ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $2,621 in Perth Amboy, NJ versus $1,232 in Phuket.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $3,872 in Perth Amboy, NJ versus $2,255 in Phuket.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,123 in Perth Amboy, NJ versus $3,279 in Phuket.
ðLiving in Perth Amboy, NJ is roughly 113% more expensive than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðThe two cities straddle the global median: Perth Amboy, NJ is 96% above, Phuket is 8% below.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Perth Amboy, NJ
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.26$20.26
$4.63āļŋ151
337.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.4$79.4
$46.84āļŋ1,523
69.53%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.20$15.20
$8.84āļŋ287
71.95%
Cappuccino
$5.15$5.15
$3.00āļŋ97.4
71.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57$2.57
$0.74āļŋ24.11
247.30%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97$1.97
$0.37āļŋ11.88
432.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.01$8.01
$2.44āļŋ79.3
228.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.93$7.93
$3.61āļŋ117
119.67%
ð Groceries & Markets
Perth Amboy, NJ
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09$1.09
$2.26āļŋ73.5
-51.77%
White Bread(500g)
$2.18$2.18
$1.84āļŋ59.8
18.48%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$9.33$9.33
$2.24āļŋ73.0
316.52%
Eggs
$3.00$3.00
$2.32āļŋ75.3
29.31%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.32$12.32
$19.67āļŋ639
-37.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.53$11.53
$3.65āļŋ119
215.89%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$22.46$22.46
$13.10āļŋ426
71.45%
Apples(1kg)
$7.22$7.22
$3.39āļŋ110
112.98%
Banana(1kg)
$2.59$2.59
$1.64āļŋ53.4
57.93%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.44$5.44
$2.41āļŋ78.5
125.73%
Tomato(1kg)
$6.12$6.12
$2.03āļŋ66.0
201.48%
Potato(1kg)
$1.40$1.40
$1.56āļŋ50.6
-10.26%
Onion(1kg)
$1.40$1.40
$1.50āļŋ48.66
-6.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.46$1.46
$1.02āļŋ33.30
43.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$3.05$3.05
$0.49āļŋ15.91
522.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.98$10.98
$4.45āļŋ145
146.74%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.14$12.14
$18.88āļŋ614
-35.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70$1.70
$1.78āļŋ57.7
-4.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.38$6.38
$2.75āļŋ89.5
132.00%
ð Getting Around
Perth Amboy, NJ
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.04$2.04
$1.40āļŋ45.54
45.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$11.48āļŋ373
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.17$6.17
$3.12āļŋ101
97.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.63$1.63
$1.00āļŋ32.48
63.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$42.40$42.40
$14.09āļŋ458
200.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.82$0.82
$1.35āļŋ43.93
-39.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.1K$30.1K
$27.2Kāļŋ883.7K
10.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K$27.1K
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
-17.79%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Perth Amboy, NJ
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$180$180
$125āļŋ4,063
43.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.85$23.85
$13.57āļŋ441
75.76%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.3$56.3
$18.52āļŋ602
203.89%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Perth Amboy, NJ
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.19$43.19
$61.5āļŋ1,999
-29.75%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.84āļŋ547
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.77$14.77
$9.19āļŋ299
60.72%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Perth Amboy, NJ
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,873$1,873
$698āļŋ22.7K
168.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$40.4K$40.4K
$15.6Kāļŋ506.9K
159.07%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Perth Amboy, NJ
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$33.49$33.49
$57.8āļŋ1,878
-42.02%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.9$54.9
$35.24āļŋ1,146
55.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.7$74.7
$113āļŋ3,677
-33.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.4$94.4
$86.4āļŋ2,808
9.27%
ð Accommodation & Living
Perth Amboy, NJ
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,603$1,603
$616āļŋ20.0K
160.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,327$1,327
$446āļŋ14.5K
197.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,634$2,634
$2,048āļŋ66.6K
28.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,217$2,217
$1,492āļŋ48.5K
48.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,957$2,957
$3,779āļŋ122.8K
-21.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,387$2,387
$2,649āļŋ86.1K
-9.89%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Perth Amboy, NJ
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,410$3,410
$524āļŋ17.0K
550.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.55
5.33
22.89%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Perth Amboy, NJ: April 27, 2026
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,603 in Perth Amboy, NJ and $616 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ð°Perth Amboy, NJ pays 551% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
ðDining out: $79.0 in Perth Amboy, NJ vs $47.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $443 vs $292 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
Perth Amboy, NJ vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Perth Amboy, NJ or Phuket?
Phuket wins on cost â living expenses run 113% lower than in Perth Amboy, NJ. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Phuket the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Perth Amboy, NJ or Phuket?
Perth Amboy, NJ pays 551% 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 much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Perth Amboy, NJ vs Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,603 in Perth Amboy, NJ versus $616 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Perth Amboy, NJ and Phuket?
Childcare runs $1,873 in Perth Amboy, NJ versus $698 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Perth Amboy, NJ vs Phuket?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket â a meal for two runs $47.00 versus $79.0 in Perth Amboy, NJ. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Perth Amboy, NJ or Phuket?
At $1,232 in Phuket versus $2,621 in Perth Amboy, NJ, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Perth Amboy, NJ. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Perth Amboy, NJ or Phuket?
Both work as nomad bases, but Phuket delivers better value â similar infrastructure at $1,232 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Phuket hard to pass up.
How safe is Perth Amboy, NJ compared to Phuket?
Safety-wise, Perth Amboy, NJ 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet â expenses run 113% less than in Perth Amboy, NJ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Perth Amboy, NJ vs other spots: cost of living compared