🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,250 in Phuket versus $1,936 in Mandeville, LA.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,284 in Phuket versus $2,874 in Mandeville, LA.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,317 in Phuket versus $3,813 in Mandeville, LA.
🌍Living in Phuket costs roughly 35% less than in Mandeville, LA, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 6% below, Mandeville, LA is 45% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Mandeville, LA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.55฿153
$13.49$13.49
-66.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.18฿1,553
$54.2$54.2
-14.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84฿297
$12.09$12.09
-26.88%
Cappuccino
$3.06฿103
$4.96$4.96
-38.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73฿24.40
$2.08$2.08
-64.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40฿13.39
$1.77$1.77
-77.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.43฿81.8
$4.98$4.98
-51.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78฿127
$6.92$6.92
-45.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Mandeville, LA
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26฿76.0
$0.91$0.91
148.35%
White Bread(500g)
$1.81฿60.9
$3.25$3.25
-44.31%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.25฿75.8
$2.05$2.05
9.76%
Eggs
$2.25฿75.5
$1.83$1.83
22.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.51฿656
$10.76$10.76
81.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65฿123
$9.02$9.02
-59.53%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.05฿439
$14.02$14.02
-6.92%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23฿109
$3.38$3.38
-4.44%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62฿54.4
$1.36$1.36
19.12%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.38฿80.1
$2.94$2.94
-19.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03฿68.1
$4.03$4.03
-49.63%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿51.6
$1.61$1.61
-4.97%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50฿50.5
$1.86$1.86
-19.35%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98฿32.91
$1.72$1.72
-43.02%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿17.39
$2.23$2.23
-76.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.44฿149
$8.38$8.38
-47.02%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.32฿616
$15.30$15.30
19.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿62.7
$1.79$1.79
3.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68฿90.1
$1.95$1.95
37.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Mandeville, LA
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.41฿47.46
$2.02$2.02
-30.20%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.70฿393
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.11฿105
$2.57$2.57
21.01%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04฿35.06
$1.64$1.64
-36.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.11฿474
$25.54$25.54
-44.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31฿44.10
$0.67$0.67
95.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿935.4K
$34.8K$34.8K
-20.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K฿1.1M
$23.7K$23.7K
40.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Mandeville, LA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿4,118
$154$154
-20.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.59฿457
$40.46$40.46
-66.41%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.70฿629
$66.9$66.9
-72.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Mandeville, LA
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.5฿2,034
$28.10$28.10
115.27%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.98฿571
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.07฿305
$13.19$13.19
-31.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Mandeville, LA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$706฿23.8K
$523$523
35.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8K฿531.5K
$9,584$9,584
64.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Mandeville, LA
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6฿1,969
$38.66$38.66
51.45%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.36฿1,189
$30.12$30.12
17.40%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,883
$76.9$76.9
50.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.7฿2,816
$75.9$75.9
10.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Mandeville, LA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$626฿21.0K
$1,168$1,168
-46.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$445฿15.0K
$912$912
-51.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,040฿68.6K
$1,864$1,864
9.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492฿50.2K
$1,684$1,684
-11.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,483฿117.1K
$1,868$1,868
86.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,577฿86.7K
$1,651$1,651
56.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Mandeville, LA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$500฿16.8K
$4,406$4,406
-88.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
6.43
-17.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026
Last update for Mandeville, LA: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $626 in Phuket and $1,168 in Mandeville, LA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mandeville, LA pays 781% 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: $46.00 in Phuket vs $54.0 in Mandeville, LA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $289 vs $319 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 Mandeville, LA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mandeville, LA cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 55% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Mandeville, LA?
On paper, salaries run 781% lower in Mandeville, LA. 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 Mandeville, LA?
Rent for a central apartment: $626 in Phuket versus $1,168 in Mandeville, LA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and in Mandeville, LA?
Supermarket bills run roughly 10% higher in Mandeville, LA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket and in Mandeville, LA?
All in, you'll spend $1,250 per month in Phuket versus $1,936 in Mandeville, LA – a 55% 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 Mandeville, LA?
At $1,250 in Phuket versus $1,936 in Mandeville, LA, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Mandeville, LA. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Mandeville, LA more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Mandeville, LA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Mandeville, LA?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Mandeville, LA 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 55% less than in Mandeville, LA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.