Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Artesia, NM Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Artesia, NM

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,270 in Phuket versus $2,417 in Artesia, NM.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,304 in Phuket versus $3,472 in Artesia, NM.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,339 in Phuket versus $4,527 in Artesia, NM.

Living in Phuket costs roughly 47% less than in Artesia, NM, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 5% below, Artesia, NM is 80% above.

Currency
ðŸ― Eating Out
Phuket
Artesia, NM
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.66 āļŋ150
$16.24 $16.24
-71.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.44 āļŋ1,496
$48.16 $48.16
-3.57%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.68 āļŋ280
$11.90 $11.90
-27.06%
Cappuccino
$2.95 āļŋ95.0
$6.34 $6.34
-53.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 āļŋ22.52
$2.75 $2.75
-74.55%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39 āļŋ12.70
$1.89 $1.89
-79.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.53 āļŋ81.6
$4.85 $4.85
-47.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78 āļŋ122
$5.94 $5.94
-36.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Artesia, NM
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.22 āļŋ71.5
$0.91 $0.91
143.96%
White Bread (500g)
$1.80 āļŋ57.8
$2.44 $2.44
-26.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.19 āļŋ70.4
$2.53 $2.53
-13.44%
Eggs
$2.31 āļŋ74.5
$3.41 $3.41
-32.26%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.34 āļŋ623
$11.36 $11.36
70.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.77 āļŋ121
$11.15 $11.15
-66.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.22 āļŋ426
$11.99 $11.99
10.26%
Apples (1kg)
$3.33 āļŋ107
$4.01 $4.01
-16.96%
Banana (1kg)
$1.65 āļŋ53.1
$1.27 $1.27
29.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.29 āļŋ73.7
$4.04 $4.04
-43.32%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.99 āļŋ64.1
$4.48 $4.48
-55.58%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 āļŋ49.24
$3.57 $3.57
-57.14%
Onion (1kg)
$1.51 āļŋ48.77
$2.88 $2.88
-47.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 āļŋ33.12
$2.16 $2.16
-52.31%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 āļŋ16.57
$1.61 $1.61
-68.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41 āļŋ142
$11.99 $11.99
-63.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.41 āļŋ625
$8.12 $8.12
139.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 āļŋ58.0
$2.13 $2.13
-15.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 āļŋ86.4
$4.57 $4.57
-41.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Artesia, NM
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.43 āļŋ46.11
$1.95 $1.95
-26.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.70 āļŋ377
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.04 āļŋ97.9
$1.70 $1.70
78.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.04 āļŋ33.37
$1.60 $1.60
-35.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.68 āļŋ441
$27.16 $27.16
-49.63%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 āļŋ41.85
$0.72 $0.72
80.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9K āļŋ898.9K
$23.8K $23.8K
17.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0K āļŋ1.1M
$25.9K $25.9K
27.62%
ðŸ§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Artesia, NM
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$123 āļŋ3,962
$152 $152
-19.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.82 āļŋ445
$64.9 $64.9
-78.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.86 āļŋ608
$71.3 $71.3
-73.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Artesia, NM
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.2 āļŋ1,970
$42.98 $42.98
42.28%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.81 āļŋ541
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.87 āļŋ286
$8.21 $8.21
8.04%
ðŸ§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Artesia, NM
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$696 āļŋ22.4K
$582 $582
19.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.1K āļŋ517.4K
$7,013 $7,013
128.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Artesia, NM
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3 āļŋ1,910
$37.27 $37.27
59.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.85 āļŋ1,123
$40.57 $40.57
-14.10%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 āļŋ3,646
$85.2 $85.2
32.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.1 āļŋ2,740
$78.8 $78.8
7.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Artesia, NM
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$615 āļŋ19.8K
$1,605 $1,605
-61.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$448 āļŋ14.4K
$1,338 $1,338
-66.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,085 āļŋ67.2K
$2,638 $2,638
-20.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,496 āļŋ48.2K
$2,207 $2,207
-32.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,734 āļŋ120.3K
$2,700 $2,700
38.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,662 āļŋ85.8K
$2,401 $2,401
10.85%
ðŸ’ĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Artesia, NM
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$534 āļŋ17.2K
$3,569 $3,569
-85.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
6.51
-18.13%

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

Last update for Phuket: April 20, 2026

Last update for Artesia, NM: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $615 in Phuket and $1,605 in Artesia, NM. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Artesia, NM pays 569% 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: $46 in Phuket vs $48 in Artesia, NM for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $291 vs $330 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
Phuket vs Artesia, NM: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Artesia, NM?
Phuket wins on cost – living expenses run 90% lower than in Artesia, NM. 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 Phuket or Artesia, NM?
On paper, Artesia, NM earns 569% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Phuket vs Artesia, NM?
Rent for a central apartment: $615 in Phuket versus $1,605 in Artesia, NM. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Phuket and Artesia, NM?
Childcare runs $696 in Phuket versus $582 in Artesia, NM. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Phuket vs Artesia, NM?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket – a meal for two runs $46.00 versus $48.00 in Artesia, NM. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Phuket or Artesia, NM?
At $1,270 in Phuket versus $2,417 in Artesia, NM, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Artesia, NM. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Artesia, NM?
Both work as nomad bases, but Phuket delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,270 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Phuket hard to pass up.
How safe is Phuket compared to Artesia, NM?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Artesia, NM 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 – expenses run 90% less than in Artesia, NM. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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