Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Alexandria, LA

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,207 a month against $2,082 in Alexandria, LA, rent and utilities included – about $10,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,207
/mo nomad
Alexandria, LA
🇺🇸 United States
$2,082
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Alexandria, LA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Phuket and in Alexandria, LA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,207 in Phuket versus $2,082 in Alexandria, LA.

  • Phuket $1,207
  • Alexandria, LA $2,082

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,037 in Phuket versus $2,933 in Alexandria, LA.

  • Phuket $2,037
  • Alexandria, LA $2,933

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,867 in Phuket versus $3,783 in Alexandria, LA.

  • Phuket $2,867
  • Alexandria, LA $3,783

Living in Phuket costs roughly 42% less than in Alexandria, LA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 11% below, Alexandria, LA is 54% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Alexandria, LA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.58 ฿153
$16.12 $16.12
-71.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.48 ฿1,086
$51.2 $51.2
-36.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.55 ฿286
$9.72 $9.72
-12.04%
Cappuccino
$2.72 ฿91.0
$5.30 $5.30
-48.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94 ฿31.25
$2.49 $2.49
-62.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.39
$2.14 $2.14
-77.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.59 ฿86.6
$5.93 $5.93
-56.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.83 ฿128
$8.19 $8.19
-53.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Alexandria, LA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 ฿58.1
$1.34 $1.34
29.85%
White Bread (500g)
$1.43 ฿47.82
$1.68 $1.68
-14.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.53 ฿51.0
$6.08 $6.08
-74.84%
Eggs
$2.17 ฿72.7
$5.51 $5.51
-60.62%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.15 ฿640
$8.97 $8.97
113.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.30 ฿110
$6.44 $6.44
-48.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.14 ฿372
$15.67 $15.67
-28.91%
Apples (1kg)
$2.95 ฿98.5
$5.13 $5.13
-42.50%
Banana (1kg)
$1.68 ฿56.1
$1.34 $1.34
25.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.30 ฿76.8
$5.35 $5.35
-57.01%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.13 ฿71.3
$5.44 $5.44
-60.85%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿51.1
$4.36 $4.36
-64.91%
Onion (1kg)
$1.36 ฿45.55
$2.24 $2.24
-39.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.12 ฿37.44
$2.28 $2.28
-50.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿18.24
$2.63 $2.63
-79.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26 ฿142
$8.89 $8.89
-52.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.19 ฿608
$17.03 $17.03
6.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 ฿58.2
$2.55 $2.55
-31.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79 ฿93.3
$3.89 $3.89
-28.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Alexandria, LA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.22 ฿74.1
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.06 ฿737
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.91 ฿97.3
$3.57 $3.57
-18.49%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.01 ฿33.79
$1.52 $1.52
-33.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.83 ฿128
$34.46 $34.46
-88.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 ฿49.85
$0.74 $0.74
101.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.7K ฿891.6K
$35.9K $35.9K
-25.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿892.7K
$25.5K $25.5K
4.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Alexandria, LA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$99.4 ฿3,321
$186 $186
-46.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.28 ฿377
$70.7 $70.7
-84.04%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.36 ฿580
$73.0 $73.0
-76.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Alexandria, LA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.3 ฿1,747
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.85 ฿362
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.57 ฿253
$12.58 $12.58
-39.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Alexandria, LA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$558 ฿18.7K
$1,577 $1,577
-64.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.5K ฿383.9K
$10.1K $10.1K
13.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Alexandria, LA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.9 ฿2,102
$57.9 $57.9
8.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.58 ฿955
$42.48 $42.48
-32.72%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.1 ฿3,213
$87.3 $87.3
10.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.1 ฿2,943
$122 $122
-27.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Alexandria, LA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$729 ฿24.4K
$936 $936
-22.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$460 ฿15.4K
$913 $913
-49.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,096 ฿70.0K
$1,454 $1,454
44.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,222 ฿40.8K
$1,318 $1,318
-7.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,459 ฿115.6K
$1,266 $1,266
173.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,489 ฿83.2K
$1,271 $1,271
95.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Alexandria, LA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$493 ฿16.5K
$2,989 $2,989
-83.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
6.66
-16.37%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 13, 2026

Last update for Alexandria, LA: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$460
Alexandria, LA
$913 98.5% $453
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$268
Alexandria, LA
$378 41.2% $110
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$128
Alexandria, LA
$330 157% $202
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$124
Alexandria, LA
$139 12.3% $15
Eating Out
Phuket
$121
Alexandria, LA
$286 136% $165
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$67
Alexandria, LA
$25 * 62.7% $42
Getting Around
Phuket
$39
Alexandria, LA
$11 * 71.3% $28

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $729 in Phuket and $936 in Alexandria, LA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Alexandria, LA pays 506% 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: $32.00 in Phuket vs $51.0 in Alexandria, LA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $268 vs $378 per month, with Phuket cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇺🇸 Alexandria, LA
🕒 Local time
16:17 4:17 PM
04:17 4:17 AM
12 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
160,035
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Alexandria, LA 15,510 km ≈ 20 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Alexandria, LA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Phuket vs Alexandria, LA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Alexandria, LA cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. The 72% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Alexandria, LA?
On paper, salaries run 506% lower in Alexandria, LA. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Alexandria, LA?
Rent for a central apartment: $729 in Phuket versus $936 in Alexandria, LA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and in Alexandria, LA?
Supermarket bills run roughly 41% higher in Alexandria, LA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket and in Alexandria, LA?
All in, you'll spend $1,207 per month in Phuket versus $2,082 in Alexandria, LA – a 72% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Alexandria, LA?
At $1,207 in Phuket versus $2,082 in Alexandria, LA, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Alexandria, LA. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Alexandria, LA more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Alexandria, LA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Alexandria, LA?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Alexandria, LA 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 72% less than in Alexandria, LA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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