Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nakhon Si Thammarat and Phuket

For one person, living is cheaper in Nakhon Si Thammarat: $1,003 a month against $1,278 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $3,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
Phuket, Thailand
Nakhon Si Thammarat
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,003
/mo nomad
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,278
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nakhon Si Thammarat and in Phuket

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Nakhon Si Thammarat and in Phuket actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Nakhon Si Thammarat vs $1,278 in Phuket, rent included.

  • Nakhon Si Thammarat $1,003
  • Phuket $1,278

A couple spends around $1,626 per month in Nakhon Si Thammarat vs $2,216 in Phuket, rent included.

  • Nakhon Si Thammarat $1,626
  • Phuket $2,216

A family of three spends $2,249 per month in Nakhon Si Thammarat vs $3,154 in Phuket, rent included.

  • Nakhon Si Thammarat $2,249
  • Phuket $3,154

Nakhon Si Thammarat is about 22% cheaper than Phuket, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Nakhon Si Thammarat and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Nakhon Si Thammarat 26% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nakhon Si Thammarat
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.07 ฿104
$4.47 ฿151
-31.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.72 ฿1,105
$32.41 ฿1,094
0.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.63 ฿291
$8.81 ฿297
-2.04%
Cappuccino
$2.84 ฿96.1
$2.83 ฿95.5
0.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95 ฿32.05
$0.87 ฿29.43
9.20%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 ฿15.76
$0.49 ฿16.67
-4.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.47 ฿83.3
$2.56 ฿86.4
-3.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.81 ฿129
$3.68 ฿124
3.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nakhon Si Thammarat
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.67 ฿56.5
$1.66 ฿56.0
0.60%
White Bread (500g)
$1.47 ฿49.72
$1.46 ฿49.35
0.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.52 ฿51.3
$1.50 ฿50.6
1.33%
Eggs
$2.11 ฿71.3
$2.09 ฿70.5
0.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.37 ฿654
$19.07 ฿644
1.57%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.41 ฿115
$3.30 ฿111
3.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.14 ฿376
$10.91 ฿368
2.11%
Apples (1kg)
$2.84 ฿96.0
$2.93 ฿99.0
-3.07%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 ฿56.4
$1.69 ฿57.1
-1.18%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.28 ฿77.0
$2.25 ฿75.8
1.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.04 ฿68.8
$2.08 ฿70.1
-1.92%
Potato (1kg)
$1.47 ฿49.80
$1.51 ฿51.0
-2.65%
Onion (1kg)
$1.37 ฿46.11
$1.38 ฿46.56
-0.72%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 ฿35.72
$1.07 ฿35.99
-0.93%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿17.07
$0.52 ฿17.52
-1.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.44 ฿150
$4.20 ฿142
5.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.27 ฿617
$18.79 ฿634
-2.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 ฿59.9
$1.82 ฿61.5
-2.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89 ฿97.5
$2.84 ฿95.9
1.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Nakhon Si Thammarat
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.85 ฿28.55
$1.45 ฿49.03
-41.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$56.7 ฿1,913
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.16 ฿39.29
$3.02 ฿102
-61.59%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.05 ฿35.46
$1.02 ฿34.36
2.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.81 ฿129
$3.69 ฿125
3.25%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.42 ฿48.05
$1.47 ฿49.81
-3.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.1K ฿913.8K
$26.8K ฿904.3K
1.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2K ฿917.8K
$26.7K ฿901.3K
1.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nakhon Si Thammarat
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$98.3 ฿3,321
$96.4 ฿3,254
2.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.37 ฿384
$11.26 ฿380
0.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.10 ฿577
$16.85 ฿569
1.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nakhon Si Thammarat
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.49 ฿1,604
$67.2 ฿2,270
-29.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.15 ฿444
$10.73 ฿362
22.55%
Cinema Ticket
$7.69 ฿260
$7.50 ฿253
2.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nakhon Si Thammarat
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$555 ฿18.7K
$476 ฿16.1K
16.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K ฿392.5K
$11.3K ฿380.4K
3.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nakhon Si Thammarat
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.6 ฿2,149
$62.4 ฿2,106
2.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.79 ฿972
$28.41 ฿959
1.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.5 ฿3,224
$94.3 ฿3,184
1.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.5 ฿3,023
$85.8 ฿2,898
4.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nakhon Si Thammarat
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$431 ฿14.6K
$716 ฿24.2K
-39.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$301 ฿10.2K
$491 ฿16.6K
-38.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,150 ฿38.8K
$1,927 ฿65.1K
-40.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$698 ฿23.6K
$1,431 ฿48.3K
-51.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,924 ฿65.0K
$4,175 ฿141.0K
-53.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,428 ฿48.2K
$3,045 ฿102.8K
-53.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nakhon Si Thammarat
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$502 ฿17.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
5.57
-

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

Last update for Nakhon Si Thammarat: October 25, 2026

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nakhon Si Thammarat
$301
Phuket
$491 62.9% $189
Groceries & Markets
Nakhon Si Thammarat
$267
Phuket
$266 0.2% $0.5
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nakhon Si Thammarat
$127
Phuket
$124 1.8% $2.3
Clothing & Footwear
Nakhon Si Thammarat
$125
Phuket
$122 2.4% $2.9
Eating Out
Nakhon Si Thammarat
$110
Phuket
$122 10.5% $12
Sport & Entertainment
Nakhon Si Thammarat
$63
Phuket
$82 30.8% $19
Getting Around
Nakhon Si Thammarat
$9.8 *
Phuket
$71 620% $61

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $431 in Nakhon Si Thammarat versus $716 in Phuket. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33 in Nakhon Si Thammarat versus $32 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $267 vs $266 – making Phuket the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Nakhon Si Thammarat
🇹🇭 Phuket
🕒 Local time
01:05 1:05 AM
01:05 1:05 AM
Same time as Nakhon Si Thammarat
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
102,152
79,308
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 33.77 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.59 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nakhon Si Thammarat Phuket 180 km
From you
  • Nakhon Si Thammarat
  • Phuket

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Nakhon Si Thammarat vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Nakhon Si Thammarat and in Phuket compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,003 in Nakhon Si Thammarat, $1,278 in Phuket – roughly 27% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in transport.
What salary covers living expenses in Nakhon Si Thammarat compared to Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Nakhon Si Thammarat and $1,917 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Nakhon Si Thammarat and Phuket?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Nakhon Si Thammarat, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $431 there versus $716 in Phuket.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Nakhon Si Thammarat and Phuket?
Kindergarten costs $555 per month in Nakhon Si Thammarat and $476 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Nakhon Si Thammarat or Phuket?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,003 in Nakhon Si Thammarat and $1,278 in Phuket. That’s a gap of about 27%.
How far does $2,000 go in Nakhon Si Thammarat compared to Phuket?
$2,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,003 in Nakhon Si Thammarat and $1,278 in Phuket, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
How does quality of life compare between Nakhon Si Thammarat and Phuket?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,003 in Nakhon Si Thammarat to $1,278 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Nakhon Si Thammarat 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.

Nakhon Si Thammarat vs other spots: cost of living compared

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