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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $2,288 in Lincoln.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $3,366 in Lincoln.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $4,444 in Lincoln.

Living in Phuket costs roughly 45% less than in Lincoln, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 6% below, Lincoln is 71% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Lincoln
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70 ฿154
$27.59 £20.55
-82.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37 ฿1,483
$76.0 £56.6
-40.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.43 ฿276
$10.34 £7.70
-18.47%
Cappuccino
$2.93 ฿95.7
$5.41 £4.03
-45.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ฿22.42
$2.26 £1.68
-69.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿12.00
$1.57 £1.17
-76.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.41 ฿78.7
$6.91 £5.15
-65.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 ฿122
$6.59 £4.91
-43.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Lincoln
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.23 ฿73.0
$1.48 £1.10
50.68%
White Bread (500g)
$1.83 ฿59.9
$1.47 £1.10
24.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.17 ฿70.9
$1.32 £0.98
64.39%
Eggs
$2.21 ฿72.4
$3.40 £2.53
-35.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.74 ฿645
$9.15 £6.82
115.74%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.63 ฿119
$9.08 £6.76
-60.02%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.53 ฿442
$11.87 £8.84
13.98%
Apples (1kg)
$3.28 ฿107
$3.86 £2.87
-15.03%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ฿52.7
$1.24 £0.92
29.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 ฿78.7
$2.85 £2.12
-15.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿68.1
$3.07 £2.29
-32.25%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿49.97
$0.98 £0.73
56.12%
Onion (1kg)
$1.48 ฿48.41
$1.64 £1.22
-9.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 ฿32.32
$1.24 £0.92
-20.16%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.68
$1.44 £1.07
-64.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41 ฿144
$18.84 £14.03
-76.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.38 ฿634
$10.21 £7.60
89.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿58.1
$3.87 £2.88
-54.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 ฿88.7
$3.16 £2.36
-14.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Lincoln
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.37 ฿44.83
$4.42 £3.29
-69.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.39 ฿372
$87.8 £65.4
-87.03%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿98.7
$4.13 £3.08
-26.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.99 ฿32.51
$1.53 £1.14
-35.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.10 ฿461
$47.13 £35.10
-70.08%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 ฿44.55
$1.98 £1.47
-31.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K ฿921.9K
$34.1K £25.4K
-17.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K ฿1.1M
$40.8K £30.4K
-19.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Lincoln
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ฿3,978
$313 £233
-61.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 ฿444
$15.51 £11.55
-12.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31 ฿599
$46.54 £34.67
-60.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Lincoln
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.2 ฿1,969
$43.31 £32.26
39.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14 ฿560
$18.75 £13.96
-8.59%
Cinema Ticket
$8.69 ฿284
$16.05 £11.96
-45.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Lincoln
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$693 ฿22.7K
$1,848 £1,377
-62.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.7K ฿512.8K
$20.8K £15.5K
-24.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Lincoln
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5 ฿1,946
$108 £80.5
-44.90%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77 ฿1,137
$43.51 £32.41
-20.09%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,746
$78.6 £58.5
45.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3 ฿2,723
$102 £75.7
-18.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Lincoln
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$613 ฿20.0K
$1,105 £823
-44.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$437 ฿14.3K
$868 £646
-49.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,094 ฿68.5K
$1,948 £1,451
7.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,509 ฿49.3K
$1,466 £1,092
2.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,749 ฿122.6K
$2,594 £1,932
44.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,616 ฿85.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Lincoln
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$508 ฿16.6K
$3,247 £2,419
-84.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
5.56
-4.14%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Lincoln: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $613 in Phuket and $1,105 in Lincoln. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lincoln pays 539% 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: $45.00 in Phuket vs $76.0 in Lincoln. Groceries flip the comparison at $293 vs $285, with Lincoln cheaper for home cooking.

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: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Phuket and Lincoln?
Phuket and Lincoln differ by about 81% in total monthly costs ($1,265 vs $2,288 including rent). Phuket is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Lincoln earns 539% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Phuket and Lincoln?
Rent for a central apartment: $613 in Phuket versus $1,105 in Lincoln. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket – a meal for two runs $45.00 versus $76.0 in Lincoln. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Phuket or Lincoln?
All in, you'll spend $1,265 per month in Phuket versus $2,288 in Lincoln – a 81% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,265 in Phuket versus $2,288 in Lincoln, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Lincoln. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Lincoln?
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.
Is Phuket or Lincoln safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Lincoln are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Phuket or Lincoln?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 81% less than in Lincoln. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Phuket vs other spots: cost of living compared

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