Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Burlington, NC Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Burlington, NC

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,270 per month in Phuket vs $2,584 in Burlington, NC, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,304 per month in Phuket vs $3,749 in Burlington, NC, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,339 per month in Phuket vs $4,914 in Burlington, NC, rent included.

Phuket is about 51% cheaper than Burlington, NC, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Phuket sits 5% below the global median, while Burlington, NC is 93% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.66 ฿150

$19.20 $19.20

-75.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.44 ฿1,496

$74.1 $74.1

-37.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.68 ฿280

$10.92 $10.92

-20.51%

Cappuccino

$2.95 ฿95.0

$5.03 $5.03

-41.35%

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

$0.70 ฿22.52

$2.53 $2.53

-72.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 ฿12.70

$1.96 $1.96

-80.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.53 ฿81.6

$6.03 $6.03

-58.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.78 ฿122

$6.98 $6.98

-45.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 ฿71.5

$0.99 $0.99

124.24%

White Bread (500g)

$1.80 ฿57.8

$3.61 $3.61

-50.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.19 ฿70.4

$4.37 $4.37

-49.89%

Eggs

$2.31 ฿74.5

$4.03 $4.03

-42.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.34 ฿623

$12.42 $12.42

55.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.77 ฿121

$11.46 $11.46

-67.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.22 ฿426

$15.64 $15.64

-15.47%

Apples (1kg)

$3.33 ฿107

$4.92 $4.92

-32.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 ฿53.1

$1.63 $1.63

1.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.29 ฿73.7

$4.18 $4.18

-45.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.99 ฿64.1

$4.78 $4.78

-58.37%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.24

$2.87 $2.87

-46.69%

Onion (1kg)

$1.51 ฿48.77

$2.80 $2.80

-46.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 ฿33.12

$2.04 $2.04

-49.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.57

$2.09 $2.09

-75.60%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 ฿142

$9.74 $9.74

-54.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.41 ฿625

$13.89 $13.89

39.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.0

$1.82 $1.82

-1.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 ฿86.4

$3.35 $3.35

-20.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.43 ฿46.11

$1.97 $1.97

-27.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.70 ฿377

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.04 ฿97.9

$3.58 $3.58

-15.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿33.37

$1.66 $1.66

-37.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.68 ฿441

$28.74 $28.74

-52.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 ฿41.85

$0.86 $0.86

51.16%

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

$27.9K ฿898.9K

$29.4K $29.4K

-5.00%

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

$33.0K ฿1.1M

$25.6K $25.6K

29.25%

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

$123 ฿3,962

$189 $189

-34.98%

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

$13.82 ฿445

$52.7 $52.7

-73.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.86 ฿608

$67.2 $67.2

-71.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.2 ฿1,970

$43.43 $43.43

40.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.81 ฿541

Cinema Ticket

$8.87 ฿286

$13.51 $13.51

-34.34%

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

$696 ฿22.4K

$1,294 $1,294

-46.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.1K ฿517.4K

$23.5K $23.5K

-31.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.3 ฿1,910

$50.3 $50.3

17.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.85 ฿1,123

$39.25 $39.25

-11.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 ฿3,646

$88.2 $88.2

28.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.1 ฿2,740

$114 $114

-25.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$615 ฿19.8K

$1,618 $1,618

-61.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$448 ฿14.4K

$1,340 $1,340

-66.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,085 ฿67.2K

$2,619 $2,619

-20.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,496 ฿48.2K

$2,263 $2,263

-33.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,734 ฿120.3K

$2,791 $2,791

33.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,662 ฿85.8K

$2,490 $2,490

6.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$534 ฿17.2K

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 Burlington, NC: April 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $615 in Phuket versus $1,618 in Burlington, NC. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $46 in Phuket versus $74 in Burlington, NC. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $291 vs $387 – 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 Burlington, NC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,270 in Phuket, $2,584 in Burlington, NC – roughly 104% apart. Burlington, NC costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,904 per month in Phuket and $3,876 in Burlington, NC. 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,270 in Phuket and $2,584 in Burlington, NC. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $696 per month in Phuket and $1,294 in Burlington, NC. 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 $1,270, than in Burlington, NC at $2,584. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Burlington, NC it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,270 in Phuket to $2,584 in Burlington, NC. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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, Burlington, NC makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.