Cost of Living Comparison Between Myrtle Beach, SC and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Myrtle Beach, SC and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,741 per month in Myrtle Beach, SC vs $1,265 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,568 per month in Myrtle Beach, SC vs $2,297 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,395 per month in Myrtle Beach, SC vs $3,329 in Phuket, rent included.

Myrtle Beach, SC costs about 117% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Myrtle Beach, SC sits 105% above the global median, while Phuket is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.27 $16.27

$4.70 ฿153

246.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.1 $79.1

$45.37 ฿1,482

74.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.14 $10.14

$8.43 ฿275

20.28%

Cappuccino

$4.57 $4.57

$2.93 ฿95.6

55.97%

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

$2.43 $2.43

$0.69 ฿22.40

252.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.86 $1.86

$0.37 ฿11.99

402.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.56 $4.56

$2.41 ฿78.6

89.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.92 $7.92

$3.72 ฿122

112.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$2.23 ฿72.9

-56.50%

White Bread (500g)

$3.22 $3.22

$1.83 ฿59.8

75.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.24 $4.24

$2.17 ฿70.8

95.39%

Eggs

$3.99 $3.99

$2.21 ฿72.3

80.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.00 $14.00

$19.74 ฿645

-29.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.67 $8.67

$3.63 ฿119

138.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.41 $16.41

$13.53 ฿442

21.29%

Apples (1kg)

$5.12 $5.12

$3.28 ฿107

56.10%

Banana (1kg)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.61 ฿52.6

-21.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.96 $3.96

$2.41 ฿78.6

64.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.66 $3.66

$2.08 ฿68.1

75.96%

Potato (1kg)

$2.31 $2.31

$1.53 ฿49.93

50.98%

Onion (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$1.48 ฿48.36

87.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.79 $1.79

$0.99 ฿32.29

80.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.34 $1.34

$0.51 ฿16.67

162.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.41 $7.41

$4.41 ฿144

68.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.53 $12.53

$19.38 ฿633

-35.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$1.78 ฿58.1

17.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.71 ฿88.6

-27.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.37 ฿44.79

48.91%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.39 ฿372

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.04 $3.04

$3.02 ฿98.6

0.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.74 $1.74

$0.99 ฿32.48

75.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.42 $30.42

$14.10 ฿461

115.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 $0.80

$1.36 ฿44.51

-41.18%

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

$20.3K $20.3K

$28.2K ฿921.1K

-28.09%

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

$19.2K $19.2K

$32.9K ฿1.1M

-41.64%

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

$140 $140

$122 ฿3,975

15.04%

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

$54.1 $54.1

$13.57 ฿443

298.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.1 $71.1

$18.31 ฿598

288.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.86 $22.86

$60.2 ฿1,967

-62.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 ฿560

Cinema Ticket

$10.15 $10.15

$8.69 ฿284

16.80%

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

$1,322 $1,322

$693 ฿22.6K

90.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.6K $24.6K

$15.7K ฿512.3K

56.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.04 $33.04

$59.5 ฿1,944

-44.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.54 $24.54

$34.77 ฿1,136

-29.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.8 $68.8

$115 ฿3,743

-39.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.7 $99.7

$83.3 ฿2,720

19.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,496 $1,496

$613 ฿20.0K

144.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,697 $1,697

$437 ฿14.3K

288.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,997 $1,997

$2,094 ฿68.4K

-4.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,947 $1,947

$1,509 ฿49.3K

29.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,409 $2,409

$3,749 ฿122.5K

-35.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,354 $2,354

$2,616 ฿85.4K

-9.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,659 $3,659

$508 ฿16.6K

620.03%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.36

5.33

19.32%

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

Last update for Myrtle Beach, SC: June 2, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,496 in Myrtle Beach, SC versus $613 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 620% higher in Myrtle Beach, SC, 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 $79.0 in Myrtle Beach, SC versus $45.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $352 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

Myrtle Beach, SC vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Myrtle Beach, SC is pricier by about 117%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,111 per month in Myrtle Beach, SC and $1,898 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 $2,741 in Myrtle Beach, SC and $1,265 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,322 per month in Myrtle Beach, SC and $693 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,265, than in Myrtle Beach, SC at $2,741. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Myrtle Beach, SC it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Phuket – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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