Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Johnson City, TN Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Johnson City, TN

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $2,069 in Johnson City, TN, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,297 per month in Phuket vs $3,019 in Johnson City, TN, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,329 per month in Phuket vs $3,968 in Johnson City, TN, rent included.

Phuket is about 39% cheaper than Johnson City, TN, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Phuket sits 6% below the global median, while Johnson City, TN is 54% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.70 ฿153

$12.78 $12.78

-63.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.37 ฿1,482

$49.26 $49.26

-7.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.43 ฿275

$11.80 $11.80

-28.56%

Cappuccino

$2.93 ฿95.6

$3.79 $3.79

-22.69%

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

$0.69 ฿22.40

$2.10 $2.10

-67.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.99

$1.74 $1.74

-78.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$5.06 $5.06

-52.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿122

$5.85 $5.85

-36.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 ฿72.9

$1.00 $1.00

123.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 ฿59.8

$3.83 $3.83

-52.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ฿70.8

$3.06 $3.06

-29.08%

Eggs

$2.21 ฿72.3

$3.28 $3.28

-32.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.74 ฿645

$7.49 $7.49

163.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿119

$8.43 $8.43

-56.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.53 ฿442

$13.30 $13.30

1.73%

Apples (1kg)

$3.28 ฿107

$4.01 $4.01

-18.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ฿52.6

$1.62 $1.62

-0.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$3.96 $3.96

-39.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.1

$3.61 $3.61

-42.38%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.93

$2.44 $2.44

-37.30%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.36

$3.65 $3.65

-59.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ฿32.29

$1.86 $1.86

-46.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.67

$2.22 $2.22

-77.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 ฿144

$7.33 $7.33

-39.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.38 ฿633

$13.20 $13.20

46.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

$1.62 $1.62

9.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ฿88.6

$4.09 $4.09

-33.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.37 ฿44.79

$2.56 $2.56

-46.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.39 ฿372

$37.08 $37.08

-69.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿98.6

$5.40 $5.40

-44.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 ฿32.48

$1.48 $1.48

-33.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.10 ฿461

$64.1 $64.1

-78.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 ฿44.51

$0.78 $0.78

74.36%

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

$28.2K ฿921.1K

$29.9K $29.9K

-5.70%

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

$32.9K ฿1.1M

$22.4K $22.4K

46.84%

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

$122 ฿3,975

$151 $151

-19.24%

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

$13.57 ฿443

$74.6 $74.6

-81.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.31 ฿598

$52.1 $52.1

-64.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.2 ฿1,967

$47.39 $47.39

27.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 ฿560

$20.31 $20.31

-15.61%

Cinema Ticket

$8.69 ฿284

$12.94 $12.94

-32.84%

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

$693 ฿22.6K

$909 $909

-23.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K ฿512.3K

$14.7K $14.7K

7.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,944

$39.32 $39.32

51.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.77 ฿1,136

$36.77 $36.77

-5.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,743

$62.7 $62.7

82.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.3 ฿2,720

$116 $116

-28.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$613 ฿20.0K

$1,182 $1,182

-48.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$437 ฿14.3K

$1,023 $1,023

-57.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,094 ฿68.4K

$2,035 $2,035

2.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,509 ฿49.3K

$1,636 $1,636

-7.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,749 ฿122.5K

$2,156 $2,156

73.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,616 ฿85.4K

$2,218 $2,218

17.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.6K

$3,409 $3,409

-85.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

6.15

-13.33%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Johnson City, TN: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $613 in Phuket versus $1,182 in Johnson City, 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 571% higher in Johnson City, 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 $45.00 in Phuket versus $49.00 in Johnson City, TN. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $333 – 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 Johnson City, TN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Johnson City, TN is pricier by about 64%, 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 $1,898 per month in Phuket and $3,104 in Johnson City, TN. 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Phuket and $49.00 in Johnson City, TN. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,265 in Phuket and $2,069 in Johnson City, TN. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,265, than in Johnson City, TN at $2,069. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Johnson City, TN 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, Johnson City, TN makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.