Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Gladstone Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Gladstone

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $2,249 in Gladstone.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $3,096 in Gladstone.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $3,944 in Gladstone.

Living in Phuket costs roughly 45% less than in Gladstone, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 8% below, Gladstone is 68% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Gladstone
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63 ฿151
$15.96 A$22.34
-70.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84 ฿1,532
$77.5 A$109
-39.57%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.84 ฿289
$10.01 A$14.01
-11.69%
Cappuccino
$3.00 ฿98.0
$3.46 A$4.84
-13.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 ฿24.25
$2.55 A$3.57
-70.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿11.95
$2.09 A$2.92
-82.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.44 ฿79.8
$6.37 A$8.91
-61.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61 ฿118
$7.08 A$9.91
-49.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Gladstone
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.26 ฿73.9
$1.43 A$2.00
58.04%
White Bread (500g)
$1.84 ฿60.1
$2.43 A$3.40
-24.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.24 ฿73.4
$2.03 A$2.84
10.34%
Eggs
$2.32 ฿75.7
$4.21 A$5.90
-44.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.67 ฿643
$8.66 A$12.13
127.14%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.65 ฿119
$8.63 A$12.08
-57.71%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.10 ฿428
$13.64 A$19.09
-3.96%
Apples (1kg)
$3.39 ฿111
$3.23 A$4.52
4.95%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 ฿53.7
$2.84 A$3.98
-42.25%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 ฿79.0
$2.91 A$4.08
-17.18%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 ฿66.4
$4.00 A$5.61
-49.25%
Potato (1kg)
$1.56 ฿50.9
$2.44 A$3.42
-36.07%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 ฿48.94
$2.09 A$2.92
-28.23%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 ฿33.50
$2.11 A$2.95
-51.66%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.00
$1.51 A$2.12
-67.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45 ฿145
$30.53 A$42.74
-85.42%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.88 ฿617
$14.19 A$19.87
33.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿58.1
$4.62 A$6.47
-61.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 ฿90.1
$5.30 A$7.42
-48.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Gladstone
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.40 ฿45.81
$2.58 A$3.61
-45.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.48 ฿376
$64.3 A$90.0
-82.15%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.12 ฿102
$3.67 A$5.13
-14.99%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.00 ฿32.67
$1.53 A$2.15
-34.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.09 ฿461
$33.90 A$47.46
-58.44%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 ฿44.19
$1.19 A$1.67
13.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K ฿888.9K
$29.1K A$40.7K
-6.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K ฿1.1M
$22.9K A$32.0K
44.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Gladstone
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$125 ฿4,087
$181 A$254
-31.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 ฿444
$26.28 A$36.79
-48.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52 ฿606
$51.4 A$71.9
-63.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Gladstone
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.5 ฿2,010
$49.44 A$69.2
24.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84 ฿551
$15.51 A$21.71
8.58%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19 ฿300
$12.58 A$17.61
-26.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Gladstone
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$698 ฿22.8K
$1,609 A$2,253
-56.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.6K ฿509.9K
$12.3K A$17.2K
27.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Gladstone
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8 ฿1,889
$67.6 A$94.6
-14.53%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24 ฿1,152
$51.4 A$72.0
-31.47%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 ฿3,699
$99.2 A$139
14.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4 ฿2,825
$107 A$150
-19.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Gladstone
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$616 ฿20.1K
$1,270 A$1,778
-51.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$446 ฿14.6K
$1,076 A$1,506
-58.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,048 ฿67.0K
$1,249 A$1,749
63.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,492 ฿48.8K
$1,387 A$1,942
7.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,779 ฿123.6K
$6,154 A$8,615
-38.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,649 ฿86.6K
$4,998 A$6,997
-47.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Gladstone
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$524 ฿17.1K
$5,772 A$8,081
-90.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
6.34
-15.93%

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

Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026

Last update for Gladstone: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $616 in Phuket and $1,270 in Gladstone. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Gladstone pays 1002% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $78.0 in Gladstone for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $339 per month, with Phuket cheaper across the board.

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 Gladstone: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Gladstone?
Phuket wins on cost – living expenses run 83% lower than in Gladstone. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Phuket the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Phuket or Gladstone?
On paper, Gladstone earns 1002% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Phuket vs Gladstone?
Rent for a central apartment: $616 in Phuket versus $1,270 in Gladstone. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Phuket compared to Gladstone?
All in, you'll spend $1,232 per month in Phuket versus $2,249 in Gladstone – a 83% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Phuket vs Gladstone?
A monthly transit pass in Phuket runs roughly 460% less than in Gladstone. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Phuket or Gladstone?
At $1,232 in Phuket versus $2,249 in Gladstone, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Gladstone. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Gladstone?
Both work as nomad bases, but Phuket delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,232 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Phuket hard to pass up.
How safe is Phuket compared to Gladstone?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Gladstone 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 Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 83% less than in Gladstone. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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