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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,388 per month in Midland, TX vs $1,253 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,223 per month in Midland, TX vs $2,043 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,057 per month in Midland, TX vs $2,833 in Phuket, rent included.

Midland, TX costs about 91% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Midland, TX sits 74% above the global median, while Phuket is 9% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.06 $16.06

$4.56 ฿150

252.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.5 $54.5

$32.62 ฿1,072

66.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.06 $10.06

$8.90 ฿293

13.03%

Cappuccino

$5.38 $5.38

$2.80 ฿92.2

92.14%

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

$4.81 $4.81

$0.88 ฿28.93

446.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.23 $4.23

$0.49 ฿16.08

763.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$10.03 $10.03

$2.39 ฿78.5

319.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.93 $11.93

$3.71 ฿122

221.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.91 $0.91

$1.79 ฿58.7

-49.16%

White Bread (500g)

$3.44 $3.44

$1.44 ฿47.38

138.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$1.58 ฿52.1

177.22%

Eggs

$3.07 $3.07

$2.13 ฿69.9

44.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.11 $11.11

$19.92 ฿655

-44.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.43 ฿113

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.33 ฿372

Apples (1kg)

$7.09 $7.09

$2.95 ฿96.9

140.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.89 $1.89

$1.72 ฿56.6

9.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.32 ฿76.4

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.4

Potato (1kg)

$1.47 ฿48.33

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 ฿44.64

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.10 ฿36.12

56.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.91 $3.91

$0.57 ฿18.89

585.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.97 $11.97

$4.27 ฿140

180.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.62 $13.62

$18.42 ฿605

-26.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.87 ฿61.5

-8.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 ฿96.0

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.22 ฿72.9

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.90 ฿753

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 ฿99.6

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.07 ฿35.31

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.93 ฿129

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$1.49 ฿49.04

-42.28%

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

$27.1K ฿891.7K

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

$27.5K ฿902.3K

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

$121 $121

$103 ฿3,379

17.32%

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

$53.4 $53.4

$10.99 ฿361

386.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$112 $112

$17.51 ฿576

542.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.87 $9.87

$53.5 ฿1,760

-81.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.20 ฿368

Cinema Ticket

$12.27 $12.27

$7.48 ฿246

64.04%

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

$1,179 $1,179

$557 ฿18.3K

111.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.9K ฿389.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$81.5 $81.5

$64.1 ฿2,106

27.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.31 $30.31

$29.07 ฿956

4.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$151 $151

$96.0 ฿3,154

56.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$149 $149

$90.3 ฿2,970

65.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,490 $1,490

$730 ฿24.0K

104.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,302 $1,302

$500 ฿16.4K

160.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,091 $2,091

$2,090 ฿68.7K

0.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,785 $1,785

$1,209 ฿39.7K

47.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,023 $2,023

$3,596 ฿118.2K

-43.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,009 $2,009

$2,512 ฿82.6K

-20.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,691 $5,691

$503 ฿16.5K

1030.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.65

5.57

19.39%

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

Last update for Midland, TX: August 30, 2026

Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,490 in Midland, TX versus $730 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 1031% higher in Midland, TX, 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 $54.0 in Midland, TX versus $33.00 in Phuket. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Midland, TX vs $273 in Phuket – so Midland, TX 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

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

Midland, TX costs about 91% more than Phuket, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,583 per month in Midland, TX and $1,880 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 $54.0 in Midland, TX and $33.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 12% cheaper in Midland, TX – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,253, than in Midland, TX at $2,388. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Midland, TX it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,253 versus $2,388 in Midland, TX. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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, TX makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.