Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Kettering

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,207 a month against $1,921 in Kettering, rent and utilities included – about $8,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,207
/mo nomad
Kettering
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
$1,921
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Kettering

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Phuket and in Kettering actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,207 in Phuket versus $1,921 in Kettering.

  • Phuket $1,207
  • Kettering $1,921

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,037 in Phuket versus $2,555 in Kettering.

  • Phuket $2,037
  • Kettering $2,555

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,867 in Phuket versus $3,189 in Kettering.

  • Phuket $2,867
  • Kettering $3,189

Living in Phuket costs roughly 37% less than in Kettering, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 11% below, Kettering is 42% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Kettering
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.58 ฿153
$19.80 £14.86
-76.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.48 ฿1,086
$80.4 £60.3
-59.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.55 ฿286
$10.75 £8.07
-20.47%
Cappuccino
$2.72 ฿91.0
$4.59 £3.44
-40.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94 ฿31.25
$2.10 £1.58
-55.24%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.39
$1.53 £1.15
-67.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.59 ฿86.6
$5.75 £4.31
-54.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.83 ฿128
$5.35 £4.01
-28.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Kettering
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 ฿58.1
$1.44 £1.08
20.83%
White Bread (500g)
$1.43 ฿47.82
$1.76 £1.32
-18.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.53 ฿51.0
$2.71 £2.03
-43.54%
Eggs
$2.17 ฿72.7
$3.98 £2.99
-45.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.15 ฿640
$9.01 £6.76
112.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.30 ฿110
$7.54 £5.66
-56.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.14 ฿372
$16.40 £12.30
-32.07%
Apples (1kg)
$2.95 ฿98.5
$3.30 £2.48
-10.61%
Banana (1kg)
$1.68 ฿56.1
$1.54 £1.15
9.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.30 ฿76.8
$2.67 £2.01
-13.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.13 ฿71.3
$3.16 £2.37
-32.59%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿51.1
$1.21 £0.91
26.45%
Onion (1kg)
$1.36 ฿45.55
$1.71 £1.28
-20.47%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.12 ฿37.44
$1.21 £0.91
-7.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿18.24
$1.24 £0.93
-55.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26 ฿142
$23.65 £17.74
-81.99%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.19 ฿608
$9.70 £7.28
87.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 ฿58.2
$3.28 £2.46
-46.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79 ฿93.3
$2.39 £1.79
16.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Kettering
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.22 ฿74.1
$2.59 £1.94
-14.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.06 ฿737
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.91 ฿97.3
$4.09 £3.07
-28.85%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.01 ฿33.79
$1.59 £1.19
-36.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.83 ฿128
$31.82 £23.87
-87.96%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 ฿49.85
$2.00 £1.50
-25.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.7K ฿891.6K
$37.6K £28.2K
-28.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿892.7K
$41.0K £30.7K
-34.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Kettering
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$99.4 ฿3,321
$200 £150
-50.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.28 ฿377
$16.23 £12.17
-30.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.36 ฿580
$43.94 £32.96
-60.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Kettering
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.3 ฿1,747
$39.72 £29.80
31.65%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.85 ฿362
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.57 ฿253
$12.96 £9.73
-41.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Kettering
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$558 ฿18.7K
$1,503 £1,128
-62.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.5K ฿383.9K
$22.3K £16.7K
-48.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Kettering
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.9 ฿2,102
$86.4 £64.8
-27.18%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.58 ฿955
$31.23 £23.43
-8.49%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.1 ฿3,213
$73.9 £55.4
30.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.1 ฿2,943
$97.2 £72.9
-9.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Kettering
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$729 ฿24.4K
$1,053 £790
-30.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$460 ฿15.4K
$851 £638
-45.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,096 ฿70.0K
$1,071 £804
95.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,222 ฿40.8K
$758 £569
61.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,459 ฿115.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,489 ฿83.2K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Kettering
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$493 ฿16.5K
$4,330 £3,248
-88.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
5.06
10.08%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 13, 2026

Last update for Kettering: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$460
Kettering
$851 84.9% $391
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$268
Kettering
$292 9.2% $25
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$128
Kettering
$260 103% $132
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$124
Kettering
$130 4.7% $5.8
Eating Out
Phuket
$121
Kettering
$300 147% $178
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$67
Kettering
$66 2.6% $1.8
Getting Around
Phuket
$39
Kettering
$22 * 42.4% $16

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $729 in Phuket and $1,053 in Kettering. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kettering pays 778% 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 $80.0 in Kettering for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $268 vs $292 per month, with Phuket cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇬🇧 Kettering
🕒 Local time
23:52 11:52 PM
17:52 5:52 PM
6 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
56,676
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

GBP, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

British Pound exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 0.75 GBP (1 GBP = 1.33 USD). 1 EUR = 0.843 GBP (1 GBP = 1.19 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Kettering 9,930 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Kettering

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Kettering: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kettering cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. The 59% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Kettering?
On paper, salaries run 778% lower in Kettering. 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 Kettering?
Rent for a central apartment: $729 in Phuket versus $1,053 in Kettering. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and in Kettering?
Supermarket bills run roughly 9% higher in Kettering. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket and in Kettering?
All in, you'll spend $1,207 per month in Phuket versus $1,921 in Kettering – a 59% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Kettering?
At $1,207 in Phuket versus $1,921 in Kettering, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Kettering. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Kettering more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Kettering, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Kettering?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Kettering 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 – expenses run 59% less than in Kettering. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Phuket vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?