Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Ames, IA Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Ames, IA

🙂 Solo nomad: Phuket is 36.1% cheaper than Ames, IA without rent, and 38.3% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Phuket is 29.9% cheaper than Ames, IA without rent, and 22.8% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Ames, IA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.73 ฿153
$18.15 $18.15
-73.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.92 ฿1,486
$45.82 $45.82
0.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.59 ฿278
$8.75 $8.75
-1.83%
Cappuccino
$2.92 ฿94.6
$5.27 $5.27
-44.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ฿22.42
$1.96 $1.96
-64.80%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.4 ฿12.81
$1.79 $1.79
-77.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.41 ฿78
$3.09 $3.09
-22.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.8 ฿123
$6.92 $6.92
-45.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Ames, IA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.25 ฿72.7
$0.96 $0.96
134.38%
White Bread (500g)
$1.79 ฿58.1
$3.59 $3.59
-50.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.18 ฿70.6
$2.99 $2.99
-27.09%
Eggs
$2.29 ฿74.3
$3.19 $3.19
-28.21%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.52 ฿632
$9.53 $9.53
104.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.68 ฿119
$11.46 $11.46
-67.89%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.18 ฿427
$14.35 $14.35
-8.15%
Apples (1kg)
$3.24 ฿105
$4.94 $4.94
-34.41%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 ฿52.5
$1.16 $1.16
39.66%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 ฿78
$5.84 $5.84
-58.73%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 ฿65.6
$5.08 $5.08
-60.04%
Potato (1kg)
$1.52 ฿49.3
$3.83 $3.83
-60.31%
Onion (1kg)
$1.51 ฿48.86
$3.72 $3.72
-59.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.97 ฿31.45
$1.95 $1.95
-50.26%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿16.68
$1.89 $1.89
-72.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.49 ฿145
$9.15 $9.15
-50.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.36 ฿691
$16.25 $16.25
31.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿57.5
$1.69 $1.69
5.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79 ฿90.3
$4.61 $4.61
-39.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Ames, IA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.36 ฿44.15
$1.49 $1.49
-8.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.51 ฿372
$47.09 $47.09
-75.56%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.17 ฿103
$4.91 $4.91
-35.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.04 ฿33.64
$1.42 $1.42
-26.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.03 ฿454
$49.69 $49.69
-71.76%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.32 ฿42.59
$0.87 $0.87
51.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28K ฿904.8K
$25.3K $25.3K
10.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K ฿1.1M
$25.4K $25.4K
30.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Ames, IA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$120 ฿3,899
$189 $189
-36.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.55 ฿438
$48.71 $48.71
-72.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.62 ฿603
$72.1 $72.1
-74.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Ames, IA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.4 ฿1,987
$67.8 $67.8
-9.48%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.68 ฿540
$20.01 $20.01
-16.64%
Cinema Ticket
$8.76 ฿283
$13.99 $13.99
-37.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Ames, IA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$703 ฿22.7K
$1,443 $1,443
-51.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.7K ฿507.5K
$29.9K $29.9K
-47.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Ames, IA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 ฿1,873
$39.23 $39.23
47.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.4 ฿1,145
$42.08 $42.08
-15.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 ฿3,659
$82.9 $82.9
36.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.2 ฿2,691
$117 $117
-28.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Ames, IA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$604 ฿19.5K
$992 $992
-39.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$441 ฿14.3K
$835 $835
-47.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,027 ฿65.6K
$1,929 $1,929
5.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,492 ฿48.3K
$1,644 $1,644
-9.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,195 ฿135.7K
$2,352 $2,352
78.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,909 ฿94.1K
$2,192 $2,192
32.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Ames, IA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$706 ฿22.8K
$3,661 $3,661
-80.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
6.02
-11.46%

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

Last update for Phuket: November 4, 2025

Last update for Ames, IA: November 4, 2025

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