Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Hartsville, SC Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Hartsville, SC

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $2,463 in Hartsville, SC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $3,583 in Hartsville, SC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $4,704 in Hartsville, SC.

Living in Phuket costs roughly 50% less than in Hartsville, SC, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 8% below, Hartsville, SC is 84% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Hartsville, SC
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63 ฿151
$9.82 $9.82
-52.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84 ฿1,532
$44.23 $44.23
5.90%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.84 ฿289
$9.84 $9.84
-10.16%
Cappuccino
$3.00 ฿98.0
$4.10 $4.10
-26.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 ฿24.25
$2.27 $2.27
-67.40%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿11.95
$2.00 $2.00
-81.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.44 ฿79.8
$2.94 $2.94
-17.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61 ฿118
$6.09 $6.09
-40.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Hartsville, SC
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.26 ฿73.9
$0.85 $0.85
165.88%
White Bread (500g)
$1.84 ฿60.1
$4.19 $4.19
-56.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.24 ฿73.4
$3.23 $3.23
-30.65%
Eggs
$2.32 ฿75.7
$4.57 $4.57
-49.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.67 ฿643
$13.49 $13.49
45.81%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.65 ฿119
$11.56 $11.56
-68.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.10 ฿428
$16.67 $16.67
-21.42%
Apples (1kg)
$3.39 ฿111
$6.88 $6.88
-50.73%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 ฿53.7
$1.39 $1.39
17.99%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 ฿79.0
$5.77 $5.77
-58.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 ฿66.4
$6.14 $6.14
-66.94%
Potato (1kg)
$1.56 ฿50.9
$3.51 $3.51
-55.56%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 ฿48.94
$4.12 $4.12
-63.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 ฿33.50
$2.25 $2.25
-54.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.00
$2.17 $2.17
-77.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45 ฿145
$7.40 $7.40
-39.86%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.88 ฿617
$19.93 $19.93
-5.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿58.1
$2.12 $2.12
-16.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 ฿90.1
$3.02 $3.02
-8.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Hartsville, SC
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.40 ฿45.81
$1.94 $1.94
-27.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.48 ฿376
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.12 ฿102
$2.45 $2.45
27.35%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.00 ฿32.67
$1.75 $1.75
-42.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.09 ฿461
$15.05 $15.05
-6.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 ฿44.19
$0.84 $0.84
60.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K ฿888.9K
$30.1K $30.1K
-9.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K ฿1.1M
$26.5K $26.5K
24.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Hartsville, SC
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$125 ฿4,087
$162 $162
-23.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 ฿444
$63.3 $63.3
-78.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52 ฿606
$68.1 $68.1
-72.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Hartsville, SC
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.5 ฿2,010
$43.29 $43.29
42.02%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84 ฿551
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.19 ฿300
$14.90 $14.90
-38.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Hartsville, SC
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$698 ฿22.8K
$1,488 $1,488
-53.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.6K ฿509.9K
$24.4K $24.4K
-36.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Hartsville, SC
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8 ฿1,889
$40.20 $40.20
43.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24 ฿1,152
$48.97 $48.97
-28.04%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 ฿3,699
$51.0 $51.0
121.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4 ฿2,825
$80.4 $80.4
7.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Hartsville, SC
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$616 ฿20.1K
$1,615 $1,615
-61.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$446 ฿14.6K
$1,364 $1,364
-67.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,048 ฿67.0K
$2,634 $2,634
-22.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,492 ฿48.8K
$2,181 $2,181
-31.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,779 ฿123.6K
$2,495 $2,495
51.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,649 ฿86.6K
$2,386 $2,386
11.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Hartsville, SC
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$524 ฿17.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
6.53
-18.38%

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

Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026

Last update for Hartsville, SC: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $616 in Phuket and $1,615 in Hartsville, SC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $44.00 in Hartsville, SC. Groceries flip the comparison at $292 vs $437, with Phuket cheaper for home cooking.

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 100% 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 vs Hartsville, SC?
You'd need roughly $1,847 in Phuket and $3,695 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 vs Hartsville, SC?
Rent for a central apartment: $616 in Phuket versus $1,615 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 Hartsville, SC?
Supermarket bills run roughly 50% 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 $1,232 per month in Phuket versus $2,463 in Hartsville, SC – a 100% 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 Hartsville, SC?
At $1,232 in Phuket versus $2,463 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 is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Hartsville, SC?
Both work as nomad bases, but Phuket delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,232 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 Hartsville, SC?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Hartsville, 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 100% less than in Hartsville, SC. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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