🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,223 in Phuket versus $2,412 in Goose Creek, SC.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,237 in Phuket versus $3,569 in Goose Creek, SC.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,251 in Phuket versus $4,726 in Goose Creek, SC.
🙂Living in Phuket costs roughly 49% less than in Goose Creek, SC, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 8% below, Goose Creek, SC is 81% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Goose Creek, SC
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.51฿147
$17.64$17.64
-74.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.62฿1,515
$80.3$80.3
-41.92%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.49฿276
$9.99$9.99
-15.02%
Cappuccino
$3.08฿100
$4.91$4.91
-37.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68฿22.07
$2.50$2.50
-72.80%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36฿11.75
$1.86$1.86
-80.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.43฿78.8
$6.15$6.15
-60.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63฿118
$7.66$7.66
-52.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Goose Creek, SC
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.19฿71.1
$0.76$0.76
188.16%
White Bread(500g)
$1.81฿59.0
$3.24$3.24
-44.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.23฿72.5
$4.18$4.18
-46.65%
Eggs
$2.24฿72.7
$2.70$2.70
-17.04%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.60฿637
$13.10$13.10
49.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.72฿121
$16.35$16.35
-77.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.47฿438
$13.46$13.46
0.07%
Apples(1kg)
$3.36฿109
$5.77$5.77
-41.77%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62฿52.5
$1.61$1.61
0.62%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿78.3
$6.62$6.62
-63.60%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.99฿64.6
$3.89$3.89
-48.84%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿49.76
$3.83$3.83
-60.05%
Onion(1kg)
$1.45฿47.19
$2.75$2.75
-47.27%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01฿32.96
$1.74$1.74
-41.95%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48฿15.73
$1.47$1.47
-67.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27฿139
$7.77$7.77
-45.05%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.12฿621
$11.83$11.83
61.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84฿59.7
$2.09$2.09
-11.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74฿89.1
$3.20$3.20
-14.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Goose Creek, SC
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.42฿46.06
$2.06$2.06
-31.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.72฿381
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.00฿97.6
$2.96$2.96
1.35%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.05฿34.00
$1.46$1.46
-28.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.90฿452
$29.58$29.58
-53.01%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.29฿41.94
$0.87$0.87
48.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K฿911.1K
$30.0K$30.0K
-6.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.5K฿1.1M
$25.1K$25.1K
33.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Goose Creek, SC
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿3,964
$142$142
-14.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.93฿453
$53.7$53.7
-74.05%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.87฿613
$71.1$71.1
-73.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Goose Creek, SC
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.3฿1,992
$48.57$48.57
26.17%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84฿547
$17.80$17.80
-5.39%
Cinema Ticket
$8.89฿289
$9.14$9.14
-2.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Goose Creek, SC
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$691฿22.5K
$637$637
8.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.2K฿525.2K
$24.5K$24.5K
-34.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Goose Creek, SC
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8฿1,878
$41.16$41.16
40.40%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.39฿1,150
$35.88$35.88
-1.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113฿3,685
$77.1$77.1
47.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.0฿2,698
$88.9$88.9
-6.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Goose Creek, SC
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$607฿19.7K
$1,390$1,390
-56.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$448฿14.6K
$1,240$1,240
-63.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,029฿66.0K
$2,173$2,173
-6.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,493฿48.5K
$2,008$2,008
-25.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,585฿116.5K
$2,074$2,074
72.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,585฿84.0K
$2,058$2,058
25.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Goose Creek, SC
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$505฿16.4K
$2,945$2,945
-82.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
6.25
-14.72%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 13, 2026
Last update for Goose Creek, SC: June 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $607 in Phuket and $1,390 in Goose Creek, SC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Goose Creek, SC pays 484% 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 $80.0 in Goose Creek, SC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $396 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 Goose Creek, SC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Goose Creek, SC?
Phuket wins on cost – living expenses run 97% lower than in Goose Creek, SC. 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 Goose Creek, SC?
On paper, Goose Creek, SC earns 484% 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 Goose Creek, SC?
Rent for a central apartment: $607 in Phuket versus $1,390 in Goose Creek, SC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Phuket or Goose Creek, SC?
Supermarket bills run roughly 35% higher in Goose Creek, SC. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Phuket compared to Goose Creek, SC?
All in, you'll spend $1,223 per month in Phuket versus $2,412 in Goose Creek, SC – a 97% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Phuket or Goose Creek, SC?
At $1,223 in Phuket versus $2,412 in Goose Creek, SC, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Goose Creek, SC. 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 Goose Creek, SC?
Both work as nomad bases, but Phuket delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,223 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 Goose Creek, SC?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Goose Creek, SC 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 97% less than in Goose Creek, SC. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.