Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Hartsville, SC

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,278 a month against $2,631 in Hartsville, SC, rent and utilities included – about $16,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Phuket, Thailand
Hartsville, SC, United States
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,278
/mo nomad
Hartsville, SC
🇺🇸 United States
$2,631
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Hartsville, SC

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 Hartsville, SC actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,278 in Phuket versus $2,631 in Hartsville, SC.

  • Phuket $1,278
  • Hartsville, SC $2,631

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,216 in Phuket versus $3,904 in Hartsville, SC.

  • Phuket $2,216
  • Hartsville, SC $3,904

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,154 in Phuket versus $5,177 in Hartsville, SC.

  • Phuket $3,154
  • Hartsville, SC $5,177

Living in Phuket costs roughly 51% less than in Hartsville, SC, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 6% below, Hartsville, SC is 93% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Hartsville, SC
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.47 ฿151
$21.93 $21.93
-79.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.41 ฿1,092
$88.4 $88.4
-63.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.81 ฿297
$11.68 $11.68
-24.57%
Cappuccino
$2.83 ฿95.3
$5.81 $5.81
-51.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 ฿29.37
$2.93 $2.93
-70.31%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.64
$2.15 $2.15
-77.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.56 ฿86.2
$5.85 $5.85
-56.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 ฿124
$7.02 $7.02
-47.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Hartsville, SC
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 ฿55.9
$0.88 $0.88
88.64%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 ฿49.25
$3.68 $3.68
-60.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.4
$3.15 $3.15
-52.38%
Eggs
$2.09 ฿70.4
$4.54 $4.54
-53.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.07 ฿642
$15.28 $15.28
24.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.30 ฿111
$10.13 $10.13
-67.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.91 ฿368
$17.53 $17.53
-37.76%
Apples (1kg)
$2.93 ฿98.7
$6.41 $6.41
-54.29%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 ฿56.9
$1.30 $1.30
30.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 ฿75.7
$4.39 $4.39
-48.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿70.0
$5.65 $5.65
-63.19%
Potato (1kg)
$1.51 ฿50.9
$3.06 $3.06
-50.65%
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.47
$3.47 $3.47
-60.23%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ฿35.91
$2.11 $2.11
-49.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.49
$2.25 $2.25
-76.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20 ฿142
$9.00 $9.00
-53.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.79 ฿633
$15.14 $15.14
24.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 ฿61.4
$2.17 $2.17
-16.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 ฿95.7
$2.65 $2.65
7.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Hartsville, SC
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.45 ฿48.93
$1.74 $1.74
-16.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$56.7 ฿1,909
$58.0 $58.0
-2.36%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿102
$3.02 $3.02
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ฿34.29
$1.84 $1.84
-44.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.69 ฿124
$17.71 $17.71
-79.16%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ฿49.70
$1.02 $1.02
44.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K ฿902.4K
$30.7K $30.7K
-12.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿899.5K
$25.9K $25.9K
3.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Hartsville, SC
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.4 ฿3,247
$185 $185
-47.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.26 ฿380
$56.4 $56.4
-80.04%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.85 ฿568
$66.7 $66.7
-74.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Hartsville, SC
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.2 ฿2,266
$41.28 $41.28
62.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.73 ฿361
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.50 ฿253
$14.81 $14.81
-49.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Hartsville, SC
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$476 ฿16.0K
$1,296 $1,296
-63.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.3K ฿379.6K
$24.9K $24.9K
-54.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Hartsville, SC
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.4 ฿2,102
$54.2 $54.2
15.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.41 ฿957
$56.4 $56.4
-49.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.3 ฿3,178
$92.7 $92.7
1.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.8 ฿2,892
$141 $141
-39.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Hartsville, SC
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$716 ฿24.1K
$1,544 $1,544
-53.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$491 ฿16.5K
$1,267 $1,267
-61.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,927 ฿64.9K
$2,531 $2,531
-23.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,431 ฿48.2K
$2,085 $2,085
-31.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,175 ฿140.7K
$2,694 $2,694
54.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,045 ฿102.6K
$2,084 $2,084
46.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Hartsville, SC
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$502 ฿16.9K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
6.61
-15.73%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Last update for Hartsville, SC: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$491
Hartsville, SC
$1.3K 158% $776
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$266
Hartsville, SC
$409 53.7% $143
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$124
Hartsville, SC
$308 148% $184
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$122
Hartsville, SC
$155 27.2% $33
Eating Out
Phuket
$122
Hartsville, SC
$344 183% $222
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$82
Hartsville, SC
$71 13.8% $11
Getting Around
Phuket
$71
Hartsville, SC
$77 9.4% $6.6

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $716 in Phuket and $1,544 in Hartsville, SC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $32 in Phuket vs $88 in Hartsville, SC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $266 vs $409 per month, with Phuket cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇺🇸 Hartsville, SC
🕒 Local time
15:21 3:21 PM
04:21 4:21 AM
11 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
7,500
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 33.7 THB (100 THB = 2.97 USD). 1 EUR = 37.61 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.896 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Hartsville, SC 15,310 km ≈ 20 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Hartsville, SC

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 Hartsville, SC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Hartsville, SC?
Phuket wins on cost – living expenses run 51% lower than in Hartsville, SC. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Phuket the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Phuket and in Hartsville, SC?
You’d need roughly $1,917 in Phuket and $3,947 in Hartsville, SC to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Phuket compared to Hartsville, SC?
Rent for a central apartment: $716 in Phuket versus $1,544 in Hartsville, SC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Phuket or in Hartsville, SC?
Supermarket bills run roughly 54% higher in Hartsville, 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 Hartsville, SC?
All in, you’ll spend $1,278 per month in Phuket versus $2,631 in Hartsville, SC – Phuket is about 51% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Phuket or in Hartsville, SC?
At $1,278 in Phuket versus $2,631 in Hartsville, SC, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Hartsville, SC. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Phuket or Hartsville, SC?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

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