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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $2,022 in Lincoln, NE.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $3,170 in Lincoln, NE.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $4,318 in Lincoln, NE.

Living in Phuket costs roughly 39% less than in Lincoln, NE, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 8% below, Lincoln, NE is 51% above.

Currency
ðŸ― Eating Out
Phuket
Lincoln, NE
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63 āļŋ151
$15.14 $15.14
-69.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84 āļŋ1,532
$57.0 $57.0
-17.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.84 āļŋ289
$12.05 $12.05
-26.64%
Cappuccino
$3.00 āļŋ98.0
$5.00 $5.00
-40.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 āļŋ24.25
$2.12 $2.12
-65.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 āļŋ11.95
$1.54 $1.54
-75.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.44 āļŋ79.8
$4.92 $4.92
-50.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61 āļŋ118
$5.84 $5.84
-38.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Lincoln, NE
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.26 āļŋ73.9
$0.83 $0.83
172.29%
White Bread (500g)
$1.84 āļŋ60.1
$3.22 $3.22
-42.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.24 āļŋ73.4
$5.52 $5.52
-59.42%
Eggs
$2.32 āļŋ75.7
$4.60 $4.60
-49.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.67 āļŋ643
$10.78 $10.78
82.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.65 āļŋ119
$10.97 $10.97
-66.73%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.10 āļŋ428
$14.26 $14.26
-8.13%
Apples (1kg)
$3.39 āļŋ111
$6.18 $6.18
-45.15%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 āļŋ53.7
$2.02 $2.02
-18.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 āļŋ79.0
$4.62 $4.62
-47.84%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 āļŋ66.4
$4.66 $4.66
-56.44%
Potato (1kg)
$1.56 āļŋ50.9
$4.32 $4.32
-63.89%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 āļŋ48.94
$3.29 $3.29
-54.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 āļŋ33.50
$1.89 $1.89
-46.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 āļŋ16.00
$2.29 $2.29
-78.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45 āļŋ145
$9.97 $9.97
-55.37%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.88 āļŋ617
$18.27 $18.27
3.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 āļŋ58.1
$1.80 $1.80
-1.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 āļŋ90.1
$3.27 $3.27
-15.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Lincoln, NE
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.40 āļŋ45.81
$1.77 $1.77
-20.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.48 āļŋ376
$29.40 $29.40
-60.95%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.12 āļŋ102
$6.60 $6.60
-52.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.00 āļŋ32.67
$1.87 $1.87
-46.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.09 āļŋ461
$34.56 $34.56
-59.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 āļŋ44.19
$0.77 $0.77
75.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K āļŋ888.9K
$30.6K $30.6K
-11.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K āļŋ1.1M
$24.8K $24.8K
32.99%
ðŸ§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Lincoln, NE
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$125 āļŋ4,087
$110 $110
13.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 āļŋ444
$50.4 $50.4
-73.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52 āļŋ606
$63.2 $63.2
-70.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Lincoln, NE
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.5 āļŋ2,010
$56.3 $56.3
9.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84 āļŋ551
$26.35 $26.35
-36.09%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19 āļŋ300
$14.90 $14.90
-38.32%
ðŸ§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Lincoln, NE
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$698 āļŋ22.8K
$1,061 $1,061
-34.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.6K āļŋ509.9K
$23.1K $23.1K
-32.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Lincoln, NE
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8 āļŋ1,889
$49.92 $49.92
15.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24 āļŋ1,152
$34.96 $34.96
0.80%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 āļŋ3,699
$84.9 $84.9
33.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4 āļŋ2,825
$92.6 $92.6
-6.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Lincoln, NE
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$616 āļŋ20.1K
$1,014 $1,014
-39.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$446 āļŋ14.6K
$841 $841
-47.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,048 āļŋ67.0K
$2,473 $2,473
-17.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,492 āļŋ48.8K
$1,712 $1,712
-12.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,779 āļŋ123.6K
$1,897 $1,897
99.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,649 āļŋ86.6K
$1,883 $1,883
40.66%
ðŸ’ĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Lincoln, NE
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$524 āļŋ17.1K
$3,765 $3,765
-86.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
6.54
-18.50%

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

Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026

Last update for Lincoln, NE: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $616 in Phuket and $1,014 in Lincoln, NE. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lincoln, NE pays 619% 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: $47.00 in Phuket vs $57.0 in Lincoln, NE for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $402 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 Lincoln, NE: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Lincoln, NE?
Phuket wins on cost – living expenses run 64% lower than in Lincoln, NE. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Phuket the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Phuket or Lincoln, NE?
On paper, Lincoln, NE earns 619% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Phuket vs Lincoln, NE?
Rent for a central apartment: $616 in Phuket versus $1,014 in Lincoln, NE. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Phuket vs Lincoln, NE?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket – a meal for two runs $47.00 versus $57.0 in Lincoln, NE. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Phuket compared to Lincoln, NE?
All in, you'll spend $1,232 per month in Phuket versus $2,022 in Lincoln, NE – a 64% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Phuket or Lincoln, NE?
At $1,232 in Phuket versus $2,022 in Lincoln, NE, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Lincoln, NE. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Lincoln, NE?
Both work as nomad bases, but Phuket delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,232 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Phuket hard to pass up.
How safe is Phuket compared to Lincoln, NE?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Lincoln, 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 64% less than in Lincoln, NE. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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