Cost of Living Comparison Between Middlesex, NJ and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Middlesex, NJ and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,687 per month in Middlesex, NJ vs $1,264 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,733 per month in Middlesex, NJ vs $2,256 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,778 per month in Middlesex, NJ vs $3,248 in Phuket, rent included.

Middlesex, NJ costs about 113% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Middlesex, NJ sits 102% above the global median, while Phuket is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.30 $11.30

$4.48 ฿150

152.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.98 $37.98

$45.59 ฿1,525

-16.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.87 $5.87

$8.76 ฿293

-32.99%

Cappuccino

$3.26 $3.26

$2.97 ฿99.3

9.76%

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

$1.10 $1.10

$0.69 ฿22.96

59.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.92 $1.92

$0.39 ฿13.07

392.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.53 ฿84.7

15.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.93 $5.93

$3.75 ฿125

58.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$2.15 ฿71.8

-43.26%

White Bread (500g)

$3.59 $3.59

$1.82 ฿60.7

97.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$10.10 $10.10

$2.18 ฿73.1

363.30%

Eggs

$4.52 $4.52

$2.25 ฿75.2

100.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.84 $14.84

$20.00 ฿669

-25.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.63 $13.63

$3.63 ฿121

275.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$21.32 $21.32

$13.56 ฿453

57.23%

Apples (1kg)

$6.11 $6.11

$3.24 ฿109

88.58%

Banana (1kg)

$2.21 $2.21

$1.64 ฿54.7

34.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$2.33 ฿78.0

121.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.26 $5.26

$2.07 ฿69.3

154.11%

Potato (1kg)

$3.39 $3.39

$1.55 ฿51.8

118.71%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$1.46 ฿48.67

91.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.06 $3.06

$0.98 ฿32.94

212.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.44 $2.44

$0.48 ฿16.13

408.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.13 $13.13

$4.35 ฿146

201.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.24 $16.24

$18.57 ฿621

-12.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.86 ฿62.1

9.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.05 $4.05

$2.65 ฿88.8

52.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.94 $1.94

$1.42 ฿47.40

36.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.57 ฿387

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.98 $2.98

$3.17 ฿106

-5.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.03 ฿34.51

33.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.59 $21.59

$13.89 ฿465

55.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$1.34 ฿44.96

-38.06%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$27.8K ฿929.6K

-4.22%

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

$25.8K $25.8K

$33.4K ฿1.1M

-22.74%

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

$274 $274

$123 ฿4,116

122.64%

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

$62.5 $62.5

$13.77 ฿461

353.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.5 $76.5

$18.33 ฿613

317.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.64 $43.64

$60.7 ฿2,030

-28.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.16 ฿574

Cinema Ticket

$15.06 $15.06

$8.87 ฿297

69.79%

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

$2,090 $2,090

$688 ฿23.0K

203.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.6K $23.6K

$15.8K ฿527.8K

49.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.9 $51.9

$59.3 ฿1,984

-12.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.39 $42.39

$34.69 ฿1,160

22.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.7 $94.7

$115 ฿3,853

-17.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$83.8 ฿2,802

70.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,647 $2,647

$621 ฿20.8K

326.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,368 $1,368

$446 ฿14.9K

206.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,608 $2,608

$2,034 ฿68.0K

28.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,214 $2,214

$1,496 ฿50.0K

47.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,345 $2,345

$3,455 ฿115.6K

-32.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,306 $2,306

$2,531 ฿84.7K

-8.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿16.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.68

5.33

25.33%

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

Last update for Middlesex, NJ: July 25, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,647 in Middlesex, NJ versus $621 in Phuket. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Middlesex, NJ versus $46.00 in Phuket. Groceries tell a different story – $482 in Middlesex, NJ vs $291 in Phuket – so Phuket wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Middlesex, NJ vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Middlesex, NJ is pricier by about 113%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,030 per month in Middlesex, NJ and $1,896 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 $2,687 in Middlesex, NJ and $1,264 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $2,090 per month in Middlesex, NJ and $688 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 $1,264, than in Middlesex, NJ at $2,687. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Middlesex, NJ 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, Middlesex, NJ makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.