ðA single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $2,375 in Lenoir City, TN, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $2,255 per month in Phuket vs $3,310 in Lenoir City, TN, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $3,279 per month in Phuket vs $4,245 in Lenoir City, TN, rent included.
ðPhuket is about 48% cheaper than Lenoir City, TN, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðPhuket sits 8% below the global median, while Lenoir City, TN is 77% above â they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Lenoir City, TN
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63āļŋ151
$12.18$12.18
-61.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84āļŋ1,532
$34.83$34.83
34.48%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84āļŋ289
$10.12$10.12
-12.65%
Cappuccino
$3.00āļŋ98.0
$4.03$4.03
-25.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74āļŋ24.25
$2.19$2.19
-66.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37āļŋ11.95
$1.84$1.84
-79.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44āļŋ79.8
$4.69$4.69
-47.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61āļŋ118
$5.11$5.11
-29.35%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Lenoir City, TN
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26āļŋ73.9
$0.71$0.71
218.31%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84āļŋ60.1
$2.16$2.16
-14.81%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24āļŋ73.4
$4.48$4.48
-50.00%
Eggs
$2.32āļŋ75.7
$3.15$3.15
-26.35%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67āļŋ643
$7.62$7.62
158.14%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65āļŋ119
$5.52$5.52
-33.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10āļŋ428
$7.51$7.51
74.43%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39āļŋ111
$4.52$4.52
-25.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64āļŋ53.7
$1.22$1.22
34.43%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41āļŋ79.0
$3.53$3.53
-31.73%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03āļŋ66.4
$4.39$4.39
-53.76%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56āļŋ50.9
$2.17$2.17
-28.11%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50āļŋ48.94
$2.82$2.82
-46.81%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02āļŋ33.50
$1.47$1.47
-30.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49āļŋ16.00
$1.79$1.79
-72.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45āļŋ145
$7.79$7.79
-42.88%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88āļŋ617
$11.96$11.96
57.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78āļŋ58.1
$1.78$1.78
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75āļŋ90.1
$1.74$1.74
58.05%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Lenoir City, TN
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40āļŋ45.81
$2.03$2.03
-31.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48āļŋ376
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12āļŋ102
$4.88$4.88
-36.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00āļŋ32.67
$1.51$1.51
-33.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09āļŋ461
$29.00$29.00
-51.41%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35āļŋ44.19
$0.82$0.82
64.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2Kāļŋ888.9K
$23.3K$23.3K
16.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
$24.8K$24.8K
32.53%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Lenoir City, TN
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125āļŋ4,087
$145$145
-13.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57āļŋ444
$59.6$59.6
-77.21%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52āļŋ606
$59.0$59.0
-68.59%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Lenoir City, TN
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5āļŋ2,010
$42.73$42.73
43.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84āļŋ551
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.19āļŋ300
$14.92$14.92
-38.40%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Lenoir City, TN
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698āļŋ22.8K
$807$807
-13.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6Kāļŋ509.9K
$25.2K$25.2K
-38.11%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Lenoir City, TN
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8āļŋ1,889
$42.57$42.57
35.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24āļŋ1,152
$34.59$34.59
1.88%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,699
$73.9$73.9
52.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4āļŋ2,825
$159$159
-45.67%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Lenoir City, TN
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616āļŋ20.1K
$1,594$1,594
-61.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446āļŋ14.6K
$1,364$1,364
-67.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048āļŋ67.0K
$2,608$2,608
-21.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492āļŋ48.8K
$2,197$2,197
-32.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779āļŋ123.6K
$2,697$2,697
40.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649āļŋ86.6K
$2,360$2,360
12.24%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Lenoir City, TN
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524āļŋ17.1K
$3,257$3,257
-83.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
5
6.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Lenoir City, TN: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $616 in Phuket versus $1,594 in Lenoir City, TN. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
ð°Salaries run about 522% higher in Lenoir City, TN, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
ðA mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket versus $35.00 in Lenoir City, TN. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $274 â making Lenoir City, TN 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 Lenoir City, TN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Lenoir City, TN?
Lenoir City, TN costs about 93% more than Phuket, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Phuket vs Lenoir City, TN?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $3,562 in Lenoir City, TN. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Phuket or Lenoir City, TN?
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.
How do dining costs compare in Phuket vs Lenoir City, TN?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket and $35.00 in Lenoir City, TN. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafÃĐ pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Phuket or Lenoir City, TN?
Interestingly, groceries are about 7% cheaper in Lenoir City, TN â one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Phuket or Lenoir City, TN?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,232, than in Lenoir City, TN at $2,375. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lenoir City, TN it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Lenoir City, TN?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,232 versus $2,375 in Lenoir City, TN. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Phuket compared to Lenoir City, TN?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison â central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Phuket or Lenoir City, TN?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lenoir City, TN makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.