Cost of Living Comparison Between Oldham and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Oldham and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,097 in Oldham versus $1,265 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,037 in Oldham versus $2,297 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,976 in Oldham versus $3,329 in Phuket.

Living in Oldham is roughly 66% more expensive than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Oldham is 56% above, Phuket is 6% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Oldham
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.61 £15.35
$4.70 ฿154
338.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$87.4 £65.1
$45.37 ฿1,483
92.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.23 £7.62
$8.43 ฿276
21.35%
Cappuccino
$4.86 £3.62
$2.93 ฿95.7
65.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 £1.95
$0.69 ฿22.42
278.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 £1.29
$0.37 ฿12.00
370.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.83 £5.09
$2.41 ฿78.7
183.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.93 £4.42
$3.72 ฿122
59.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Oldham
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.63 £1.22
$2.23 ฿73.0
-26.91%
White Bread (500g)
$1.71 £1.27
$1.83 ฿59.9
-6.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.38 £2.52
$2.17 ฿70.9
55.76%
Eggs
$3.93 £2.92
$2.21 ฿72.4
77.83%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.71 £7.98
$19.74 ฿645
-45.74%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.74 £7.25
$3.63 ฿119
168.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.44 £12.99
$13.53 ฿442
28.90%
Apples (1kg)
$3.31 £2.47
$3.28 ฿107
0.91%
Banana (1kg)
$1.91 £1.42
$1.61 ฿52.7
18.63%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.11 £2.32
$2.41 ฿78.7
29.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.71 £2.77
$2.08 ฿68.1
78.37%
Potato (1kg)
$1.78 £1.33
$1.53 ฿49.97
16.34%
Onion (1kg)
$1.88 £1.40
$1.48 ฿48.41
27.03%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.31 £0.98
$0.99 ฿32.32
32.32%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.45 £1.08
$0.51 ฿16.68
184.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$18.53 £13.80
$4.41 ฿144
320.18%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.32 £7.69
$19.38 ฿634
-46.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.75 £2.05
$1.78 ฿58.1
54.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.42 £2.55
$2.71 ฿88.7
26.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Oldham
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.45 £2.57
$1.37 ฿44.83
151.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$83.7 £62.4
$11.39 ฿372
635.03%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.39 £4.02
$3.02 ฿98.7
78.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.74 £1.29
$0.99 ฿32.51
75.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.60 £25.03
$14.10 ฿461
138.30%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.88 £1.40
$1.36 ฿44.55
38.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.0K £28.3K
$28.2K ฿921.9K
34.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K £30.8K
$32.9K ฿1.1M
25.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oldham
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$303 £226
$122 ฿3,978
149.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.17 £17.26
$13.57 ฿444
70.74%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.56 £32.44
$18.31 ฿599
137.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Oldham
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.04 £35.04
$60.2 ฿1,969
-21.89%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.14 ฿560
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.68 £9.44
$8.69 ฿284
45.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Oldham
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,584 £1,180
$693 ฿22.7K
128.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,885 £5,128
$15.7K ฿512.8K
-56.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Oldham
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.4 £68.1
$59.5 ฿1,946
53.55%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.64 £31.02
$34.77 ฿1,137
19.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.5 £65.2
$115 ฿3,746
-23.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.1 £54.4
$83.3 ฿2,723
-12.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Oldham
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,240 £924
$613 ฿20.0K
102.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$751 £559
$437 ฿14.3K
71.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,401 £1,044
$2,094 ฿68.5K
-33.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,110 £827
$1,509 ฿49.3K
-26.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,749 ฿122.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,616 ฿85.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Oldham
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,457 £1,830
$508 ฿16.6K
383.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.6
5.33
5.07%

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

Last update for Oldham: May 30, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,240 in Oldham and $613 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Oldham pays 384% 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: $87.0 in Oldham vs $45.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $328 vs $293 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
Oldham vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Oldham and Phuket?
Oldham and Phuket differ by about 66% in total monthly costs ($2,097 vs $1,265 including rent). Phuket is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Oldham or Phuket?
Oldham pays 384% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Oldham and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,240 in Oldham versus $613 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Oldham and Phuket?
A monthly transit pass in Phuket runs roughly 635% less than in Oldham. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Oldham and Phuket?
Childcare runs $1,584 in Oldham versus $693 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,265 in Phuket versus $2,097 in Oldham, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Oldham. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Oldham and Phuket?
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.
Is Oldham or Phuket safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Oldham 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.
Where should expats move: Oldham or Phuket?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 66% less than in Oldham. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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