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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,295 in Middlesex versus $1,250 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,022 in Middlesex versus $2,284 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,749 in Middlesex versus $3,317 in Phuket.

Living in Middlesex is roughly 84% more expensive than in Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Middlesex is 72% above, Phuket is 6% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Middlesex
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.34 £11.42
$4.55 ฿153
237.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.5 £55.5
$46.18 ฿1,553
61.39%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.98 £6.69
$8.84 ฿297
1.58%
Cappuccino
$3.86 £2.87
$3.06 ฿103
26.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 £1.76
$0.73 ฿24.40
224.66%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07 £1.54
$0.40 ฿13.39
417.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.03 £3.00
$2.43 ฿81.8
65.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.95 £3.68
$3.78 ฿127
30.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Middlesex
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.34 £1.00
$2.26 ฿76.0
-40.71%
White Bread (500g)
$1.35 £1.01
$1.81 ฿60.9
-25.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.47 £2.59
$2.25 ฿75.8
54.22%
Eggs
$3.91 £2.91
$2.25 ฿75.5
73.78%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.45 £4.06
$19.51 ฿656
-72.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.06 £6.00
$3.65 ฿123
120.82%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.56 £10.84
$13.05 ฿439
11.57%
Apples (1kg)
$3.19 £2.38
$3.23 ฿109
-1.24%
Banana (1kg)
$1.03 £0.77
$1.62 ฿54.4
-36.42%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.01 £0.75
$2.38 ฿80.1
-57.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.25 £3.16
$2.03 ฿68.1
109.36%
Potato (1kg)
$1.23 £0.91
$1.53 ฿51.6
-19.61%
Onion (1kg)
$1.33 £0.99
$1.50 ฿50.5
-11.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.98 £0.73
$0.98 ฿32.91
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 £1.34
$0.52 ฿17.39
246.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$17.47 £13.00
$4.44 ฿149
293.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.43 £7.02
$18.32 ฿616
-48.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.70 £2.75
$1.86 ฿62.7
98.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 £2.05
$2.68 ฿90.1
2.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Middlesex
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.32 £2.47
$1.41 ฿47.46
135.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$89.4 £66.6
$11.70 ฿393
664.27%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.97 £2.96
$3.11 ฿105
27.65%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.31 £0.97
$1.04 ฿35.06
25.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.57 £24.99
$14.11 ฿474
137.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.98 £1.47
$1.31 ฿44.10
51.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.8K £28.9K
$27.8K ฿935.4K
39.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.5K £28.0K
$33.2K ฿1.1M
13.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Middlesex
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$319 £237
$122 ฿4,118
160.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.28 £17.33
$13.59 ฿457
71.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.05 £29.82
$18.70 ฿629
114.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Middlesex
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.2 £39.58
$60.5 ฿2,034
-12.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.77 £15.46
$16.98 ฿571
22.32%
Cinema Ticket
$14.55 £10.84
$9.07 ฿305
60.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Middlesex
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,561 £1,162
$706 ฿23.8K
120.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.5K £10.0K
$15.8K ฿531.5K
-14.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Middlesex
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 £78.4
$58.6 ฿1,969
79.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.8 £41.57
$35.36 ฿1,189
57.92%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$125 £93.2
$115 ฿3,883
8.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$129 £95.9
$83.7 ฿2,816
53.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Middlesex
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,233 £918
$626 ฿21.0K
97.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$999 £744
$445 ฿15.0K
124.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,015 £1,500
$2,040 ฿68.6K
-1.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,972 £2,212
$1,492 ฿50.2K
99.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,260 £3,916
$3,483 ฿117.1K
51.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,064 £5,259
$2,577 ฿86.7K
174.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Middlesex
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$500 ฿16.8K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.76
5.33
8.07%

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

Last update for Middlesex: July 13, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,233 in Middlesex and $626 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $75.0 in Middlesex vs $46.00 in Phuket. Groceries flip the comparison at $279 vs $289, with Middlesex cheaper for home cooking.

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 vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Middlesex?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 84% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $3,442 in Middlesex and $1,875 in Phuket to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Middlesex and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,233 in Middlesex versus $626 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Middlesex and in Phuket?
All in, you'll spend $2,295 per month in Middlesex versus $1,250 in Phuket – a 84% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Phuket runs roughly 664% less than in Middlesex. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Middlesex or in Phuket?
At $1,250 in Phuket versus $2,295 in Middlesex, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Middlesex. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Middlesex or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Middlesex, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Middlesex or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Middlesex and Phuket are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 84% less than in Middlesex. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Middlesex vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities