🙂A single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $2,156 in Jackson, TN, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,054 per month in Phuket vs $3,148 in Jackson, TN, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,876 per month in Phuket vs $4,139 in Jackson, TN, rent included.
🙂Phuket is about 43% cheaper than Jackson, TN, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Phuket sits 10% below the global median, while Jackson, TN is 58% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Jackson, TN
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.41฿147
$17.16$17.16
-74.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26฿1,074
$50.8$50.8
-36.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.93฿297
$10.55$10.55
-15.36%
Cappuccino
$2.90฿96.4
$4.99$4.99
-41.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88฿29.30
$2.37$2.37
-62.87%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.01
$1.83$1.83
-73.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.35฿78.3
$4.08$4.08
-42.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿124
$4.93$4.93
-24.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Jackson, TN
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.87฿62.1
$0.87$0.87
114.94%
White Bread(500g)
$1.47฿48.81
$2.99$2.99
-50.84%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.55฿51.7
$2.66$2.66
-41.73%
Eggs
$2.10฿70.0
$4.29$4.29
-51.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.59฿652
$9.31$9.31
110.42%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.42฿114
$9.94$9.94
-65.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.38฿379
$15.10$15.10
-24.64%
Apples(1kg)
$2.98฿99.3
$3.82$3.82
-21.99%
Banana(1kg)
$1.68฿56.1
$1.37$1.37
22.63%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.21฿73.5
$2.80$2.80
-21.07%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.16฿72.0
$3.12$3.12
-30.77%
Potato(1kg)
$1.52฿50.8
$1.83$1.83
-16.94%
Onion(1kg)
$1.34฿44.55
$2.26$2.26
-40.71%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.13฿37.57
$1.93$1.93
-41.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55฿18.19
$1.82$1.82
-69.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26฿142
$8.24$8.24
-48.30%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.09฿635
$12.93$12.93
47.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿59.2
$1.71$1.71
4.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78฿92.6
$2.05$2.05
35.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Jackson, TN
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.23฿74.2
$1.24$1.24
79.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.74฿757
$34.33$34.33
-33.76%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.03฿101
$1.98$1.98
53.03%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02฿34.06
$1.21$1.21
-15.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.89฿130
$20.10$20.10
-80.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49฿49.63
$0.81$0.81
83.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K฿884.9K
$34.1K$34.1K
-22.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K฿899.8K
$24.8K$24.8K
9.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Jackson, TN
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102฿3,411
$169$169
-39.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.33฿377
$67.2$67.2
-83.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.40฿579
$71.2$71.2
-75.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Jackson, TN
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.1฿1,734
$49.97$49.97
4.22%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07฿369
$50.3$50.3
-77.99%
Cinema Ticket
$7.69฿256
$10.80$10.80
-28.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Jackson, TN
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$561฿18.7K
$1,135$1,135
-50.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.5K฿383.0K
$8,261$8,261
39.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Jackson, TN
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.0฿2,098
$51.4$51.4
22.63%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.52฿983
$36.47$36.47
-19.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.0฿3,263
$65.2$65.2
50.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5฿2,946
$101$101
-12.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Jackson, TN
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$738฿24.6K
$1,209$1,209
-38.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$482฿16.1K
$1,057$1,057
-54.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,107฿70.1K
$1,617$1,617
30.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,226฿40.8K
$1,615$1,615
-24.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,617฿120.4K
$1,678$1,678
115.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,603฿86.7K
$1,719$1,719
51.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Jackson, TN
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494฿16.4K
$4,098$4,098
-87.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
5.83
-4.46%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026
Last update for Jackson, TN: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $738 in Phuket versus $1,209 in Jackson, TN. 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 730% higher in Jackson, TN, 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 $51.0 in Jackson, TN. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $274 vs $322 – making Phuket the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Jackson, TN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Phuket and in Jackson, TN compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,232 in Phuket, $2,156 in Jackson, TN – roughly 75% apart. Jackson, TN costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Phuket compared to Jackson, TN?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $3,234 in Jackson, TN. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Phuket and Jackson, TN?
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.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 18% more in Jackson, TN, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Phuket and $51.0 in Jackson, TN. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,232, than in Jackson, TN at $2,156. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Jackson, TN it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Jackson, TN?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,232 in Phuket to $2,156 in Jackson, TN. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Phuket or Jackson, TN safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Phuket and Jackson, TN?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Jackson, TN makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.