🙂A single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $2,608 in Gloucester, MA, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,255 per month in Phuket vs $3,886 in Gloucester, MA, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,279 per month in Phuket vs $5,165 in Gloucester, MA, rent included.
🙂Phuket is about 53% cheaper than Gloucester, MA, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Phuket sits 8% below the global median, while Gloucester, MA is 95% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Gloucester, MA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63฿151
$18.67$18.67
-75.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84฿1,532
$76.3$76.3
-38.60%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84฿289
$11.20$11.20
-21.07%
Cappuccino
$3.00฿98.0
$4.96$4.96
-39.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74฿24.25
$2.56$2.56
-71.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿11.95
$2.01$2.01
-81.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44฿79.8
$6.08$6.08
-59.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61฿118
$6.99$6.99
-48.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Gloucester, MA
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26฿73.9
$1.04$1.04
117.31%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84฿60.1
$3.41$3.41
-46.04%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24฿73.4
$4.29$4.29
-47.79%
Eggs
$2.32฿75.7
$4.18$4.18
-44.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67฿643
$12.42$12.42
58.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65฿119
$11.57$11.57
-68.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10฿428
$15.46$15.46
-15.27%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39฿111
$4.97$4.97
-31.79%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64฿53.7
$1.61$1.61
1.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿79.0
$4.18$4.18
-42.34%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03฿66.4
$4.59$4.59
-55.77%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56฿50.9
$2.92$2.92
-46.58%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50฿48.94
$2.79$2.79
-46.24%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02฿33.50
$2.12$2.12
-51.89%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49฿16.00
$2.12$2.12
-76.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45฿145
$9.33$9.33
-52.30%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88฿617
$14.71$14.71
28.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿58.1
$1.85$1.85
-3.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75฿90.1
$3.28$3.28
-16.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Gloucester, MA
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40฿45.81
$2.01$2.01
-30.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48฿376
$29.49$29.49
-61.07%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12฿102
$3.40$3.40
-8.24%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00฿32.67
$1.59$1.59
-37.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09฿461
$29.24$29.24
-51.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35฿44.19
$0.85$0.85
58.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K฿888.9K
$29.4K$29.4K
-7.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K฿1.1M
$25.9K$25.9K
26.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Gloucester, MA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125฿4,087
$190$190
-34.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57฿444
$53.5$53.5
-74.63%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52฿606
$68.3$68.3
-72.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Gloucester, MA
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5฿2,010
$43.31$43.31
41.95%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84฿551
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.19฿300
$13.33$13.33
-31.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Gloucester, MA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698฿22.8K
$1,319$1,319
-47.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6K฿509.9K
$23.8K$23.8K
-34.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Gloucester, MA
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8฿1,889
$50.5$50.5
14.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24฿1,152
$39.22$39.22
-10.15%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113฿3,699
$147$147
-23.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4฿2,825
$114$114
-23.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Gloucester, MA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616฿20.1K
$1,618$1,618
-61.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446฿14.6K
$1,359$1,359
-67.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048฿67.0K
$2,954$2,954
-30.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492฿48.8K
$2,252$2,252
-33.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779฿123.6K
$2,904$2,904
30.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649฿86.6K
$2,693$2,693
-1.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Gloucester, MA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524฿17.1K
$2,390$2,390
-78.09%
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 27, 2026
Last update for Gloucester, MA: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $616 in Phuket versus $1,618 in Gloucester, MA. 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 356% higher in Gloucester, MA, 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 $47.00 in Phuket versus $76.0 in Gloucester, MA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $388 – 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 Gloucester, MA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gloucester, MA cheaper than Phuket?
Yes – Gloucester, MA is pricier by about 112%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $3,912 in Gloucester, MA. 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. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $698 per month in Phuket and $1,319 in Gloucester, MA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and Gloucester, MA?
Groceries cost about 33% more in Gloucester, MA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Gloucester, MA?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,232, than in Gloucester, MA at $2,608. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Gloucester, MA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Phuket or Gloucester, MA 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 safer, Phuket or Gloucester, MA?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Gloucester, MA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.