Cost of Living Comparison Between Nakhon Si Thammarat and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Nakhon Si Thammarat and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,061 per month in Nakhon Si Thammarat vs $1,265 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,721 per month in Nakhon Si Thammarat vs $2,297 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,380 per month in Nakhon Si Thammarat vs $3,329 in Phuket, rent included.

Nakhon Si Thammarat is about 16% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Nakhon Si Thammarat and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Nakhon Si Thammarat 21% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.13 ฿102

$4.70 ฿153

-33.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.45 ฿1,517

$45.37 ฿1,482

2.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.71 ฿284

$8.43 ฿275

3.32%

Cappuccino

$2.94 ฿96.1

$2.93 ฿95.6

0.34%

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

$0.70 ฿22.75

$0.69 ฿22.40

1.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ฿12.99

$0.37 ฿11.99

8.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.48 ฿80.8

$2.41 ฿78.6

2.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.78 ฿123

$3.72 ฿122

1.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.18 ฿71.3

$2.23 ฿72.9

-2.24%

White Bread (500g)

$1.81 ฿59.2

$1.83 ฿59.8

-1.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.23 ฿72.9

$2.17 ฿70.8

2.76%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿73.8

$2.21 ฿72.3

2.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.79 ฿646

$19.74 ฿645

0.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.69 ฿120

$3.63 ฿119

1.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.27 ฿433

$13.53 ฿442

-1.92%

Apples (1kg)

$3.36 ฿110

$3.28 ฿107

2.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ฿52.6

Oranges (1kg)

$2.32 ฿75.6

$2.41 ฿78.6

-3.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 ฿66.3

$2.08 ฿68.1

-2.40%

Potato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$1.53 ฿49.93

3.92%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 ฿49.06

$1.48 ฿48.36

1.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 ฿33.42

$0.99 ฿32.29

3.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿15.69

$0.51 ฿16.67

-5.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.34 ฿142

$4.41 ฿144

-1.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.25 ฿629

$19.38 ฿633

-0.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿58.5

$1.78 ฿58.1

0.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿90.8

$2.71 ฿88.6

2.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.21

$1.37 ฿44.79

-35.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.39 ฿372

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.10 ฿35.85

$3.02 ฿98.6

-63.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 ฿32.32

$0.99 ฿32.48

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.05 ฿459

$14.10 ฿461

-0.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 ฿44.70

$1.36 ฿44.51

0.74%

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

$28.0K ฿914.6K

$28.2K ฿921.1K

-0.70%

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

$32.9K ฿1.1M

0.03%

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

$122 ฿3,969

$122 ฿3,975

-0.15%

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

$13.86 ฿453

$13.57 ฿443

2.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.63 ฿608

$18.31 ฿598

1.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.44 ฿1,582

$60.2 ฿1,967

-19.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.15 ฿397

$17.14 ฿560

-29.11%

Cinema Ticket

$9.06 ฿296

$8.69 ฿284

4.26%

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

$702 ฿22.9K

$693 ฿22.6K

1.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K ฿520.4K

$15.7K ฿512.3K

1.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 ฿1,893

$59.5 ฿1,944

-2.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.56 ฿1,129

$34.77 ฿1,136

-0.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$114 ฿3,727

$115 ฿3,743

-0.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.5 ฿2,759

$83.3 ฿2,720

1.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$425 ฿13.9K

$613 ฿20.0K

-30.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$285 ฿9,315

$437 ฿14.3K

-34.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$809 ฿26.4K

$2,094 ฿68.4K

-61.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$669 ฿21.8K

$1,509 ฿49.3K

-55.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,752 ฿57.2K

$3,749 ฿122.5K

-53.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 ฿47.1K

$2,616 ฿85.4K

-44.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

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

Last update for Nakhon Si Thammarat: June 1, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $425 in Nakhon Si Thammarat 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Nakhon Si Thammarat versus $45.00 in Phuket. Groceries tell a different story – $292 in Nakhon Si Thammarat vs $293 in Phuket – so Nakhon Si Thammarat 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

Nakhon Si Thammarat vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,061 in Nakhon Si Thammarat, $1,265 in Phuket – roughly 19% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,592 per month in Nakhon Si Thammarat 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 Nakhon Si Thammarat, 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 $1,061 in Nakhon Si Thammarat and $1,265 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $702 per month in Nakhon Si Thammarat and $693 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Nakhon Si Thammarat, where all-in costs run around $1,061, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Nakhon Si Thammarat it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket 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 $1,061 in Nakhon Si Thammarat to $1,265 in Phuket. 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 Nakhon Si Thammarat. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.