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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,062 in Newark, NJ versus $1,232 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,554 in Newark, NJ versus $2,054 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,046 in Newark, NJ versus $2,876 in Phuket.

Living in Newark, NJ is roughly 149% more expensive than in Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Newark, NJ is 124% above, Phuket is 10% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.39 $20.39

$4.41 ฿147

362.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.4 $99.4

$32.26 ฿1,075

208.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.23 $14.23

$8.93 ฿298

59.35%

Cappuccino

$6.33 $6.33

$2.90 ฿96.5

118.28%

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

$3.88 $3.88

$0.88 ฿29.33

340.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$0.48 ฿16.03

425.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.79 $7.79

$2.35 ฿78.3

231.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.83 $9.83

$3.72 ฿124

164.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.87 ฿62.2

-27.81%

White Bread (500g)

$4.56 $4.56

$1.47 ฿48.86

210.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$7.12 $7.12

$1.55 ฿51.7

359.35%

Eggs

$5.87 $5.87

$2.10 ฿70.0

179.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.16 $7.16

$19.59 ฿653

-63.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.22 $15.22

$3.42 ฿114

345.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.66 $19.66

$11.38 ฿379

72.76%

Apples (1kg)

$6.01 $6.01

$2.98 ฿99.4

101.68%

Banana (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$1.68 ฿56.1

91.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.70 $5.70

$2.21 ฿73.6

157.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.42 $6.42

$2.16 ฿72.0

197.22%

Potato (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$1.52 ฿50.8

125.66%

Onion (1kg)

$4.18 $4.18

$1.34 ฿44.59

211.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.13 ฿37.60

138.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$0.55 ฿18.21

349.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.13 $12.13

$4.26 ฿142

184.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.40 $20.40

$19.09 ฿636

6.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 $1.86

$1.78 ฿59.3

4.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.78 ฿92.7

3.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$5.97 $5.97

$2.23 ฿74.3

167.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.6 $54.6

$22.74 ฿758

140.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.05 $3.05

$3.03 ฿101

0.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.13 $2.13

$1.02 ฿34.09

108.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.43 $42.43

$3.89 ฿130

990.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.49 ฿49.68

-34.23%

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

$35.4K $35.4K

$26.6K ฿885.7K

33.12%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$27.0K ฿900.6K

-4.83%

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

$218 $218

$102 ฿3,414

112.81%

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

$72.5 $72.5

$11.33 ฿377

540.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.4 $72.4

$17.40 ฿580

315.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.43 $29.43

$52.1 ฿1,735

-43.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.20 $17.20

$11.07 ฿369

55.37%

Cinema Ticket

$14.63 $14.63

$7.69 ฿256

90.25%

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

$2,165 $2,165

$561 ฿18.7K

286.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$61.5K $61.5K

$11.5K ฿383.4K

434.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.6 $60.6

$63.0 ฿2,100

-3.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.37 $28.37

$29.52 ฿984

-3.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$98.0 ฿3,266

19.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$127 $127

$88.5 ฿2,949

43.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,311 $2,311

$738 ฿24.6K

213.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,561 $1,561

$482 ฿16.1K

223.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,355 $4,355

$2,107 ฿70.2K

106.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,623 $2,623

$1,226 ฿40.8K

113.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,719 $5,719

$3,617 ฿120.5K

58.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,703 $5,703

$2,603 ฿86.7K

119.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,488 $3,488

$494 ฿16.4K

606.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.4

5.57

14.90%

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

Last update for Newark, NJ: September 14, 2026

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,311 in Newark, NJ and $738 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Newark, NJ pays 607% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $99.0 in Newark, NJ vs $32.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $487 vs $274 per month, with Phuket cheaper across the board.

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, NJ vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 149% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 607% higher in Newark, NJ, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,311 in Newark, NJ versus $738 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Phuket runs roughly 140% less than in Newark, NJ. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $2,165 in Newark, NJ versus $561 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,232 in Phuket versus $3,062 in Newark, NJ, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Newark, NJ. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Newark, NJ, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Newark, NJ and Phuket are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 149% less than in Newark, NJ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.