Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Jamestown Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Jamestown

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $90.1 in Jamestown, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,054 per month in Phuket vs $155 in Jamestown, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,876 per month in Phuket vs $220 in Jamestown, rent included.

Phuket costs about 1267% more than Jamestown, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Jamestown are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 10% lower, Jamestown 93% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.41 ฿147

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.26 ฿1,074

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.93 ฿297

Cappuccino

$2.90 ฿96.4

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

$0.88 ฿29.30

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.01

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ฿78.3

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿124

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ฿62.1

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 ฿48.81

$1.94 SHP 1.45

-24.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.7

Eggs

$2.10 ฿70.0

$5.43 SHP 4.05

-61.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.59 ฿652

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.42 ฿114

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.38 ฿379

$11.01 SHP 8.22

3.36%

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 ฿99.3

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 ฿56.1

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 ฿73.5

Tomato (1kg)

$2.16 ฿72.0

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.8

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.55

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ฿37.57

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ฿18.19

$1.33 SHP 0.99

-58.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.26 ฿142

$12.26 SHP 9.15

-65.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.09 ฿635

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿59.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿92.6

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.23 ฿74.2

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.74 ฿757

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 ฿101

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ฿34.06

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.89 ฿130

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿49.63

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

$26.6K ฿884.9K

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

$27.0K ฿899.8K

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

$102 ฿3,411

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

$11.33 ฿377

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.40 ฿579

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.1 ฿1,734

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.07 ฿369

Cinema Ticket

$7.69 ฿256

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

$561 ฿18.7K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ฿383.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.0 ฿2,098

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.52 ฿983

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.0 ฿3,263

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.5 ฿2,946

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$738 ฿24.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,107 ฿70.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,226 ฿40.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,617 ฿120.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,603 ฿86.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿16.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Last update for Jamestown: September 12, 2026

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 Jamestown: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 1267%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $135 in Jamestown. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,232 in Phuket and $90.1 in Jamestown. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 204% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Jamestown, where all-in costs run around $90.1, than in Phuket at $1,232. In Jamestown it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Jamestown – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

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