Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Newark, DE and Phuket

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,278 a month against $2,583 in Newark, DE, rent and utilities included – about $15,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Newark, DE, United States
Phuket, Thailand
Newark, DE
🇺🇸 United States
$2,583
/mo nomad
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,278
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Newark, DE 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 Newark, DE and in Phuket actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,583 per month in Newark, DE vs $1,278 in Phuket, rent included.

  • Newark, DE $2,583
  • Phuket $1,278

A couple spends around $3,552 per month in Newark, DE vs $2,216 in Phuket, rent included.

  • Newark, DE $3,552
  • Phuket $2,216

A family of three spends $4,521 per month in Newark, DE vs $3,154 in Phuket, rent included.

  • Newark, DE $4,521
  • Phuket $3,154

Newark, DE costs about 102% more than Phuket, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Newark, DE sits 90% above the global median, while Phuket is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Newark, DE
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.90 $15.90
$4.47 ฿151
255.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.1 $59.1
$32.41 ฿1,094
82.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.84 $8.84
$8.81 ฿297
0.34%
Cappuccino
$5.14 $5.14
$2.83 ฿95.4
81.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 $2.50
$0.87 ฿29.42
187.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69 $1.69
$0.49 ฿16.66
244.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.96 $3.96
$2.56 ฿86.3
54.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.91 $5.91
$3.68 ฿124
60.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Newark, DE
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.83 $0.83
$1.66 ฿56.0
-50.00%
White Bread (500g)
$2.03 $2.03
$1.46 ฿49.32
39.04%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.62 $2.62
$1.50 ฿50.5
74.67%
Eggs
$3.88 $3.88
$2.09 ฿70.5
85.65%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.62 $9.62
$19.07 ฿643
-49.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.72 $8.72
$3.30 ฿111
164.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.53 $15.53
$10.91 ฿368
42.35%
Apples (1kg)
$4.54 $4.54
$2.93 ฿98.9
54.95%
Banana (1kg)
$1.34 $1.34
$1.69 ฿57.0
-20.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.34 $4.34
$2.25 ฿75.8
92.89%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.08 $4.08
$2.08 ฿70.1
96.15%
Potato (1kg)
$2.64 $2.64
$1.51 ฿51.0
74.83%
Onion (1kg)
$2.60 $2.60
$1.38 ฿46.54
88.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.91 $1.91
$1.07 ฿35.97
78.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 $1.31
$0.52 ฿17.51
151.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.61 $13.61
$4.20 ฿142
224.05%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.55 $14.55
$18.79 ฿634
-22.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 $1.70
$1.82 ฿61.5
-6.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60 $3.60
$2.84 ฿95.9
26.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Newark, DE
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.08 $4.08
$1.45 ฿49.00
181.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$59.7 $59.7
$56.7 ฿1,912
5.40%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.95 $4.95
$3.02 ฿102
63.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.07 $1.07
$1.02 ฿34.34
4.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$23.01 $23.01
$3.69 ฿125
523.58%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 $0.94
$1.47 ฿49.78
-36.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.3K $17.3K
$26.8K ฿903.7K
-35.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.8K $20.8K
$26.7K ฿900.8K
-22.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Newark, DE
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$225 $225
$96.4 ฿3,252
133.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.0 $51.0
$11.26 ฿380
352.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.8 $50.8
$16.85 ฿569
201.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Newark, DE
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$67.2 ฿2,269
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$10.73 ฿362
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.97 $12.97
$7.50 ฿253
72.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Newark, DE
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,919 $1,919
$476 ฿16.1K
303.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$27.8K $27.8K
$11.3K ฿380.1K
146.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Newark, DE
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.70 $45.70
$62.4 ฿2,105
-26.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.78 $39.78
$28.41 ฿959
40.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.9 $86.9
$94.3 ฿3,182
-7.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$132 $132
$85.8 ฿2,896
54.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Newark, DE
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,508 $1,508
$716 ฿24.2K
110.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,420 $1,420
$491 ฿16.6K
189.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,626 $2,626
$1,927 ฿65.0K
36.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,030 $2,030
$1,431 ฿48.3K
41.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,553 $2,553
$4,175 ฿140.9K
-38.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,240 $2,240
$3,045 ฿102.8K
-26.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Newark, DE
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,275 $4,275
$502 ฿17.0K
751.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.46
5.57
15.98%

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

Last update for Newark, DE: October 26, 2026

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Newark, DE
$1.4K
Phuket
$491 65.4% $929
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Newark, DE
$326
Phuket
$124 61.8% $202
Groceries & Markets
Newark, DE
$323
Phuket
$266 17.7% $57
Eating Out
Newark, DE
$264
Phuket
$122 53.9% $142
Clothing & Footwear
Newark, DE
$137
Phuket
$122 11.1% $15
Getting Around
Newark, DE
$86
Phuket
$71 18.3% $16
Sport & Entertainment
Newark, DE
$26 *
Phuket
$82 217% $56

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,508 in Newark, DE 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.

Salaries in Newark, DE are about 8.5 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $59 in Newark, DE versus $32 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $323 vs $266 – making Phuket the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Newark, DE
🇹🇭 Phuket
🕒 Local time
03:00 3:00 AM
15:00 3:00 PM
12 h ahead of Newark, DE
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
311,549
79,308
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.896 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.75 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.66 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Newark, DE Phuket 14,690 km ≈ 19 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Newark, DE
  • 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
Newark, DE vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Newark, DE?
Yes – Newark, DE is pricier by about 102%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,875 per month in Newark, DE and $1,917 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $716 there versus $1,508 in Newark, DE.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 5% less in Phuket. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $1,919 per month in Newark, DE and $476 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Newark, DE or in Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,278, than in Newark, DE at $2,583. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Newark, DE it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Newark, DE or Phuket more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Newark, DE makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Newark, DE vs other spots: cost of living compared

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