Cost of Living Comparison Between Midland, MI and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Midland, MI and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,899 per month in Midland, MI vs $1,232 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,847 per month in Midland, MI vs $2,054 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,794 per month in Midland, MI vs $2,876 in Phuket, rent included.

Midland, MI costs about 54% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Midland, MI sits 39% above the global median, while Phuket is 10% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.05 $25.05

$4.41 ฿147

468.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.96 $49.96

$32.26 ฿1,077

54.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.40 $10.40

$8.93 ฿298

16.46%

Cappuccino

$5.02 $5.02

$2.90 ฿96.6

73.10%

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

$2.53 $2.53

$0.88 ฿29.38

187.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.49 $1.49

$0.48 ฿16.06

210.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.77 $3.77

$2.35 ฿78.5

60.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.90 $5.90

$3.72 ฿124

58.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.73 $0.73

$1.87 ฿62.3

-60.96%

White Bread (500g)

$2.68 $2.68

$1.47 ฿48.94

82.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.16 $2.16

$1.55 ฿51.8

39.35%

Eggs

$2.82 $2.82

$2.10 ฿70.1

34.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.62 $9.62

$19.59 ฿654

-50.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.29 $7.29

$3.42 ฿114

113.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.20 $11.20

$11.38 ฿380

-1.58%

Apples (1kg)

$3.32 $3.32

$2.98 ฿99.6

11.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.30 $1.30

$1.68 ฿56.2

-22.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$9.59 $9.59

$2.21 ฿73.7

333.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.79 $6.79

$2.16 ฿72.1

214.35%

Potato (1kg)

$6.59 $6.59

$1.52 ฿50.9

333.55%

Onion (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

$1.34 ฿44.67

223.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.13 ฿37.67

66.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 $1.03

$0.55 ฿18.24

87.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.08 $10.08

$4.26 ฿142

136.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.94 $14.94

$19.09 ฿637

-21.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.78 ฿59.4

10.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿92.9

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.23 ฿74.4

-12.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$121 $121

$22.74 ฿759

433.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 ฿101

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ฿34.15

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.89 ฿130

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 $0.91

$1.49 ฿49.77

-38.93%

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

$35.3K $35.3K

$26.6K ฿887.3K

32.93%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$27.0K ฿902.2K

-3.76%

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

$118 $118

$102 ฿3,420

15.55%

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

$37.17 $37.17

$11.33 ฿378

228.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.1 $50.1

$17.40 ฿581

188.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.98 $41.98

$52.1 ฿1,738

-19.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$32.22 $32.22

$11.07 ฿370

191.06%

Cinema Ticket

$9.75 $9.75

$7.69 ฿257

26.79%

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

$1,623 $1,623

$561 ฿18.7K

189.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.2K $11.2K

$11.5K ฿384.1K

-2.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.8 $50.8

$63.0 ฿2,104

-19.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.26 $21.26

$29.52 ฿986

-27.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$123 $123

$98.0 ฿3,272

25.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$88.5 ฿2,954

67.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$708 $708

$738 ฿24.6K

-4.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$700 $700

$482 ฿16.1K

45.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,771 $1,771

$2,107 ฿70.3K

-15.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$996 $996

$1,226 ฿40.9K

-18.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,832 $1,832

$3,617 ฿120.7K

-49.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,822 $1,822

$2,603 ฿86.9K

-29.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,625 $6,625

$494 ฿16.5K

1242.18%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.04

5.57

8.44%

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

Last update for Midland, MI: September 13, 2026

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $708 in Midland, MI 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 1242% higher in Midland, MI, 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 $50.0 in Midland, MI versus $32.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $338 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

Midland, MI vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,899 in Midland, MI, $1,232 in Phuket – roughly 54% apart. Midland, MI costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,849 per month in Midland, MI 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,899 in Midland, MI and $1,232 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 434% less in Phuket. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,232, than in Midland, MI at $1,899. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Midland, MI 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 $1,899 in Midland, MI. 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, Midland, MI makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.