😐A single person spends $1,965 per month in Minot, ND vs $1,261 in Phuket, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,482 per month in Minot, ND vs $2,286 in Phuket, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,998 per month in Minot, ND vs $3,310 in Phuket, rent included.
😐Minot, ND costs about 56% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Minot, ND sits 46% above the global median, while Phuket is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Minot, ND
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17$16.17
$4.56฿149
254.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.1$75.1
$46.63฿1,519
61.14%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.48$12.48
$8.47฿276
47.34%
Cappuccino
$7.47$7.47
$3.03฿98.6
146.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71$2.71
$0.69฿22.45
292.75%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21$2.21
$0.37฿11.92
497.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.35$5.35
$2.49฿81.0
114.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.10$7.10
$3.66฿119
93.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Minot, ND
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06$1.06
$2.18฿71.0
-51.38%
White Bread(500g)
$3.21$3.21
$1.90฿62.0
68.95%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.17$3.17
$2.20฿71.6
44.09%
Eggs
$5.01$5.01
$2.22฿72.4
125.68%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.23$12.23
$19.99฿651
-38.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.71$11.71
$3.66฿119
219.95%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$23.17$23.17
$13.25฿432
74.87%
Apples(1kg)
$4.34$4.34
$3.23฿105
34.37%
Banana(1kg)
$1.93$1.93
$1.70฿55.3
13.53%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.72$3.72
$2.39฿78.0
55.65%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.45$4.45
$2.08฿67.7
113.94%
Potato(1kg)
$3.33$3.33
$1.59฿51.8
109.43%
Onion(1kg)
$3.80$3.80
$1.48฿48.31
156.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.05$3.05
$1.03฿33.54
196.12%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.69$2.69
$0.52฿16.83
417.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.94$7.94
$4.25฿138
86.82%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.97$14.97
$18.79฿612
-20.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76$1.76
$1.76฿57.2
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.28$3.28
$2.76฿89.8
18.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Minot, ND
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.04$2.04
$1.36฿44.32
50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$11.36฿370
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.46$3.46
$3.14฿102
10.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.57$1.57
$1.04฿33.74
50.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.36$29.36
$13.77฿448
113.22%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.83$0.83
$1.34฿43.79
-38.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.3K$29.3K
$27.7K฿901.4K
5.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K$25.8K
$33.9K฿1.1M
-23.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Minot, ND
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$205$205
$124฿4,025
66.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.6$53.6
$13.52฿440
296.23%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$76.3$76.3
$18.69฿609
308.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Minot, ND
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.64$42.64
$61.8฿2,013
-31.03%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.25฿562
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.27$13.27
$9.14฿298
45.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Minot, ND
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,038$1,038
$703฿22.9K
47.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.8K$23.8K
$15.9K฿517.0K
50.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Minot, ND
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$34.51$34.51
$59.5฿1,937
-41.96%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$62.2$62.2
$35.07฿1,142
77.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.0$97.0
$115฿3,754
-15.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111$111
$84.1฿2,737
32.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Minot, ND
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$919$919
$619฿20.1K
48.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$640$640
$433฿14.1K
47.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,824$1,824
$2,062฿67.2K
-11.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,216$2,216
$1,511฿49.2K
46.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,591$1,591
$3,646฿118.7K
-56.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,601$1,601
$2,626฿85.5K
-39.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Minot, ND
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,908$3,908
$507฿16.5K
670.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.63
5.33
5.63%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Minot, ND: June 7, 2026
Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $919 in Minot, ND versus $619 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 671% higher in Minot, ND, 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 $75.0 in Minot, ND versus $47.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $418 vs $293 – 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
Minot, ND vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Minot, ND and Phuket compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,965 in Minot, ND, $1,261 in Phuket – roughly 56% apart. Minot, ND costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Minot, ND compared to Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,948 per month in Minot, ND and $1,892 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Minot, ND and Phuket?
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.
Which city is more expensive overall: Minot, ND or Phuket?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,965 in Minot, ND and $1,261 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Minot, ND and Phuket?
Kindergarten costs $1,038 per month in Minot, ND and $703 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,261, than in Minot, ND at $1,965. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Minot, ND it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Minot, ND and Phuket?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,261 in Phuket to $1,965 in Minot, ND. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Minot, ND or Phuket safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Minot, ND and Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Minot, ND makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.