Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Duluth, MN

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,278 a month against $2,214 in Duluth, MN, rent and utilities included – about $11,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Phuket, Thailand
Duluth, MN, United States
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,278
/mo nomad
Duluth, MN
🇺🇸 United States
$2,214
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Duluth, MN

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Phuket and in Duluth, MN actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,278 per month in Phuket vs $2,214 in Duluth, MN, rent included.

  • Phuket $1,278
  • Duluth, MN $2,214

A couple spends around $2,216 per month in Phuket vs $3,542 in Duluth, MN, rent included.

  • Phuket $2,216
  • Duluth, MN $3,542

A family of three spends $3,154 per month in Phuket vs $4,870 in Duluth, MN, rent included.

  • Phuket $3,154
  • Duluth, MN $4,870

Phuket is about 42% cheaper than Duluth, MN, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Phuket sits 6% below the global median, while Duluth, MN is 63% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Duluth, MN
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.47 ฿151
$20.10 $20.10
-77.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.41 ฿1,094
$66.4 $66.4
-51.21%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.81 ฿297
$9.87 $9.87
-10.74%
Cappuccino
$2.83 ฿95.4
$5.32 $5.32
-46.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 ฿29.42
$2.57 $2.57
-66.15%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.66
$1.90 $1.90
-74.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.56 ฿86.3
$6.59 $6.59
-61.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 ฿124
$7.97 $7.97
-53.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Duluth, MN
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 ฿56.0
$0.84 $0.84
97.62%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 ฿49.32
$2.97 $2.97
-50.84%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.5
$3.80 $3.80
-60.53%
Eggs
$2.09 ฿70.5
$3.63 $3.63
-42.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.07 ฿643
$10.37 $10.37
83.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.30 ฿111
$10.13 $10.13
-67.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.91 ฿368
$19.40 $19.40
-43.76%
Apples (1kg)
$2.93 ฿98.9
$5.22 $5.22
-43.87%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 ฿57.0
$1.55 $1.55
9.03%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 ฿75.8
$2.79 $2.79
-19.35%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿70.1
$4.41 $4.41
-52.83%
Potato (1kg)
$1.51 ฿51.0
$1.09 $1.09
38.53%
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.54
$2.20 $2.20
-37.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ฿35.97
$1.11 $1.11
-3.60%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.51
$1.40 $1.40
-62.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20 ฿142
$13.11 $13.11
-67.96%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.79 ฿634
$16.23 $16.23
15.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 ฿61.5
$1.77 $1.77
2.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 ฿95.9
$2.79 $2.79
1.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Duluth, MN
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.45 ฿49.00
$1.93 $1.93
-24.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$56.7 ฿1,912
$39.81 $39.81
42.33%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿102
$5.14 $5.14
-41.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ฿34.34
$1.53 $1.53
-33.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.69 ฿125
$24.18 $24.18
-84.74%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ฿49.78
$0.90 $0.90
63.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K ฿903.7K
$22.8K $22.8K
17.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿900.8K
$23.5K $23.5K
13.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Duluth, MN
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.4 ฿3,252
$180 $180
-46.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.26 ฿380
$43.17 $43.17
-73.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.85 ฿569
$67.5 $67.5
-75.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Duluth, MN
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.2 ฿2,269
$63.4 $63.4
6.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.73 ฿362
$25.84 $25.84
-58.48%
Cinema Ticket
$7.50 ฿253
$11.55 $11.55
-35.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Duluth, MN
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$476 ฿16.1K
$1,032 $1,032
-53.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.3K ฿380.1K
$9,973 $9,973
12.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Duluth, MN
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.4 ฿2,105
$57.8 $57.8
7.83%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.41 ฿959
$44.26 $44.26
-35.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.3 ฿3,182
$98.8 $98.8
-4.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.8 ฿2,896
$86.3 $86.3
-0.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Duluth, MN
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$716 ฿24.2K
$1,283 $1,283
-44.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$491 ฿16.6K
$974 $974
-49.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,927 ฿65.0K
$2,304 $2,304
-16.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,431 ฿48.3K
$2,132 $2,132
-32.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,175 ฿140.9K
$2,231 $2,231
87.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,045 ฿102.8K
$2,161 $2,161
40.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Duluth, MN
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$502 ฿17.0K
$3,747 $3,747
-86.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
6.19
-10.02%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Last update for Duluth, MN: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$491
Duluth, MN
$974 98.4% $483
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$266
Duluth, MN
$352 32.3% $86
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$124
Duluth, MN
$291 134% $166
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$122
Duluth, MN
$129 6% $7.4
Eating Out
Phuket
$122
Duluth, MN
$321 164% $199
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$82
Duluth, MN
$86 5.1% $4.2
Getting Around
Phuket
$71
Duluth, MN
$60 14.5% $10

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $716 in Phuket versus $1,283 in Duluth, MN. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Duluth, MN are about 7.5 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32 in Phuket versus $66 in Duluth, MN. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $266 vs $352 – making Phuket the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇺🇸 Duluth, MN
🕒 Local time
15:00 3:00 PM
02:00 2:00 AM
13 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
86,265
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.75 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.66 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.896 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Duluth, MN 13,850 km ≈ 18 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Duluth, MN

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Duluth, MN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Duluth, MN?
Yes – Duluth, MN is pricier by about 73%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,917 per month in Phuket and $3,321 in Duluth, MN. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $716 there versus $1,283 in Duluth, MN.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket and in Duluth, MN?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,278 in Phuket and $2,214 in Duluth, MN. That makes Phuket about 42% cheaper.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 30% less in Duluth, MN. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Duluth, MN?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,278, than in Duluth, MN at $2,214. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Duluth, MN it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Phuket or Duluth, MN more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Phuket – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Duluth, MN makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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