Cost of Living Comparison Between Newark, DE and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Newark, DE and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,553 per month in Newark, DE vs $1,264 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,651 per month in Newark, DE vs $2,256 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,750 per month in Newark, DE vs $3,248 in Phuket, rent included.

Newark, DE costs about 102% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Newark, DE sits 92% above the global median, while Phuket is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.16 $16.16

$4.48 ฿150

260.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.6 $60.6

$45.59 ฿1,525

32.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.88 $6.88

$8.76 ฿293

-21.46%

Cappuccino

$5.00 $5.00

$2.97 ฿99.3

68.35%

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

$2.20 $2.20

$0.69 ฿22.96

218.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.57 $2.57

$0.39 ฿13.07

558.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.24 $3.24

$2.53 ฿84.7

28.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.86 $4.86

$3.75 ฿125

29.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.82 $0.82

$2.15 ฿71.8

-61.86%

White Bread (500g)

$1.96 $1.96

$1.82 ฿60.7

7.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.58 $3.58

$2.18 ฿73.1

64.22%

Eggs

$4.21 $4.21

$2.25 ฿75.2

87.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.90 $15.90

$20.00 ฿669

-20.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.99 $8.99

$3.63 ฿121

147.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.67 $15.67

$13.56 ฿453

15.56%

Apples (1kg)

$5.33 $5.33

$3.24 ฿109

64.51%

Banana (1kg)

$2.10 $2.10

$1.64 ฿54.7

28.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$2.33 ฿78.0

121.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.08 $5.08

$2.07 ฿69.3

145.41%

Potato (1kg)

$2.93 $2.93

$1.55 ฿51.8

89.03%

Onion (1kg)

$3.87 $3.87

$1.46 ฿48.67

165.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.84 $1.84

$0.98 ฿32.94

87.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 $1.38

$0.48 ฿16.13

187.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.56 $12.56

$4.35 ฿146

188.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.30 $17.30

$18.57 ฿621

-6.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.86 ฿62.1

-5.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.65 $4.65

$2.65 ฿88.8

75.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.92 $3.92

$1.42 ฿47.40

176.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$59.5 $59.5

$11.57 ฿387

413.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.94 $3.94

$3.17 ฿106

24.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.03 ฿34.51

38.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.84 $29.84

$13.89 ฿465

114.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 $0.82

$1.34 ฿44.96

-38.81%

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

$17.3K $17.3K

$27.8K ฿929.6K

-37.90%

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

$20.9K $20.9K

$33.4K ฿1.1M

-37.49%

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

$207 $207

$123 ฿4,116

68.10%

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

$51.6 $51.6

$13.77 ฿461

274.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.3 $51.3

$18.33 ฿613

179.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.23 $43.23

$60.7 ฿2,030

-28.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.16 ฿574

Cinema Ticket

$12.96 $12.96

$8.87 ฿297

46.11%

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

$2,721 $2,721

$688 ฿23.0K

295.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.7K $40.7K

$15.8K ฿527.8K

158.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$81.0 $81.0

$59.3 ฿1,984

36.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.56 $40.56

$34.69 ฿1,160

16.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$115 ฿3,853

-10.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$83.8 ฿2,802

70.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,514 $1,514

$621 ฿20.8K

143.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,290 $1,290

$446 ฿14.9K

189.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,291 $2,291

$2,034 ฿68.0K

12.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,950 $1,950

$1,496 ฿50.0K

30.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,488 $2,488

$3,455 ฿115.6K

-27.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,233 $2,233

$2,531 ฿84.7K

-11.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,290 $4,290

$494 ฿16.5K

769.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.48

5.33

21.58%

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

Last update for Newark, DE: July 26, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,514 in Newark, DE versus $621 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 769% higher in Newark, DE, 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 $61.0 in Newark, DE versus $46.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $377 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

Newark, DE vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Newark, DE is pricier by about 102%, 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 $3,829 per month in Newark, DE and $1,896 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.

Public transport costs about 414% less in Phuket. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $2,721 per month in Newark, DE and $688 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 $1,264, than in Newark, DE at $2,553. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Newark, DE 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, Newark, DE makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.