Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Kearney, NE Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Kearney, NE

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $2,042 in Kearney, NE.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,054 in Phuket versus $2,852 in Kearney, NE.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,876 in Phuket versus $3,663 in Kearney, NE.

Living in Phuket costs roughly 40% less than in Kearney, NE, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 10% below, Kearney, NE is 49% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.41 ฿147

$15.15 $15.15

-70.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.26 ฿1,073

$60.9 $60.9

-46.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.93 ฿297

$12.04 $12.04

-25.83%

Cappuccino

$2.90 ฿96.3

$5.28 $5.28

-45.08%

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

$0.88 ฿29.27

$2.12 $2.12

-58.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.00

$1.72 $1.72

-72.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ฿78.2

$3.97 $3.97

-40.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿124

$4.91 $4.91

-24.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ฿62.0

$0.81 $0.81

130.86%

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 ฿48.75

$1.60 $1.60

-8.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.6

$3.84 $3.84

-59.64%

Eggs

$2.10 ฿69.9

$3.56 $3.56

-41.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.59 ฿651

$8.96 $8.96

118.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.42 ฿114

$6.75 $6.75

-49.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.38 ฿378

$14.61 $14.61

-22.11%

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 ฿99.2

$4.66 $4.66

-36.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 ฿56.0

$1.95 $1.95

-13.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 ฿73.5

$5.80 $5.80

-61.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.16 ฿71.9

$3.58 $3.58

-39.66%

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.7

$1.75 $1.75

-13.14%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.49

$3.09 $3.09

-56.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ฿37.53

$1.82 $1.82

-37.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ฿18.17

$2.64 $2.64

-79.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.26 ฿142

$9.09 $9.09

-53.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.09 ฿635

$15.04 $15.04

26.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿59.2

$1.73 $1.73

2.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿92.5

$2.02 $2.02

37.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.23 ฿74.1

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.74 ฿756

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 ฿101

$2.92 $2.92

3.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ฿34.02

$1.35 $1.35

-24.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.89 ฿129

$24.63 $24.63

-84.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿49.57

$0.96 $0.96

55.21%

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

$26.6K ฿883.8K

$24.2K $24.2K

9.80%

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

$27.0K ฿898.7K

$28.0K $28.0K

-3.60%

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

$102 ฿3,407

$266 $266

-61.40%

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

$11.33 ฿377

$66.3 $66.3

-82.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.40 ฿578

$68.7 $68.7

-74.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.1 ฿1,732

$55.6 $55.6

-6.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.07 ฿368

$6.14 $6.14

80.29%

Cinema Ticket

$7.69 ฿256

$12.54 $12.54

-38.68%

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

$561 ฿18.6K

$974 $974

-42.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ฿382.6K

$19.4K $19.4K

-40.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.0 ฿2,096

$29.78 $29.78

111.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.52 ฿982

$37.60 $37.60

-21.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.0 ฿3,259

$96.5 $96.5

1.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.5 ฿2,943

$116 $116

-23.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$738 ฿24.5K

$1,010 $1,010

-26.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.0K

$869 $869

-44.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,107 ฿70.0K

$1,517 $1,517

38.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,226 ฿40.8K

$1,189 $1,189

3.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,617 ฿120.3K

$1,530 $1,530

136.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,603 ฿86.5K

$1,558 $1,558

67.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿16.4K

$7,642 $7,642

-93.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

6.08

-8.39%

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

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Last update for Kearney, NE: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $738 in Phuket and $1,010 in Kearney, NE. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kearney, NE pays 1448% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $32.00 in Phuket vs $61.0 in Kearney, NE for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $274 vs $327 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 Kearney, NE: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Phuket and Kearney, NE differ by about 66% in total monthly costs ($1,232 vs $2,042 including rent). Phuket is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 1448% lower in Kearney, NE. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $738 in Phuket versus $1,010 in Kearney, NE. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 20% higher in Kearney, NE. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,232 per month in Phuket versus $2,042 in Kearney, NE – a 66% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,232 in Phuket versus $2,042 in Kearney, NE, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Kearney, NE. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Phuket and Kearney, NE are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 66% less than in Kearney, NE. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.