ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,247 in Phuket versus $2,913 in Kalispell, MT.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $2,276 in Phuket versus $4,333 in Kalispell, MT.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,306 in Phuket versus $5,752 in Kalispell, MT.
ðLiving in Phuket costs roughly 57% less than in Kalispell, MT, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
ðThe two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 7% below, Kalispell, MT is 116% above.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Kalispell, MT
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.59āļŋ147
$20.19$20.19
-77.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.83āļŋ1,501
$79.4$79.4
-41.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.70āļŋ279
$12.94$12.94
-32.77%
Cappuccino
$2.92āļŋ93.7
$5.45$5.45
-46.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68āļŋ21.92
$2.41$2.41
-71.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40āļŋ12.70
$2.03$2.03
-80.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.51āļŋ80.4
$4.57$4.57
-45.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80āļŋ122
$6.27$6.27
-39.39%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Kalispell, MT
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.16āļŋ69.3
$1.05$1.05
105.71%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88āļŋ60.3
$3.60$3.60
-47.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16āļŋ69.2
$5.98$5.98
-63.88%
Eggs
$2.22āļŋ71.2
$6.47$6.47
-65.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.57āļŋ627
$14.55$14.55
34.50%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.80āļŋ122
$15.25$15.25
-75.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.41āļŋ430
$15.89$15.89
-15.61%
Apples(1kg)
$3.26āļŋ104
$10.87$10.87
-70.01%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61āļŋ51.7
$2.77$2.77
-41.88%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.31āļŋ74.0
$7.31$7.31
-68.40%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06āļŋ66.0
$8.53$8.53
-75.85%
Potato(1kg)
$1.61āļŋ51.5
$4.11$4.11
-60.83%
Onion(1kg)
$1.44āļŋ46.26
$2.84$2.84
-49.30%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03āļŋ33.01
$2.42$2.42
-57.44%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48āļŋ15.39
$2.85$2.85
-83.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.50āļŋ144
$9.91$9.91
-54.59%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.18āļŋ615
$15.22$15.22
26.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82āļŋ58.4
$3.59$3.59
-49.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69āļŋ86.2
$3.97$3.97
-32.24%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Kalispell, MT
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.38āļŋ44.16
$2.01$2.01
-31.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.76āļŋ377
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.11āļŋ99.6
$3.54$3.54
-12.15%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00āļŋ32.18
$1.60$1.60
-37.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.74āļŋ441
$28.96$28.96
-52.56%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30āļŋ41.61
$1.08$1.08
20.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.4Kāļŋ877.0K
$29.7K$29.7K
-7.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0Kāļŋ1.1M
$32.1K$32.1K
2.78%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Kalispell, MT
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125āļŋ4,004
$227$227
-45.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.74āļŋ440
$67.5$67.5
-79.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.61āļŋ597
$78.3$78.3
-76.23%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Kalispell, MT
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.6āļŋ1,941
$62.9$62.9
-3.69%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.15āļŋ550
$14.88$14.88
15.26%
Cinema Ticket
$9.01āļŋ289
$14.81$14.81
-39.16%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Kalispell, MT
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698āļŋ22.4K
$1,165$1,165
-40.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.1Kāļŋ516.5K
$23.9K$23.9K
-32.59%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Kalispell, MT
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.2āļŋ1,898
$49.74$49.74
19.04%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.86āļŋ1,118
$59.6$59.6
-41.52%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$114āļŋ3,662
$113$113
0.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.8āļŋ2,751
$60.9$60.9
40.82%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Kalispell, MT
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$619āļŋ19.8K
$1,475$1,475
-58.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$437āļŋ14.0K
$1,498$1,498
-70.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,075āļŋ66.5K
$2,325$2,325
-10.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,509āļŋ48.4K
$2,474$2,474
-39.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,764āļŋ120.7K
$3,957$3,957
-4.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,694āļŋ86.4K
$3,852$3,852
-30.07%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Kalispell, MT
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$528āļŋ16.9K
$2,783$2,783
-81.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
6.85
-22.19%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 13, 2026
Last update for Kalispell, MT: April 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $619 in Phuket and $1,475 in Kalispell, MT. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ð°Kalispell, MT pays 427% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
ðDining out: $47 in Phuket vs $79 in Kalispell, MT for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $525 per month, with Phuket cheaper across the board.
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 Kalispell, MT: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kalispell, MT cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 134% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Kalispell, MT?
On paper, Kalispell, MT earns 427% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Kalispell, MT?
Rent for a central apartment: $619 in Phuket versus $1,475 in Kalispell, MT. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $698 in Phuket versus $1,165 in Kalispell, MT. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or Kalispell, MT?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket â a meal for two runs $47.00 versus $79.0 in Kalispell, MT. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Kalispell, MT?
At $1,247 in Phuket versus $2,913 in Kalispell, MT, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Kalispell, MT. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Kalispell, MT more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Kalispell, MT, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Kalispell, MT?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Kalispell, MT are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet â expenses run 134% less than in Kalispell, MT. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.