Cost of Living Comparison Between New Bedford, MA and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between New Bedford, MA and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,495 per month in New Bedford, MA vs $1,270 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,239 per month in New Bedford, MA vs $2,304 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,984 per month in New Bedford, MA vs $3,339 in Phuket, rent included.

New Bedford, MA costs about 96% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

New Bedford, MA sits 86% above the global median, while Phuket is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.09 $12.09

$4.66 ฿150

159.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.6 $52.6

$46.44 ฿1,496

13.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.21 $12.21

$8.68 ฿280

40.67%

Cappuccino

$4.38 $4.38

$2.95 ฿95.0

48.47%

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

$2.71 $2.71

$0.70 ฿22.52

287.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 $2.00

$0.39 ฿12.70

412.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.05 $4.05

$2.53 ฿81.6

60.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.89 $5.89

$3.78 ฿122

55.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 $1.07

$2.22 ฿71.5

-51.80%

White Bread (500g)

$4.48 $4.48

$1.80 ฿57.8

148.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.28 $5.28

$2.19 ฿70.4

141.10%

Eggs

$4.82 $4.82

$2.31 ฿74.5

108.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.93 $17.93

$19.34 ฿623

-7.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.95 $12.95

$3.77 ฿121

243.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.65 $14.65

$13.22 ฿426

10.82%

Apples (1kg)

$6.41 $6.41

$3.33 ฿107

92.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.91 $1.91

$1.65 ฿53.1

15.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.01 $6.01

$2.29 ฿73.7

162.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.04 $6.04

$1.99 ฿64.1

203.52%

Potato (1kg)

$3.18 $3.18

$1.53 ฿49.24

107.84%

Onion (1kg)

$3.66 $3.66

$1.51 ฿48.77

142.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.02 $2.02

$1.03 ฿33.12

96.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.16 $2.16

$0.51 ฿16.57

323.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.26 $14.26

$4.41 ฿142

223.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.92 $11.92

$19.41 ฿625

-38.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 $1.75

$1.80 ฿58.0

-2.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.68 ฿86.4

-4.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.99 $1.99

$1.43 ฿46.11

39.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.44 $28.44

$11.70 ฿377

143.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.47 $5.47

$3.04 ฿97.9

79.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.03 $2.03

$1.04 ฿33.37

95.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.92 $28.92

$13.68 ฿441

111.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$1.30 ฿41.85

-31.54%

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

$27.7K $27.7K

$27.9K ฿898.9K

-0.55%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$33.0K ฿1.1M

-22.11%

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

$131 $131

$123 ฿3,962

6.47%

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

$52.2 $52.2

$13.82 ฿445

277.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.74 $44.74

$18.86 ฿608

137.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.46 $28.46

$61.2 ฿1,970

-53.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.81 ฿541

Cinema Ticket

$12.08 $12.08

$8.87 ฿286

36.19%

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

$1,247 $1,247

$696 ฿22.4K

79.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$32.8K $32.8K

$16.1K ฿517.4K

104.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$34.59 $34.59

$59.3 ฿1,910

-41.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.09 $37.09

$34.85 ฿1,123

6.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$54.0 $54.0

$113 ฿3,646

-52.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$100 $100

$85.1 ฿2,740

17.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,527 $1,527

$615 ฿19.8K

148.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,356 $1,356

$448 ฿14.4K

202.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,669 $1,669

$2,085 ฿67.2K

-19.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,446 $1,446

$1,496 ฿48.2K

-3.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,734 ฿120.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,662 ฿85.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,897 $3,897

$534 ฿17.2K

630.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

5.33

19.70%

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

Last update for New Bedford, MA: April 19, 2026

Last update for Phuket: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,527 in New Bedford, MA versus $615 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 630% higher in New Bedford, MA, 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 $53 in New Bedford, MA versus $46 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $445 vs $291 – 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

New Bedford, MA vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,495 in New Bedford, MA, $1,270 in Phuket – roughly 96% apart. New Bedford, MA costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,742 per month in New Bedford, MA and $1,904 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.

Kindergarten costs $1,247 per month in New Bedford, MA and $696 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 53% more in New Bedford, MA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,270, than in New Bedford, MA at $2,495. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in New Bedford, MA 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 $1,270 in Phuket to $2,495 in New Bedford, MA. 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 Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, New Bedford, MA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.