😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $54.2 in Claremont.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $83.0 in Claremont.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $111 in Claremont.
😐Living in Phuket is roughly 2171% more expensive than Claremont, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket8% lower, Claremont96% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Claremont
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63฿151
-
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84฿1,532
-
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84฿289
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.00฿98.0
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74฿24.25
-
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿11.95
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44฿79.8
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61฿118
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Claremont
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26฿73.9
-
-
White Bread(500g)
$1.84฿60.1
-
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24฿73.4
-
-
Eggs
$2.32฿75.7
-
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67฿643
-
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65฿119
-
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10฿428
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$3.39฿111
-
-
Banana(1kg)
$1.64฿53.7
-
-
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿79.0
-
-
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03฿66.4
-
-
Potato(1kg)
$1.56฿50.9
-
-
Onion(1kg)
$1.50฿48.94
-
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02฿33.50
-
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49฿16.00
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45฿145
-
-
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88฿617
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿58.1
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75฿90.1
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Claremont
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40฿45.81
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48฿376
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12฿102
-
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00฿32.67
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09฿461
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35฿44.19
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K฿888.9K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K฿1.1M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Claremont
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125฿4,087
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57฿444
-
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52฿606
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Claremont
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5฿2,010
$54.2JMD 8,519
13.35%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84฿551
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.19฿300
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Claremont
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698฿22.8K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6K฿509.9K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Claremont
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8฿1,889
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24฿1,152
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113฿3,699
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4฿2,825
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Claremont
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616฿20.1K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446฿14.6K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048฿67.0K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492฿48.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779฿123.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649฿86.6K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Claremont
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524฿17.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Claremont: April 26, 2026
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 Claremont: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Claremont?
Claremont wins on cost – living expenses run 2171% lower than in Phuket. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Claremont the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Phuket vs Claremont?
You'd need roughly $1,847 in Phuket and $81.3 in Claremont to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Phuket or Claremont?
At $54.2 in Claremont versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Claremont but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Claremont the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Claremont?
Both work as nomad bases, but Claremont delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $54.2 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Claremont hard to pass up.
How safe is Phuket compared to Claremont?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Claremont 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 Claremont gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2171% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.