Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Gulfport, MS

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,208 a month against $2,030 in Gulfport, MS, rent and utilities included – about $9,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,208
/mo nomad
Gulfport, MS
🇺🇸 United States
$2,030
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Gulfport, MS

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 Gulfport, MS actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,208 per month in Phuket vs $2,030 in Gulfport, MS, rent included.

  • Phuket $1,208
  • Gulfport, MS $2,030

A couple spends around $2,027 per month in Phuket vs $3,018 in Gulfport, MS, rent included.

  • Phuket $2,027
  • Gulfport, MS $3,018

A family of three spends $2,845 per month in Phuket vs $4,006 in Gulfport, MS, rent included.

  • Phuket $2,845
  • Gulfport, MS $4,006

Phuket is about 40% cheaper than Gulfport, MS, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Phuket sits 11% below the global median, while Gulfport, MS is 50% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Gulfport, MS
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.40 ฿147
$18.36 $18.36
-76.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26 ฿1,078
$54.1 $54.1
-40.41%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.76 ฿293
$12.20 $12.20
-28.20%
Cappuccino
$2.83 ฿94.5
$4.91 $4.91
-42.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90 ฿30.14
$2.22 $2.22
-59.46%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 ฿15.56
$1.79 $1.79
-73.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.55 ฿85.2
$3.96 $3.96
-35.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.83 ฿128
$4.87 $4.87
-21.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Gulfport, MS
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.73 ฿57.7
$0.89 $0.89
94.38%
White Bread (500g)
$1.47 ฿49.11
$3.51 $3.51
-58.12%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.51 ฿50.6
$2.76 $2.76
-45.29%
Eggs
$2.17 ฿72.7
$3.25 $3.25
-33.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.70 ฿658
$10.78 $10.78
82.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.34 ฿112
$11.77 $11.77
-71.62%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ฿373
$14.58 $14.58
-23.46%
Apples (1kg)
$2.85 ฿95.1
$4.09 $4.09
-30.32%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 ฿56.9
$1.50 $1.50
13.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.19 ฿73.3
$2.63 $2.63
-16.73%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.05 ฿68.4
$4.33 $4.33
-52.66%
Potato (1kg)
$1.45 ฿48.57
$2.22 $2.22
-34.68%
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.16
$1.80 $1.80
-23.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ฿35.69
$2.07 $2.07
-48.31%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.91
$1.43 $1.43
-64.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26 ฿142
$8.42 $8.42
-49.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.58 ฿621
$15.04 $15.04
23.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿59.7
$2.04 $2.04
-12.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85 ฿95.2
$3.91 $3.91
-27.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Gulfport, MS
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.26 ฿75.6
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.10 ฿738
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.01 ฿101
$2.45 $2.45
22.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.06 ฿35.34
$1.65 $1.65
-35.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.86 ฿129
$25.89 $25.89
-85.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.45
$0.75 $0.75
93.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.3K ฿879.9K
$37.0K $37.0K
-28.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K ฿900.4K
$26.0K $26.0K
3.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Gulfport, MS
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.4 ฿3,221
$219 $219
-55.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.04 ฿369
$50.1 $50.1
-77.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.14 ฿573
$69.9 $69.9
-75.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Gulfport, MS
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.2 ฿1,744
$25.18 $25.18
107.23%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.16 ฿373
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.81 ฿261
$8.94 $8.94
-12.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Gulfport, MS
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$556 ฿18.6K
$618 $618
-10.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K ฿387.0K
$14.1K $14.1K
-17.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Gulfport, MS
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.2 ฿2,146
$31.45 $31.45
104.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.69 ฿959
$40.05 $40.05
-28.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.4 ฿3,187
$84.7 $84.7
12.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.0 ฿2,940
$73.6 $73.6
19.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Gulfport, MS
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$737 ฿24.6K
$1,105 $1,105
-33.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$462 ฿15.5K
$897 $897
-48.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,095 ฿70.0K
$1,647 $1,647
27.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,201 ฿40.1K
$1,631 $1,631
-26.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,488 ฿116.6K
$1,736 $1,736
100.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,523 ฿84.3K
$1,739 $1,739
45.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Gulfport, MS
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$501 ฿16.7K
$3,150 $3,150
-84.10%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
6.54
-14.83%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 19, 2026

Last update for Gulfport, MS: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$462
Gulfport, MS
$897 94.1% $435
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$269
Gulfport, MS
$348 29.7% $80
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$125
Gulfport, MS
$339 172% $214
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$124
Gulfport, MS
$103 16.8% $21
Eating Out
Phuket
$121
Gulfport, MS
$288 138% $167
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$68
Gulfport, MS
$43 36.5% $25
Getting Around
Phuket
$39
Gulfport, MS
$11 * 72.8% $29

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $737 in Phuket versus $1,105 in Gulfport, MS. 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 529% higher in Gulfport, MS, 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 $54.0 in Gulfport, MS. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $269 vs $348 – making Phuket the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇺🇸 Gulfport, MS
🕒 Local time
21:22 9:22 PM
09:22 9:22 AM
12 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
64,316
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 20, 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 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Gulfport, MS 15,690 km ≈ 20 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Gulfport, MS

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 Gulfport, MS: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Gulfport, MS?
Gulfport, MS costs about 68% 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 Gulfport, MS?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,813 per month in Phuket and $3,044 in Gulfport, MS. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Phuket or Gulfport, MS?
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 Gulfport, MS?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Phuket and $54.0 in Gulfport, MS. 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 Gulfport, MS?
Groceries cost about 30% more in Gulfport, MS, 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 Gulfport, MS?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,208, than in Gulfport, MS at $2,030. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Gulfport, MS it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Gulfport, MS?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,208 versus $2,030 in Gulfport, MS. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Phuket compared to Gulfport, MS?
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 Gulfport, MS?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Gulfport, MS makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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