ðA single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $2,615 in Ashland, WI, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $2,255 per month in Phuket vs $3,726 in Ashland, WI, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $3,279 per month in Phuket vs $4,836 in Ashland, WI, rent included.
ðPhuket is about 53% cheaper than Ashland, WI, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðPhuket sits 8% below the global median, while Ashland, WI is 95% above â they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Ashland, WI
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63āļŋ151
$18.12$18.12
-74.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84āļŋ1,532
$65.7$65.7
-28.65%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84āļŋ289
$10.18$10.18
-13.16%
Cappuccino
$3.00āļŋ98.0
$5.22$5.22
-42.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74āļŋ24.25
$2.81$2.81
-73.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37āļŋ11.95
$2.45$2.45
-84.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44āļŋ79.8
$6.04$6.04
-59.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61āļŋ118
$7.19$7.19
-49.79%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Ashland, WI
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26āļŋ73.9
$0.97$0.97
132.99%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84āļŋ60.1
$4.29$4.29
-57.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24āļŋ73.4
$3.98$3.98
-43.72%
Eggs
$2.32āļŋ75.7
$3.27$3.27
-29.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67āļŋ643
$9.28$9.28
111.96%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65āļŋ119
$11.53$11.53
-68.34%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10āļŋ428
$14.26$14.26
-8.13%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39āļŋ111
$4.97$4.97
-31.79%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64āļŋ53.7
$1.20$1.20
36.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41āļŋ79.0
$5.77$5.77
-58.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03āļŋ66.4
$5.28$5.28
-61.55%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56āļŋ50.9
$3.76$3.76
-58.51%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50āļŋ48.94
$3.63$3.63
-58.68%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02āļŋ33.50
$1.96$1.96
-47.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49āļŋ16.00
$1.90$1.90
-74.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45āļŋ145
$10.54$10.54
-57.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88āļŋ617
$13.28$13.28
42.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78āļŋ58.1
$1.77$1.77
0.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75āļŋ90.1
$4.46$4.46
-38.34%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Ashland, WI
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40āļŋ45.81
$1.97$1.97
-28.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48āļŋ376
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12āļŋ102
$4.90$4.90
-36.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00āļŋ32.67
$1.38$1.38
-27.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09āļŋ461
$29.57$29.57
-52.35%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35āļŋ44.19
$0.82$0.82
64.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2Kāļŋ888.9K
$36.1K$36.1K
-24.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
$25.3K$25.3K
29.94%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Ashland, WI
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125āļŋ4,087
$223$223
-43.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57āļŋ444
$47.65$47.65
-71.52%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52āļŋ606
$74.1$74.1
-75.02%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Ashland, WI
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5āļŋ2,010
$43.10$43.10
42.65%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84āļŋ551
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.19āļŋ300
$13.81$13.81
-33.45%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Ashland, WI
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698āļŋ22.8K
$1,443$1,443
-51.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6Kāļŋ509.9K
$29.6K$29.6K
-47.30%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Ashland, WI
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8āļŋ1,889
$38.59$38.59
49.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24āļŋ1,152
$41.73$41.73
-15.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,699
$84.6$84.6
33.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4āļŋ2,825
$127$127
-31.97%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Ashland, WI
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616āļŋ20.1K
$1,579$1,579
-61.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446āļŋ14.6K
$1,371$1,371
-67.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048āļŋ67.0K
$2,649$2,649
-22.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492āļŋ48.8K
$2,204$2,204
-32.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779āļŋ123.6K
$2,682$2,682
40.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649āļŋ86.6K
$2,047$2,047
29.41%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Ashland, WI
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524āļŋ17.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
6.43
-17.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Ashland, WI: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $616 in Phuket versus $1,579 in Ashland, WI. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
ðA mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket versus $66.0 in Ashland, WI. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $385 â making Phuket the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Ashland, WI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Ashland, WI?
Ashland, WI costs about 112% more than Phuket, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Phuket vs Ashland, WI?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $3,923 in Ashland, WI. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Phuket or Ashland, WI?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Phuket vs Ashland, WI?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket and $66.0 in Ashland, WI. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafÃĐ pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Phuket or Ashland, WI?
Groceries cost about 32% more in Ashland, WI, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Phuket or Ashland, WI?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,232, than in Ashland, WI at $2,615. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ashland, WI it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Ashland, WI?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,232 versus $2,615 in Ashland, WI. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Phuket compared to Ashland, WI?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison â central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Phuket or Ashland, WI?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ashland, WI makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.