ðA single person spends $1,270 per month in Phuket vs $2,286 in Brownwood, TX, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $2,304 per month in Phuket vs $3,388 in Brownwood, TX, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $3,339 per month in Phuket vs $4,491 in Brownwood, TX, rent included.
ðPhuket is about 44% cheaper than Brownwood, TX, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðPhuket sits 5% below the global median, while Brownwood, TX is 71% above â they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Brownwood, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.66āļŋ150
$13.47$13.47
-65.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.44āļŋ1,496
$75.6$75.6
-38.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.68āļŋ280
$10.04$10.04
-13.55%
Cappuccino
$2.95āļŋ95.0
$4.74$4.74
-37.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70āļŋ22.52
$2.40$2.40
-70.83%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39āļŋ12.70
$1.82$1.82
-78.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.53āļŋ81.6
$6.10$6.10
-58.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78āļŋ122
$8.05$8.05
-53.04%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Brownwood, TX
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.22āļŋ71.5
$0.69$0.69
221.74%
White Bread(500g)
$1.80āļŋ57.8
$1.44$1.44
25.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.19āļŋ70.4
$2.05$2.05
6.83%
Eggs
$2.31āļŋ74.5
$2.06$2.06
12.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.34āļŋ623
$8.27$8.27
133.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.77āļŋ121
$8.63$8.63
-56.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.22āļŋ426
$13.19$13.19
0.23%
Apples(1kg)
$3.33āļŋ107
$3.03$3.03
9.90%
Banana(1kg)
$1.65āļŋ53.1
$1.31$1.31
25.95%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.29āļŋ73.7
$2.80$2.80
-18.21%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.99āļŋ64.1
$2.10$2.10
-5.24%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53āļŋ49.24
$2.19$2.19
-30.14%
Onion(1kg)
$1.51āļŋ48.77
$2.05$2.05
-26.34%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03āļŋ33.12
$1.73$1.73
-40.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51āļŋ16.57
$2.40$2.40
-78.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41āļŋ142
$10.46$10.46
-57.84%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.41āļŋ625
$15.24$15.24
27.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80āļŋ58.0
$1.78$1.78
1.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68āļŋ86.4
$2.98$2.98
-10.07%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Brownwood, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.43āļŋ46.11
$2.02$2.02
-29.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.70āļŋ377
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.04āļŋ97.9
$2.97$2.97
2.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04āļŋ33.37
$1.82$1.82
-42.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.68āļŋ441
$28.67$28.67
-52.28%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30āļŋ41.85
$0.71$0.71
83.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9Kāļŋ898.9K
$32.4K$32.4K
-13.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0Kāļŋ1.1M
$21.8K$21.8K
51.64%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Brownwood, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123āļŋ3,962
$100$100
22.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.82āļŋ445
$46.13$46.13
-70.04%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.86āļŋ608
$40.19$40.19
-53.07%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Brownwood, TX
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.2āļŋ1,970
$43.19$43.19
41.58%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.81āļŋ541
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.87āļŋ286
$11.24$11.24
-21.09%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Brownwood, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$696āļŋ22.4K
$1,349$1,349
-48.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.1Kāļŋ517.4K
$23.2K$23.2K
-30.84%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Brownwood, TX
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3āļŋ1,910
$53.9$53.9
9.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.85āļŋ1,123
$34.42$34.42
1.25%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,646
$104$104
8.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.1āļŋ2,740
$98.5$98.5
-13.66%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Brownwood, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$615āļŋ19.8K
$1,609$1,609
-61.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$448āļŋ14.4K
$1,379$1,379
-67.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,085āļŋ67.2K
$2,662$2,662
-21.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,496āļŋ48.2K
$2,265$2,265
-33.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,734āļŋ120.3K
$3,013$3,013
23.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,662āļŋ85.8K
$2,394$2,394
11.19%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Brownwood, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$534āļŋ17.2K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
6.21
-14.17%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 20, 2026
Last update for Brownwood, TX: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $615 in Phuket versus $1,609 in Brownwood, TX. 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 $46 in Phuket versus $76 in Brownwood, TX. Groceries tell a different story â $291 in Phuket vs $282 in Brownwood, TX â so Brownwood, TX wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Brownwood, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Brownwood, TX cheaper than Phuket?
Yes â Brownwood, TX is pricier by about 80%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,904 per month in Phuket and $3,429 in Brownwood, TX. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or Brownwood, TX?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Phuket and $76.0 in Brownwood, TX. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafÃĐ pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and Brownwood, TX?
Interestingly, groceries are about 3% cheaper in Brownwood, TX â one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Brownwood, TX?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,270, than in Brownwood, TX at $2,286. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Brownwood, TX it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Phuket or Brownwood, TX more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Phuket â lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Brownwood, TX?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Brownwood, TX makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.