Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Billings, MT Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Billings, MT

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,261 per month in Phuket vs $2,182 in Billings, MT, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,286 per month in Phuket vs $3,404 in Billings, MT, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,310 per month in Phuket vs $4,626 in Billings, MT, rent included.

Phuket is about 42% cheaper than Billings, MT, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Phuket sits 6% below the global median, while Billings, MT is 62% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.56 ฿149

$20.02 $20.02

-77.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.63 ฿1,519

$59.8 $59.8

-22.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.47 ฿276

$14.44 $14.44

-41.34%

Cappuccino

$3.03 ฿98.6

$5.90 $5.90

-48.64%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 ฿22.45

$2.09 $2.09

-66.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.92

$2.68 $2.68

-86.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.49 ฿81.0

$4.47 $4.47

-44.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$5.15 $5.15

-28.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.18 ฿71.0

$1.30 $1.30

67.69%

White Bread (500g)

$1.90 ฿62.0

$4.25 $4.25

-55.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.20 ฿71.6

$4.24 $4.24

-48.11%

Eggs

$2.22 ฿72.4

$3.15 $3.15

-29.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.99 ฿651

$14.39 $14.39

38.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.66 ฿119

$12.25 $12.25

-70.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.25 ฿432

$16.23 $16.23

-18.36%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ฿105

$4.59 $4.59

-29.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.3

$1.45 $1.45

17.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 ฿78.0

$3.83 $3.83

-37.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿67.7

$6.40 $6.40

-67.50%

Potato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$1.82 $1.82

-12.64%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.31

$3.10 $3.10

-52.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 ฿33.54

$2.45 $2.45

-57.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿16.83

$1.33 $1.33

-60.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.25 ฿138

$9.44 $9.44

-54.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.79 ฿612

$12.94 $12.94

45.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 ฿57.2

$2.24 $2.24

-21.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 ฿89.8

$3.93 $3.93

-29.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 ฿44.32

$2.05 $2.05

-33.66%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.36 ฿370

$28.18 $28.18

-59.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 ฿102

$2.56 $2.56

22.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿33.74

$1.65 $1.65

-36.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.77 ฿448

$29.44 $29.44

-53.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ฿43.79

$0.82 $0.82

63.41%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$27.7K ฿901.4K

$21.6K $21.6K

27.88%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$33.9K ฿1.1M

$24.9K $24.9K

35.99%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$124 ฿4,025

$156 $156

-20.91%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.52 ฿440

$48.59 $48.59

-72.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.69 ฿609

$67.2 $67.2

-72.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 ฿2,013

$48.72 $48.72

26.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.25 ฿562

Cinema Ticket

$9.14 ฿298

$14.07 $14.07

-35.04%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$703 ฿22.9K

$981 $981

-28.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K ฿517.0K

$31.5K $31.5K

-49.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,937

$57.4 $57.4

3.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.07 ฿1,142

$66.7 $66.7

-47.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,754

$102 $102

13.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.1 ฿2,737

$123 $123

-31.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$619 ฿20.1K

$1,137 $1,137

-45.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$433 ฿14.1K

$939 $939

-53.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,062 ฿67.2K

$2,157 $2,157

-4.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,511 ฿49.2K

$1,847 $1,847

-18.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,646 ฿118.7K

$2,349 $2,349

55.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,626 ฿85.5K

$2,057 $2,057

27.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$507 ฿16.5K

$3,904 $3,904

-87.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

6.59

-19.12%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026

Last update for Billings, MT: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $619 in Phuket versus $1,137 in Billings, MT. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 670% higher in Billings, MT, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket versus $60.0 in Billings, MT. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $400 – 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 Billings, MT: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Billings, MT costs about 73% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,892 per month in Phuket and $3,272 in Billings, MT. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Public transport costs about 148% less in Phuket. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $703 per month in Phuket and $981 in Billings, MT. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,261, than in Billings, MT at $2,182. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Billings, MT it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,261 versus $2,182 in Billings, MT. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Billings, MT makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.