375.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.94 $7.94

$4.44 ฿149

78.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.44 $13.44

$18.32 ฿615

-26.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.86 ฿62.6

-5.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.92 $1.92

$2.68 ฿90.0

-28.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.24 $1.24

$1.41 ฿47.37

-12.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.67 $12.67

$11.70 ฿393

8.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.06 $2.06

$3.11 ฿104

-33.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.40 $1.40

$1.04 ฿35.00

34.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.81 $19.81

$14.11 ฿474

40.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 $0.81

$1.31 ฿44.02

-38.17%

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

$33.2K $33.2K

$27.8K ฿933.8K

19.46%

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

$27.4K $27.4K

$33.2K ฿1.1M

-17.64%

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

$215 $215

$122 ฿4,110

75.29%

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

$58.0 $58.0

$13.59 ฿456

326.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.0 $67.0

$18.70 ฿628

258.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.32 $37.32

$60.5 ฿2,031

-38.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.71 $17.71

$16.98 ฿570

4.30%

Cinema Ticket

$12.63 $12.63

$9.07 ฿305

39.25%

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

$1,582 $1,582

$706 ฿23.7K

123.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$27.8K $27.8K

$15.8K ฿530.5K

75.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.22 $39.22

$58.6 ฿1,965

-33.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.45 $32.45

$35.36 ฿1,187

-8.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.1 $75.1

$115 ฿3,876

-34.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$141 $141

$83.7 ฿2,811

68.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,207 $1,207

$626 ฿21.0K

92.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,115 $1,115

$445 ฿14.9K

150.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,547 $1,547

$2,040 ฿68.5K

-24.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,600 $1,600

$1,492 ฿50.1K

7.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,757 $1,757

$3,483 ฿116.9K

-49.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,349 $1,349

$2,577 ฿86.5K

-47.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,578 $3,578

$500 ฿16.8K

615.78%

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 Memphis, TN: July 14, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,207 in Memphis, TN 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 616% higher in Memphis, TN, 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 Memphis, TN versus $46.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $393 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

Memphis, TN vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,415 in Memphis, TN, $1,250 in Phuket – roughly 93% apart. Memphis, TN costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,622 per month in Memphis, TN 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.

Public transport costs about 8% less in Phuket. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $1,582 per month in Memphis, TN 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 Memphis, TN at $2,415. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Memphis, TN 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 $1,250 in Phuket to $2,415 in Memphis, TN. 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, Memphis, TN makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.