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 $2,996 per month in Middletown, NJ vs $1,232 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,358 per month in Middletown, NJ vs $2,054 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,720 per month in Middletown, NJ vs $2,876 in Phuket, rent included.

Middletown, NJ costs about 143% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Middletown, NJ sits 119% above the global median, while Phuket is 10% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.28 $20.28

$4.41 ฿147

359.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$86.8 $86.8

$32.26 ฿1,075

168.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.93 $11.93

$8.93 ฿298

33.59%

Cappuccino

$5.66 $5.66

$2.90 ฿96.5

95.17%

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

$2.65 $2.65

$0.88 ฿29.33

201.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 $1.98

$0.48 ฿16.03

312.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.07 $6.07

$2.35 ฿78.3

158.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.13 $8.13

$3.72 ฿124

118.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.87 ฿62.2

-45.45%

White Bread (500g)

$2.85 $2.85

$1.47 ฿48.86

93.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.58 $5.58

$1.55 ฿51.7

260.00%

Eggs

$4.10 $4.10

$2.10 ฿70.0

95.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.30 $13.30

$19.59 ฿653

-32.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.73 $6.73

$3.42 ฿114

96.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.18 $13.18

$11.38 ฿379

15.82%

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 $3.39

$2.98 ฿99.4

13.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.68 ฿56.1

-9.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.78 $2.78

$2.21 ฿73.6

25.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.54 $4.54

$2.16 ฿72.0

110.19%

Potato (1kg)

$1.68 $1.68

$1.52 ฿50.8

10.53%

Onion (1kg)

$4.45 $4.45

$1.34 ฿44.59

232.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.44 $2.44

$1.13 ฿37.60

115.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.49 $2.49

$0.55 ฿18.21

352.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.42 $9.42

$4.26 ฿142

121.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.36 $20.36

$19.09 ฿636

6.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.67 $2.67

$1.78 ฿59.3

50.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 $3.40

$2.78 ฿92.7

22.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.12 $2.12

$2.23 ฿74.3

-4.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.74 ฿758

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.05 $3.05

$3.03 ฿101

0.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.12 $2.12

$1.02 ฿34.09

107.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.72 $41.72

$3.89 ฿130

972.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 $1.16

$1.49 ฿49.68

-22.15%

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

$35.1K $35.1K

$26.6K ฿885.7K

32.02%

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

$25.3K $25.3K

$27.0K ฿900.6K

-6.31%

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

$224 $224

$102 ฿3,414

118.19%

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

$54.2 $54.2

$11.33 ฿377

377.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.3 $59.3

$17.40 ฿580

240.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.36 $38.36

$52.1 ฿1,735

-26.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.07 ฿369

Cinema Ticket

$19.71 $19.71

$7.69 ฿256

156.31%

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

$2,520 $2,520

$561 ฿18.7K

349.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$33.8K $33.8K

$11.5K ฿383.4K

193.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.94 $49.94

$63.0 ฿2,100

-20.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$77.1 $77.1

$29.52 ฿984

161.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$34.73 $34.73

$98.0 ฿3,266

-64.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 $122

$88.5 ฿2,949

37.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,589 $1,589

$738 ฿24.6K

115.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,675 $1,675

$482 ฿16.1K

247.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,545 $2,545

$2,107 ฿70.2K

20.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,973 $2,973

$1,226 ฿40.8K

142.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,069 $3,069

$3,617 ฿120.5K

-15.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,355 $2,355

$2,603 ฿86.7K

-9.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,049 $4,049

$494 ฿16.4K

720.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.33

5.57

13.64%

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

Last update for Middletown, NJ: September 13, 2026

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,589 in Middletown, NJ versus $738 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 720% 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 $87.0 in Middletown, NJ versus $32.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $365 vs $274 – 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: $2,996 in Middletown, NJ, $1,232 in Phuket – roughly 143% apart. Middletown, NJ costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,493 per month in Middletown, NJ and $1,847 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 $87.0 in Middletown, NJ and $32.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 33% 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 $1,232, than in Middletown, NJ at $2,996. 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 $1,232 in Phuket to $2,996 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.