Cost of Living Comparison Between Norman, OK and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Norman, OK and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,444 per month in Norman, OK vs $1,232 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,417 per month in Norman, OK vs $2,054 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,389 per month in Norman, OK vs $2,876 in Phuket, rent included.

Norman, OK costs about 98% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Norman, OK sits 79% above the global median, while Phuket is 10% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.70 $19.70

$4.41 ฿147

346.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.1 $60.1

$32.26 ฿1,073

86.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.82 $11.82

$8.93 ฿297

32.36%

Cappuccino

$6.04 $6.04

$2.90 ฿96.3

108.28%

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

$2.88 $2.88

$0.88 ฿29.27

227.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$0.48 ฿16.00

364.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.61 $5.61

$2.35 ฿78.2

138.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.14 $8.14

$3.72 ฿124

118.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

$1.87 ฿62.0

-47.06%

White Bread (500g)

$3.55 $3.55

$1.47 ฿48.75

141.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.65 $3.65

$1.55 ฿51.6

135.48%

Eggs

$3.87 $3.87

$2.10 ฿69.9

84.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.71 $10.71

$19.59 ฿651

-45.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.77 $10.77

$3.42 ฿114

214.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.61 $17.61

$11.38 ฿378

54.75%

Apples (1kg)

$4.73 $4.73

$2.98 ฿99.2

58.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 $1.46

$1.68 ฿56.0

-13.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.40 $4.40

$2.21 ฿73.5

99.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.03 $4.03

$2.16 ฿71.9

86.57%

Potato (1kg)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.52 ฿50.7

69.74%

Onion (1kg)

$3.10 $3.10

$1.34 ฿44.49

131.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.13 ฿37.53

101.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$0.55 ฿18.17

345.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.55 $9.55

$4.26 ฿142

124.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.23 $15.23

$19.09 ฿635

-20.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.78 ฿59.2

5.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.03 $3.03

$2.78 ฿92.5

8.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.23 ฿74.1

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.74 ฿756

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 $2.81

$3.03 ฿101

-7.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.02 ฿34.02

24.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.56 $23.56

$3.89 ฿129

505.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 $0.85

$1.49 ฿49.57

-42.95%

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

$35.2K $35.2K

$26.6K ฿883.8K

32.27%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$27.0K ฿898.7K

-4.98%

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

$188 $188

$102 ฿3,407

83.90%

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

$70.4 $70.4

$11.33 ฿377

521.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$84.0 $84.0

$17.40 ฿578

382.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.85 $44.85

$52.1 ฿1,732

-13.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.07 ฿368

Cinema Ticket

$15.18 $15.18

$7.69 ฿256

97.40%

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

$1,605 $1,605

$561 ฿18.6K

186.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.3K $23.3K

$11.5K ฿382.6K

102.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.5 $51.5

$63.0 ฿2,096

-18.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.49 $38.49

$29.52 ฿982

30.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 $107

$98.0 ฿3,259

8.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$149 $149

$88.5 ฿2,943

68.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,297 $1,297

$738 ฿24.5K

75.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,196 $1,196

$482 ฿16.0K

147.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,710 $1,710

$2,107 ฿70.0K

-18.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,595 $1,595

$1,226 ฿40.8K

30.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,617 ฿120.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,603 ฿86.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,858 $3,858

$494 ฿16.4K

681.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.07

5.57

8.98%

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

Last update for Norman, OK: September 13, 2026

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,297 in Norman, OK versus $738 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 682% higher in Norman, OK, 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 $60.0 in Norman, OK versus $32.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $383 vs $274 – 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

Norman, OK vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Norman, OK is pricier by about 98%, 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 $3,666 per month in Norman, OK and $1,847 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,444 in Norman, OK and $1,232 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,605 per month in Norman, OK and $561 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 $1,232, than in Norman, OK at $2,444. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Norman, OK 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, Norman, OK makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.