Cost of Living Comparison Between Nonthaburi and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Nonthaburi and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Nonthaburi vs $1,232 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,380 per month in Nonthaburi vs $2,255 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,899 per month in Nonthaburi vs $3,279 in Phuket, rent included.

Nonthaburi is about 30% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Nonthaburi and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Nonthaburi 36% lower, Phuket 8% lower.

Currency
ðŸ― Eating Out
Nonthaburi
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.05 āļŋ99.9
$4.63 āļŋ151
-34.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.76 āļŋ712
$46.84 āļŋ1,532
-53.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.99 āļŋ196
$8.84 āļŋ289
-32.24%
Cappuccino
$2.09 āļŋ68.3
$3.00 āļŋ98.0
-30.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67 āļŋ22.06
$0.74 āļŋ24.25
-9.46%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 āļŋ8.76
$0.37 āļŋ11.95
-27.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.96 āļŋ64.0
$2.44 āļŋ79.8
-19.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61 āļŋ118
$3.61 āļŋ118
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nonthaburi
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.52 āļŋ49.81
$2.26 āļŋ73.9
-32.74%
White Bread (500g)
$1.35 āļŋ44.05
$1.84 āļŋ60.1
-26.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.20 āļŋ39.31
$2.24 āļŋ73.4
-46.43%
Eggs
$2.27 āļŋ74.4
$2.32 āļŋ75.7
-2.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.60 āļŋ608
$19.67 āļŋ643
-5.44%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.80 āļŋ91.6
$3.65 āļŋ119
-23.29%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.33 āļŋ305
$13.10 āļŋ428
-28.78%
Apples (1kg)
$3.55 āļŋ116
$3.39 āļŋ111
4.72%
Banana (1kg)
$1.74 āļŋ56.9
$1.64 āļŋ53.7
6.10%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.89 āļŋ61.7
$2.41 āļŋ79.0
-21.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 āļŋ49.80
$2.03 āļŋ66.4
-25.12%
Potato (1kg)
$1.66 āļŋ54.2
$1.56 āļŋ50.9
6.41%
Onion (1kg)
$1.45 āļŋ47.39
$1.50 āļŋ48.94
-3.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.11 āļŋ36.20
$1.02 āļŋ33.50
8.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 āļŋ16.16
$0.49 āļŋ16.00
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45 āļŋ146
$4.45 āļŋ145
-
Wine (Bottle)
$15.56 āļŋ509
$18.88 āļŋ617
-17.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 āļŋ58.9
$1.78 āļŋ58.1
1.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.36 āļŋ110
$2.75 āļŋ90.1
22.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Nonthaburi
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.89 āļŋ29.26
$1.40 āļŋ45.81
-36.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$36.34 āļŋ1,188
$11.48 āļŋ376
216.55%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.06 āļŋ34.57
$3.12 āļŋ102
-66.03%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.16 āļŋ37.79
$1.00 āļŋ32.67
16.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.10 āļŋ134
$14.09 āļŋ461
-70.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 āļŋ41.82
$1.35 āļŋ44.19
-5.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.7K āļŋ1.2M
$27.2K āļŋ888.9K
35.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.0K āļŋ915.1K
$32.9K āļŋ1.1M
-14.99%
ðŸ§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nonthaburi
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$90.6 āļŋ2,963
$125 āļŋ4,087
-27.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.31 āļŋ435
$13.57 āļŋ444
-1.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.04 āļŋ557
$18.52 āļŋ606
-7.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nonthaburi
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.4 āļŋ1,747
$61.5 āļŋ2,010
-13.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.27 āļŋ401
$16.84 āļŋ551
-27.14%
Cinema Ticket
$6.29 āļŋ206
$9.19 āļŋ300
-31.56%
ðŸ§ļ Childcare & Education
Nonthaburi
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$434 āļŋ14.2K
$698 āļŋ22.8K
-37.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.1K āļŋ429.3K
$15.6K āļŋ509.9K
-15.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nonthaburi
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$30.64 āļŋ1,002
$57.8 āļŋ1,889
-46.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.45 āļŋ1,290
$35.24 āļŋ1,152
11.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$105 āļŋ3,438
$113 āļŋ3,699
-7.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.9 āļŋ2,873
$86.4 āļŋ2,825
1.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nonthaburi
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$730 āļŋ23.9K
$616 āļŋ20.1K
18.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$187 āļŋ6,104
$446 āļŋ14.6K
-58.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$846 āļŋ27.7K
$2,048 āļŋ67.0K
-58.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$443 āļŋ14.5K
$1,492 āļŋ48.8K
-70.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,346 āļŋ76.7K
$3,779 āļŋ123.6K
-37.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,649 āļŋ86.6K
-
ðŸ’ĩ Salaries & Financials
Nonthaburi
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$772 āļŋ25.3K
$524 āļŋ17.1K
47.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.84
5.33
9.57%

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

Last update for Nonthaburi: April 28, 2026

Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $730 in Nonthaburi versus $616 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 47% higher in Nonthaburi, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $22.00 in Nonthaburi versus $47.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $292 – making Nonthaburi 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
Nonthaburi vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Nonthaburi?
Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 43%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,292 per month in Nonthaburi and $1,847 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 Nonthaburi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Nonthaburi vs Phuket?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $861 in Nonthaburi and $1,232 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 217% less in Nonthaburi. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Nonthaburi or Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Nonthaburi, where all-in costs run around $861, than in Phuket at $1,232. In Nonthaburi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Nonthaburi or Phuket more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Nonthaburi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Nonthaburi or Phuket?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Nonthaburi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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