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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,036 per month in Middletown, NJ vs $1,264 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,431 per month in Middletown, NJ vs $2,256 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,825 per month in Middletown, NJ vs $3,248 in Phuket, rent included.

Middletown, NJ costs about 140% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Middletown, NJ sits 128% above the global median, while Phuket is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.47 $25.47

$4.48 ฿150

468.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$86.0 $86.0

$45.59 ฿1,521

88.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.70 $12.70

$8.76 ฿292

44.98%

Cappuccino

$5.88 $5.88

$2.97 ฿99.0

97.98%

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

$3.38 $3.38

$0.69 ฿22.90

389.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$0.39 ฿13.04

551.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.18 $6.18

$2.53 ฿84.4

144.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.76 $7.76

$3.75 ฿125

106.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 $1.02

$2.15 ฿71.6

-52.56%

White Bread (500g)

$2.86 $2.86

$1.82 ฿60.6

57.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.46 $5.46

$2.18 ฿72.9

150.46%

Eggs

$3.98 $3.98

$2.25 ฿75.0

76.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.05 $13.05

$20.00 ฿667

-34.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.76 $6.76

$3.63 ฿121

86.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.17 $13.17

$13.56 ฿452

-2.88%

Apples (1kg)

$3.25 $3.25

$3.24 ฿108

0.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.64 ฿54.6

-3.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.33 ฿77.8

21.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.52 $4.52

$2.07 ฿69.1

118.36%

Potato (1kg)

$1.62 $1.62

$1.55 ฿51.6

4.52%

Onion (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$1.46 ฿48.54

167.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.55 $2.55

$0.98 ฿32.86

160.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.51 $2.51

$0.48 ฿16.09

422.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.12 $9.12

$4.35 ฿145

109.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.80 $19.80

$18.57 ฿620

6.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 $2.92

$1.86 ฿61.9

56.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.78 $3.78

$2.65 ฿88.6

42.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.42 ฿47.28

43.66%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.57 ฿386

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.12 $5.12

$3.17 ฿106

61.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 $2.19

$1.03 ฿34.41

112.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.31 $42.31

$13.89 ฿463

204.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 $0.96

$1.34 ฿44.84

-28.36%

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

$35.5K $35.5K

$27.8K ฿927.1K

27.73%

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

$28.5K $28.5K

$33.4K ฿1.1M

-14.62%

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

$184 $184

$123 ฿4,105

49.35%

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

$59.9 $59.9

$13.77 ฿459

334.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.7 $60.7

$18.33 ฿611

231.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.52 $43.52

$60.7 ฿2,025

-28.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.16 ฿573

Cinema Ticket

$19.95 $19.95

$8.87 ฿296

124.92%

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

$3,140 $3,140

$688 ฿22.9K

356.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.0K $23.0K

$15.8K ฿526.4K

46.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.93 $49.93

$59.3 ฿1,978

-15.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.35 $48.35

$34.69 ฿1,157

39.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$34.45 $34.45

$115 ฿3,843

-70.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$171 $171

$83.8 ฿2,794

104.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,605 $1,605

$621 ฿20.7K

158.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,685 $1,685

$446 ฿14.9K

277.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,673 $2,673

$2,034 ฿67.8K

31.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,997 $2,997

$1,496 ฿49.9K

100.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,543 $2,543

$3,455 ฿115.3K

-26.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,208 $2,208

$2,531 ฿84.4K

-12.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,031 $4,031

$494 ฿16.5K

716.58%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

5.33

20.83%

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

Last update for Middletown, NJ: July 27, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,605 in Middletown, 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.

Salaries run about 717% higher in Middletown, NJ, 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 $86.0 in Middletown, NJ versus $46.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $363 vs $291 – 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $3,036 in Middletown, NJ, $1,264 in Phuket – roughly 140% apart. Middletown, NJ costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,554 per month in Middletown, 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $86.0 in Middletown, NJ 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 25% more in Middletown, NJ, 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 $1,264, than in Middletown, NJ at $3,036. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Middletown, NJ 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 $1,264 in Phuket to $3,036 in Middletown, NJ. 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, Middletown, NJ makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.