ðA single person spends $1,270 per month in Phuket vs $2,687 in Merrill, WI, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $2,304 per month in Phuket vs $3,882 in Merrill, WI, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $3,339 per month in Phuket vs $5,077 in Merrill, WI, rent included.
ðPhuket is about 53% cheaper than Merrill, WI, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðPhuket sits 5% below the global median, while Merrill, WI is 100% above â they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Merrill, WI
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.66āļŋ150
$19.24$19.24
-75.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.44āļŋ1,496
$76.2$76.2
-39.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.68āļŋ280
$11.04$11.04
-21.38%
Cappuccino
$2.95āļŋ95.0
$5.12$5.12
-42.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70āļŋ22.52
$2.56$2.56
-72.66%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39āļŋ12.70
$1.96$1.96
-80.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.53āļŋ81.6
$6.17$6.17
-59.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78āļŋ122
$7.09$7.09
-46.69%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Merrill, WI
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.22āļŋ71.5
$1.03$1.03
115.53%
White Bread(500g)
$1.80āļŋ57.8
$3.43$3.43
-47.52%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.19āļŋ70.4
$4.24$4.24
-48.35%
Eggs
$2.31āļŋ74.5
$4.31$4.31
-46.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.34āļŋ623
$12.30$12.30
57.24%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.77āļŋ121
$11.67$11.67
-67.69%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.22āļŋ426
$15.62$15.62
-15.36%
Apples(1kg)
$3.33āļŋ107
$4.83$4.83
-31.06%
Banana(1kg)
$1.65āļŋ53.1
$1.61$1.61
2.48%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.29āļŋ73.7
$4.31$4.31
-46.87%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.99āļŋ64.1
$4.82$4.82
-58.71%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53āļŋ49.24
$2.88$2.88
-46.87%
Onion(1kg)
$1.51āļŋ48.77
$2.82$2.82
-46.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03āļŋ33.12
$2.01$2.01
-48.76%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51āļŋ16.57
$2.16$2.16
-76.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41āļŋ142
$9.87$9.87
-55.32%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.41āļŋ625
$15.19$15.19
27.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80āļŋ58.0
$1.84$1.84
-2.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68āļŋ86.4
$3.46$3.46
-22.54%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Merrill, WI
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.43āļŋ46.11
$2.06$2.06
-30.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.70āļŋ377
$111$111
-89.45%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.04āļŋ97.9
$3.47$3.47
-12.39%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04āļŋ33.37
$1.58$1.58
-34.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.68āļŋ441
$28.92$28.92
-52.70%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30āļŋ41.85
$0.83$0.83
56.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9Kāļŋ898.9K
$29.7K$29.7K
-5.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0Kāļŋ1.1M
$25.8K$25.8K
28.25%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Merrill, WI
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123āļŋ3,962
$184$184
-33.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.82āļŋ445
$52.9$52.9
-73.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.86āļŋ608
$68.1$68.1
-72.29%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Merrill, WI
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.2āļŋ1,970
$42.54$42.54
43.75%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.81āļŋ541
$8.80$8.80
91.02%
Cinema Ticket
$8.87āļŋ286
$13.27$13.27
-33.16%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Merrill, WI
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$696āļŋ22.4K
$1,275$1,275
-45.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.1Kāļŋ517.4K
$23.9K$23.9K
-32.77%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Merrill, WI
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3āļŋ1,910
$51.5$51.5
15.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.85āļŋ1,123
$39.81$39.81
-12.46%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,646
$86.4$86.4
31.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.1āļŋ2,740
$111$111
-23.60%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Merrill, WI
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$615āļŋ19.8K
$1,597$1,597
-61.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$448āļŋ14.4K
$1,373$1,373
-67.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,085āļŋ67.2K
$2,670$2,670
-21.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,496āļŋ48.2K
$2,181$2,181
-31.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,734āļŋ120.3K
$2,740$2,740
36.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,662āļŋ85.8K
$2,334$2,334
14.04%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Merrill, WI
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$534āļŋ17.2K
$7,093$7,093
-92.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
6.51
-18.13%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 20, 2026
Last update for Merrill, WI: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $615 in Phuket versus $1,597 in Merrill, WI. 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 1229% higher in Merrill, WI, 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 $46 in Phuket versus $76 in Merrill, WI. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $291 vs $391 â making Phuket 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 Merrill, WI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Merrill, WI cheaper than Phuket?
Yes â Merrill, WI is pricier by about 112%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,904 per month in Phuket and $4,030 in Merrill, WI. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or Merrill, WI?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Phuket and $76.0 in Merrill, WI. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafÃĐ pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket vs Merrill, WI?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,270 in Phuket and $2,687 in Merrill, WI. The difference isn't just one category â it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Merrill, WI?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,270, than in Merrill, WI at $2,687. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Merrill, WI it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Phuket or Merrill, WI more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Phuket â lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Merrill, WI?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Merrill, WI makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.