Cost of Living Comparison Between North Charleston, SC and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between North Charleston, SC and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,684 per month in North Charleston, SC vs $1,261 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,818 per month in North Charleston, SC vs $2,276 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,953 per month in North Charleston, SC vs $3,291 in Phuket, rent included.

North Charleston, SC costs about 113% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

North Charleston, SC sits 101% above the global median, while Phuket is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.87 $17.87

$4.53 ฿153

294.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$85.6 $85.6

$46.36 ฿1,565

84.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.96 $9.96

$8.65 ฿292

15.14%

Cappuccino

$6.57 $6.57

$3.09 ฿104

112.62%

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

$2.57 $2.57

$0.68 ฿22.89

277.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 $2.33

$0.37 ฿12.44

529.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.01 $6.01

$2.42 ฿81.6

148.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.15 $8.15

$3.81 ฿129

113.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.93 $0.93

$2.18 ฿73.5

-57.34%

White Bread (500g)

$4.04 $4.04

$1.82 ฿61.3

121.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.20 $3.20

$2.18 ฿73.5

46.79%

Eggs

$3.73 $3.73

$2.24 ฿75.4

66.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.81 $13.81

$19.93 ฿673

-30.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.69 $12.69

$3.64 ฿123

248.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.83 $14.83

$13.56 ฿458

9.37%

Apples (1kg)

$6.77 $6.77

$3.29 ฿111

105.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.69 ฿56.9

-2.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$2.33 ฿78.8

100.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.73 $5.73

$2.03 ฿68.4

182.27%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.60 ฿54.0

72.50%

Onion (1kg)

$2.90 $2.90

$1.49 ฿50.5

94.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.00 $2.00

$1.01 ฿34.17

98.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.30 $2.30

$0.48 ฿16.09

379.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.70 $7.70

$4.45 ฿150

73.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.37 $15.37

$18.63 ฿629

-17.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 $1.83

$1.79 ฿60.3

2.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 $2.68

$2.80 ฿94.4

-4.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.41 $3.41

$1.42 ฿47.90

140.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.98 $29.98

$11.33 ฿382

164.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.07 $3.07

$3.09 ฿104

-0.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.49 $1.49

$1.04 ฿35.19

43.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.38 $20.38

$13.63 ฿460

49.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 $0.84

$1.31 ฿44.23

-35.88%

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

$29.1K $29.1K

$27.3K ฿920.7K

6.73%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$33.2K ฿1.1M

-23.45%

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

$208 $208

$123 ฿4,157

68.74%

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

$64.1 $64.1

$13.81 ฿466

364.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.3 $73.3

$18.52 ฿625

295.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.74 $43.74

$60.4 ฿2,037

-27.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.80 ฿567

Cinema Ticket

$11.93 $11.93

$8.89 ฿300

34.20%

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

$754 $754

$687 ฿23.2K

9.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.3K $14.3K

$15.6K ฿524.8K

-7.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.4 $60.4

$57.6 ฿1,945

4.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.03 $43.03

$34.66 ฿1,170

24.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.0 $92.0

$115 ฿3,879

-19.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$84.9 ฿2,865

63.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,932 $1,932

$618 ฿20.8K

212.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,278 $1,278

$443 ฿15.0K

188.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,932 $1,932

$2,047 ฿69.1K

-5.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,953 $1,953

$1,506 ฿50.8K

29.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,836 $2,836

$3,568 ฿120.4K

-20.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,847 $2,847

$2,511 ฿84.7K

13.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,302 $4,302

$503 ฿17.0K

755.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.49

5.33

21.76%

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

Last update for North Charleston, SC: July 20, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,932 in North Charleston, SC versus $618 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 756% higher in North Charleston, SC, 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 $86.0 in North Charleston, SC versus $46.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $413 vs $292 – 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

North Charleston, SC vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

North Charleston, SC costs about 113% more than Phuket, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,026 per month in North Charleston, SC and $1,891 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.

Groceries cost about 42% more in North Charleston, SC, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $86.0 in North Charleston, SC and $46.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,261, than in North Charleston, SC at $2,684. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in North Charleston, SC it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,261 versus $2,684 in North Charleston, SC. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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, North Charleston, SC makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.