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 $1,254 in Jamestown, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,255 per month in Phuket vs $1,736 in Jamestown, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,279 per month in Phuket vs $2,218 in Jamestown, rent included.

Phuket is about 2% cheaper than Jamestown, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Phuket and Jamestown are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 8% lower, Jamestown 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.63 ฿151

$16.07 SHP 11.91

-71.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.84 ฿1,532

$48.49 SHP 35.93

-3.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.84 ฿289

$8.89 SHP 6.59

-0.56%

Cappuccino

$3.00 ฿98.0

$2.98 SHP 2.21

0.67%

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

$0.74 ฿24.25

$1.14 SHP 0.84

-35.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.95

$1.21 SHP 0.89

-69.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 ฿79.8

$4.69 SHP 3.48

-47.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 ฿118

$2.64 SHP 1.95

36.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ฿73.9

$1.89 SHP 1.40

19.58%

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 ฿60.1

$1.64 SHP 1.22

12.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.24 ฿73.4

$1.39 SHP 1.03

61.15%

Eggs

$2.32 ฿75.7

$4.32 SHP 3.20

-46.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.67 ฿643

$8.07 SHP 5.98

143.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.65 ฿119

$10.80 SHP 8.00

-66.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.10 ฿428

$10.79 SHP 8.00

21.41%

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 ฿111

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.7

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿79.0

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 ฿66.4

Potato (1kg)

$1.56 ฿50.9

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 ฿48.94

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 ฿33.50

$2.78 SHP 2.06

-63.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.00

$2.25 SHP 1.67

-78.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.45 ฿145

$11.03 SHP 8.17

-59.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.88 ฿617

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.75 ฿90.1

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.40 ฿45.81

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.48 ฿376

$40.62 SHP 30.10

-71.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.12 ฿102

$2.79 SHP 2.07

11.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.00 ฿32.67

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.09 ฿461

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 ฿44.19

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

$27.2K ฿888.9K

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

$32.9K ฿1.1M

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

$125 ฿4,087

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

$13.57 ฿444

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.52 ฿606

$109 SHP 80.8

-83.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.5 ฿2,010

$6.90 SHP 5.11

791.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.84 ฿551

Cinema Ticket

$9.19 ฿300

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

$698 ฿22.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.6K ฿509.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.8 ฿1,889

$41.55 SHP 30.79

39.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.24 ฿1,152

$20.61 SHP 15.28

70.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 ฿3,699

$46.98 SHP 34.81

140.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.4 ฿2,825

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$616 ฿20.1K

$676 SHP 501

-8.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$446 ฿14.6K

$623 SHP 461

-28.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,048 ฿67.0K

$700 SHP 519

192.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,492 ฿48.8K

$718 SHP 532

107.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,779 ฿123.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,649 ฿86.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$524 ฿17.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

6.2

-14.03%

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

Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026

Last update for Jamestown: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $616 in Phuket versus $676 in Jamestown. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket versus $48.00 in Jamestown. Groceries tell a different story – $292 in Phuket vs $207 in Jamestown – so Jamestown wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 – Jamestown is pricier by about 2%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $1,881 in Jamestown. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Public transport costs about 254% less in Phuket. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Interestingly, groceries are about 41% cheaper in Jamestown – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,232, than in Jamestown at $1,254. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Jamestown it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Phuket – 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 Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Jamestown makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.