Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Hot Springs, AR

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,278 a month against $1,720 in Hot Springs, AR, rent and utilities included – about $5,300 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

62

Cost of Living Index in Phuket
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Phuket Living Index
83

Cost of Living Index in Hot Springs, AR
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Hot Springs, AR Living Index

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Phuket

🇹🇭 Thailand

$1,278

/mo nomad

Hot Springs, AR

🇺🇸 United States

$1,720

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Hot Springs, AR

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 Hot Springs, AR actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,278 per month in Phuket vs $1,720 in Hot Springs, AR, rent included.

Phuket $1,278
Hot Springs, AR $1,720

A couple spends around $2,216 per month in Phuket vs $2,576 in Hot Springs, AR, rent included.

Phuket $2,216
Hot Springs, AR $2,576

A family of three spends $3,154 per month in Phuket vs $3,432 in Hot Springs, AR, rent included.

Phuket $3,154
Hot Springs, AR $3,432

Phuket is about 26% cheaper than Hot Springs, AR, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Phuket sits 6% below the global median, while Hot Springs, AR is 26% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.47 ฿151

$16.83 $16.83

-73.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.41 ฿1,094

$69.6 $69.6

-53.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.81 ฿297

$9.35 $9.35

-5.78%

Cappuccino

$2.83 ฿95.4

$5.09 $5.09

-44.40%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 ฿29.42

$2.86 $2.86

-69.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.66

$1.46 $1.46

-66.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.56 ฿86.3

$5.10 $5.10

-49.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 ฿124

$6.14 $6.14

-40.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ฿56.0

$0.94 $0.94

76.60%

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 ฿49.32

$3.05 $3.05

-52.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.5

$1.98 $1.98

-24.24%

Eggs

$2.09 ฿70.5

$2.27 $2.27

-7.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.07 ฿643

$11.23 $11.23

69.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.30 ฿111

$12.46 $12.46

-73.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.91 ฿368

$19.35 $19.35

-43.62%

Apples (1kg)

$2.93 ฿98.9

$3.53 $3.53

-17.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 ฿57.0

$1.33 $1.33

27.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 ฿75.8

$3.60 $3.60

-37.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿70.1

$3.78 $3.78

-44.97%

Potato (1kg)

$1.51 ฿51.0

$1.80 $1.80

-16.11%

Onion (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$2.67 $2.67

-48.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 ฿35.97

$2.31 $2.31

-53.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.51

$1.07 $1.07

-51.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.20 ฿142

$9.03 $9.03

-53.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.79 ฿634

$18.83 $18.83

-0.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 ฿61.5

$2.51 $2.51

-27.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿95.9

$4.48 $4.48

-36.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.45 ฿49.00

$1.17 $1.17

23.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$56.7 ฿1,912

$28.06 $28.06

101.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿102

$2.82 $2.82

7.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ฿34.34

$2.23 $2.23

-54.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.69 ฿125

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ฿49.78

$0.86 $0.86

70.93%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.8K ฿903.7K

$17.2K $17.2K

55.48%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.7K ฿900.8K

$22.5K $22.5K

18.49%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$96.4 ฿3,252

$174 $174

-44.74%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$11.26 ฿380

$56.1 $56.1

-79.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.85 ฿569

$39.93 $39.93

-57.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.2 ฿2,269

$34.54 $34.54

94.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.73 ฿362

$9.86 $9.86

8.82%

Cinema Ticket

$7.50 ฿253

$9.87 $9.87

-24.01%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$476 ฿16.1K

$609 $609

-21.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.3K ฿380.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.4 ฿2,105

$40.08 $40.08

55.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.41 ฿959

$40.48 $40.48

-29.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,182

$98.9 $98.9

-4.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.8 ฿2,896

$79.9 $79.9

7.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$716 ฿24.2K

$717 $717

-0.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$491 ฿16.6K

$591 $591

-16.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,927 ฿65.0K

$1,068 $1,068

80.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,431 ฿48.3K

$897 $897

59.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,175 ฿140.9K

$1,947 $1,947

114.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,045 ฿102.8K

$2,001 $2,001

52.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$502 ฿17.0K

$3,558 $3,558

-85.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

6.49

-14.18%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Last update for Hot Springs, AR: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Phuket

$491 38.4%

Hot Springs, AR

$591 34.4% 20.4% $100

Groceries & Markets

Phuket

$266 20.8%

Hot Springs, AR

$362 21.1% 35.9% $96

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Phuket

$124 9.7%

Hot Springs, AR

$270 15.7% 117% $146

Clothing & Footwear

Phuket

$122 9.5%

Hot Springs, AR

$117 6.8% 4.3% $5.2

Eating Out

Phuket

$122 9.5%

Hot Springs, AR

$279 16.2% 129% $157

Sport & Entertainment

Phuket

$82 6.4%

Hot Springs, AR

$54 3.2% 34% $28

Getting Around

Phuket

$71 5.5%

Hot Springs, AR

$47 2.7% 33.8% $24

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $716 in Phuket versus $717 in Hot Springs, AR. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Hot Springs, AR are about 7.1 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32 in Phuket versus $70 in Hot Springs, AR. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $266 vs $362 – making Phuket the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Phuket

🇺🇸 Hot Springs, AR

🕒 Local time

20:54 8:54 PM

07:54 7:54 AM

13 h behind Phuket

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

79,308

37,930

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

1 USD = 0.896 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.75 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.66 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.896 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Phuket Hot Springs, AR 15,150 km ≈ 19 h nonstop flight

From you

Phuket
Hot Springs, AR

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 Hot Springs, AR: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Hot Springs, AR costs about 35% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,917 per month in Phuket and $2,580 in Hot Springs, AR. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A central 1-bedroom goes for about $716 in Phuket and $717 in Hot Springs, AR. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.

Kindergarten costs $476 per month in Phuket and $609 in Hot Springs, AR. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 36% more in Hot Springs, AR, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,278, than in Hot Springs, AR at $1,720. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hot Springs, AR it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,278 in Phuket to $1,720 in Hot Springs, AR. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hot Springs, AR makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.