Cost of Living Comparison Between Newport News, VA and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Newport News, VA and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,653 in Newport News, VA versus $1,250 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,957 in Newport News, VA versus $2,284 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,260 in Newport News, VA versus $3,317 in Phuket.

Living in Newport News, VA is roughly 112% more expensive than in Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Newport News, VA is 99% above, Phuket is 6% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$27.38 $27.38

$4.55 ฿153

501.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$61.1 $61.1

$46.18 ฿1,550

32.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.49 $10.49

$8.84 ฿297

18.67%

Cappuccino

$5.79 $5.79

$3.06 ฿103

89.22%

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

$2.86 $2.86

$0.73 ฿24.36

291.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$0.40 ฿13.37

485.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.90 $4.90

$2.43 ฿81.6

101.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.54 $7.54

$3.78 ฿127

99.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$2.26 ฿75.8

-53.54%

White Bread (500g)

$3.83 $3.83

$1.81 ฿60.8

111.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.94 $2.94

$2.25 ฿75.7

30.67%

Eggs

$2.99 $2.99

$2.25 ฿75.4

32.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.68 $9.68

$19.51 ฿655

-50.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.37 $15.37

$3.65 ฿122

321.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.22 $19.22

$13.05 ฿438

47.28%

Apples (1kg)

$6.03 $6.03

$3.23 ฿109

86.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 $1.07

$1.62 ฿54.3

-33.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.12 $5.12

$2.38 ฿80.0

115.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$2.03 ฿68.0

115.27%

Potato (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$1.53 ฿51.5

79.74%

Onion (1kg)

$3.28 $3.28

$1.50 ฿50.4

118.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.08 $2.08

$0.98 ฿32.85

112.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$0.52 ฿17.36

390.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.71 $7.71

$4.44 ฿149

73.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.92 $15.92

$18.32 ฿615

-13.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 $1.78

$1.86 ฿62.6

-4.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.61 $4.61

$2.68 ฿90.0

72.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.41 ฿47.37

73.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.5 $55.5

$11.70 ฿393

374.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.91 $3.91

$3.11 ฿104

25.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.31 $1.31

$1.04 ฿35.00

25.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.61 $29.61

$14.11 ฿474

109.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$1.31 ฿44.02

-33.59%

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

$30.4K $30.4K

$27.8K ฿933.8K

9.25%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$33.2K ฿1.1M

-22.02%

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

$205 $205

$122 ฿4,110

67.35%

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

$59.6 $59.6

$13.59 ฿456

338.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.3 $68.3

$18.70 ฿628

265.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.31 $40.31

$60.5 ฿2,031

-33.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.98 ฿570

Cinema Ticket

$13.43 $13.43

$9.07 ฿305

48.07%

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

$2,685 $2,685

$706 ฿23.7K

280.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$41.0K $41.0K

$15.8K ฿530.5K

159.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.06 $42.06

$58.6 ฿1,965

-28.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.8 $50.8

$35.36 ฿1,187

43.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 $104

$115 ฿3,876

-10.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 $103

$83.7 ฿2,811

23.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,452 $1,452

$626 ฿21.0K

132.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,220 $1,220

$445 ฿14.9K

174.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,237 $2,237

$2,040 ฿68.5K

9.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,247 $2,247

$1,492 ฿50.1K

50.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,300 $2,300

$3,483 ฿116.9K

-33.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,245 $2,245

$2,577 ฿86.5K

-12.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,928 $3,928

$500 ฿16.8K

685.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

5.33

21.01%

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

Last update for Newport News, VA: July 13, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,452 in Newport News, VA and $626 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Newport News, VA pays 686% 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: $61.0 in Newport News, VA vs $46.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $419 vs $289 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

Newport News, VA vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Newport News, VA and Phuket differ by about 112% in total monthly costs ($2,653 vs $1,250 including rent). Phuket is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 686% higher in Newport News, VA, 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: $1,452 in Newport News, VA versus $626 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,653 per month in Newport News, VA versus $1,250 in Phuket – a 112% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Phuket runs roughly 375% less than in Newport News, VA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,250 in Phuket versus $2,653 in Newport News, VA, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Newport News, VA. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Newport News, VA 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 112% less than in Newport News, VA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.