Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Glendale, AZ

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,207 a month against $2,173 in Glendale, AZ, rent and utilities included – about $11,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,207
/mo nomad
Glendale, AZ
🇺🇸 United States
$2,173
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Glendale, AZ

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 Glendale, AZ actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,207 per month in Phuket vs $2,173 in Glendale, AZ, rent included.

  • Phuket $1,207
  • Glendale, AZ $2,173

A couple spends around $2,037 per month in Phuket vs $3,425 in Glendale, AZ, rent included.

  • Phuket $2,037
  • Glendale, AZ $3,425

A family of three spends $2,867 per month in Phuket vs $4,676 in Glendale, AZ, rent included.

  • Phuket $2,867
  • Glendale, AZ $4,676

Phuket is about 44% cheaper than Glendale, AZ, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Phuket sits 11% below the global median, while Glendale, AZ is 61% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Glendale, AZ
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.58 ฿153
$15.13 $15.13
-69.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.48 ฿1,086
$62.1 $62.1
-47.71%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.55 ฿286
$12.45 $12.45
-31.33%
Cappuccino
$2.72 ฿91.0
$5.38 $5.38
-49.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94 ฿31.25
$2.17 $2.17
-56.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.39
$1.96 $1.96
-75.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.59 ฿86.6
$7.11 $7.11
-63.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.83 ฿128
$7.21 $7.21
-46.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Glendale, AZ
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 ฿58.1
$0.96 $0.96
81.25%
White Bread (500g)
$1.43 ฿47.82
$3.24 $3.24
-55.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.53 ฿51.0
$5.11 $5.11
-70.06%
Eggs
$2.17 ฿72.7
$4.54 $4.54
-52.20%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.15 ฿640
$13.36 $13.36
43.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.30 ฿110
$11.27 $11.27
-70.72%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.14 ฿372
$16.92 $16.92
-34.16%
Apples (1kg)
$2.95 ฿98.5
$4.57 $4.57
-35.45%
Banana (1kg)
$1.68 ฿56.1
$1.87 $1.87
-10.16%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.30 ฿76.8
$3.94 $3.94
-41.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.13 ฿71.3
$4.12 $4.12
-48.30%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿51.1
$2.45 $2.45
-37.55%
Onion (1kg)
$1.36 ฿45.55
$2.91 $2.91
-53.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.12 ฿37.44
$2.13 $2.13
-47.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿18.24
$2.10 $2.10
-73.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26 ฿142
$10.47 $10.47
-59.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.19 ฿608
$13.35 $13.35
36.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 ฿58.2
$1.77 $1.77
-1.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79 ฿93.3
$3.75 $3.75
-25.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Glendale, AZ
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.22 ฿74.1
$2.04 $2.04
8.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.06 ฿737
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.91 ฿97.3
$2.72 $2.72
6.99%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.01 ฿33.79
$1.34 $1.34
-24.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.83 ฿128
$35.46 $35.46
-89.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 ฿49.85
$1.02 $1.02
46.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.7K ฿891.6K
$36.1K $36.1K
-26.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿892.7K
$25.9K $25.9K
2.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Glendale, AZ
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$99.4 ฿3,321
$194 $194
-48.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.28 ฿377
$48.28 $48.28
-76.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.36 ฿580
$66.4 $66.4
-73.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Glendale, AZ
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.3 ฿1,747
$34.52 $34.52
51.48%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.85 ฿362
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.57 ฿253
$9.95 $9.95
-23.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Glendale, AZ
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$558 ฿18.7K
$1,089 $1,089
-48.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.5K ฿383.9K
$15.8K $15.8K
-27.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Glendale, AZ
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.9 ฿2,102
$54.3 $54.3
15.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.58 ฿955
$42.94 $42.94
-33.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.1 ฿3,213
$88.2 $88.2
8.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.1 ฿2,943
$103 $103
-14.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Glendale, AZ
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$729 ฿24.4K
$1,360 $1,360
-46.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$460 ฿15.4K
$985 $985
-53.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,096 ฿70.0K
$2,469 $2,469
-15.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,222 ฿40.8K
$2,105 $2,105
-41.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,459 ฿115.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,489 ฿83.2K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Glendale, AZ
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$493 ฿16.5K
$3,716 $3,716
-86.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
6.23
-10.59%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 13, 2026

Last update for Glendale, AZ: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$460
Glendale, AZ
$985 114% $525
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$268
Glendale, AZ
$388 45.1% $121
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$128
Glendale, AZ
$309 141% $181
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$124
Glendale, AZ
$130 4.7% $5.8
Eating Out
Phuket
$121
Glendale, AZ
$289 139% $168
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$67
Glendale, AZ
$54 19.3% $13
Getting Around
Phuket
$39
Glendale, AZ
$18 * 54.8% $21

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $729 in Phuket versus $1,360 in Glendale, AZ. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 654% higher in Glendale, AZ, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Phuket versus $62.0 in Glendale, AZ. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $268 vs $388 – making Phuket the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇺🇸 Glendale, AZ
🕒 Local time
03:30 3:30 AM
13:30 1:30 PM
14 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
200,831
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Glendale, AZ 14,390 km ≈ 18 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Glendale, AZ

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 Glendale, AZ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Glendale, AZ?
Glendale, AZ costs about 80% more than Phuket, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Phuket and in Glendale, AZ?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,811 per month in Phuket and $3,260 in Glendale, AZ. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Phuket or Glendale, AZ?
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.
How do dining costs compare in Phuket and in Glendale, AZ?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Phuket and $62.0 in Glendale, AZ. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Phuket or in Glendale, AZ?
Groceries cost about 45% more in Glendale, AZ, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Phuket or in Glendale, AZ?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,207, than in Glendale, AZ at $2,173. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Glendale, AZ it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Glendale, AZ?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,207 versus $2,173 in Glendale, AZ. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Phuket compared to Glendale, AZ?
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.
Should I move to Phuket or to Glendale, AZ?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Glendale, AZ makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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