🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $3,185 in Hampton, VA.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,054 in Phuket versus $4,918 in Hampton, VA.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,876 in Phuket versus $6,651 in Hampton, VA.
🌍Living in Phuket costs roughly 61% less than in Hampton, VA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 10% below, Hampton, VA is 133% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Hampton, VA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.41฿147
$20.27$20.27
-78.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26฿1,073
$73.8$73.8
-56.26%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.93฿297
$11.84$11.84
-24.58%
Cappuccino
$2.90฿96.3
$4.39$4.39
-33.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88฿29.27
$3.33$3.33
-73.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.00
$2.30$2.30
-79.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.35฿78.2
$6.35$6.35
-62.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿124
$9.12$9.12
-59.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Hampton, VA
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.87฿62.0
$1.55$1.55
20.65%
White Bread(500g)
$1.47฿48.75
$3.54$3.54
-58.47%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.55฿51.6
$6.16$6.16
-74.84%
Eggs
$2.10฿69.9
$5.67$5.67
-62.96%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.59฿651
$8.15$8.15
140.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.42฿114
$19.83$19.83
-82.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.38฿378
$24.16$24.16
-52.90%
Apples(1kg)
$2.98฿99.2
$8.05$8.05
-62.98%
Banana(1kg)
$1.68฿56.0
$3.31$3.31
-49.24%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.21฿73.5
$9.84$9.84
-77.54%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.16฿71.9
$9.64$9.64
-77.59%
Potato(1kg)
$1.52฿50.7
$5.99$5.99
-74.62%
Onion(1kg)
$1.34฿44.49
$6.94$6.94
-80.69%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.13฿37.53
$2.90$2.90
-61.03%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55฿18.17
$5.07$5.07
-89.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26฿142
$10.42$10.42
-59.12%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.09฿635
$18.14$18.14
5.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿59.2
$1.71$1.71
4.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78฿92.5
$3.80$3.80
-26.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Hampton, VA
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.23฿74.1
$3.65$3.65
-38.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.74฿756
$54.7$54.7
-58.39%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.03฿101
$5.01$5.01
-39.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02฿34.02
$1.82$1.82
-43.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.89฿129
$19.85$19.85
-80.40%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49฿49.57
$0.88$0.88
69.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K฿883.8K
$36.5K$36.5K
-27.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K฿898.7K
$24.9K$24.9K
8.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Hampton, VA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102฿3,407
$215$215
-52.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.33฿377
$53.0$53.0
-78.60%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.40฿578
$79.4$79.4
-78.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Hampton, VA
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.1฿1,732
$113$113
-53.92%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07฿368
$34.85$34.85
-68.24%
Cinema Ticket
$7.69฿256
$15.77$15.77
-51.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Hampton, VA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$561฿18.6K
$1,291$1,291
-56.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.5K฿382.6K
$14.9K$14.9K
-22.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Hampton, VA
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.0฿2,096
$47.42$47.42
32.92%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.52฿982
$40.15$40.15
-26.48%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.0฿3,259
$133$133
-26.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5฿2,943
$134$134
-33.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Hampton, VA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$738฿24.5K
$1,668$1,668
-55.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$482฿16.0K
$1,547$1,547
-68.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,107฿70.0K
$2,905$2,905
-27.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,226฿40.8K
$2,953$2,953
-58.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,617฿120.3K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,603฿86.5K
$2,287$2,287
13.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Hampton, VA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494฿16.4K
$3,744$3,744
-86.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
6.08
-8.39%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026
Last update for Hampton, VA: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $738 in Phuket and $1,668 in Hampton, VA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Hampton, VA pays 659% 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: $32.00 in Phuket vs $74.0 in Hampton, VA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $274 vs $599 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 Hampton, VA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hampton, VA cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 159% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Hampton, VA?
On paper, salaries run 659% lower in Hampton, VA. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Hampton, VA?
Rent for a central apartment: $738 in Phuket versus $1,668 in Hampton, VA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket and in Hampton, VA?
All in, you'll spend $1,232 per month in Phuket versus $3,185 in Hampton, VA – a 159% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Phuket runs roughly 140% less than in Hampton, VA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Hampton, VA?
At $1,232 in Phuket versus $3,185 in Hampton, VA, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Hampton, VA. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Hampton, VA more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Hampton, VA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Hampton, VA?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Hampton, VA 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 159% less than in Hampton, VA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.