Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Merrill, WI Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Merrill, WI

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,261 per month in Phuket vs $2,636 in Merrill, WI, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,276 per month in Phuket vs $3,933 in Merrill, WI, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,291 per month in Phuket vs $5,229 in Merrill, WI, rent included.

Phuket is about 52% cheaper than Merrill, WI, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Phuket sits 6% below the global median, while Merrill, WI is 97% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Merrill, WI
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.53 ฿153
$18.63 $18.63
-75.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.36 ฿1,565
$75.4 $75.4
-38.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.65 ฿292
$11.02 $11.02
-21.51%
Cappuccino
$3.09 ฿104
$5.06 $5.06
-38.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 ฿22.89
$2.59 $2.59
-73.75%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿12.44
$1.96 $1.96
-81.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.42 ฿81.6
$6.08 $6.08
-60.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.81 ฿129
$6.83 $6.83
-44.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Merrill, WI
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 ฿73.5
$1.01 $1.01
115.84%
White Bread (500g)
$1.82 ฿61.3
$3.61 $3.61
-49.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.18 ฿73.5
$4.24 $4.24
-48.58%
Eggs
$2.24 ฿75.4
$4.23 $4.23
-47.04%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.93 ฿673
$12.36 $12.36
61.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.64 ฿123
$11.36 $11.36
-67.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.56 ฿458
$15.35 $15.35
-11.66%
Apples (1kg)
$3.29 ฿111
$4.83 $4.83
-31.88%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 ฿56.9
$1.56 $1.56
8.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.33 ฿78.8
$4.13 $4.13
-43.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 ฿68.4
$4.67 $4.67
-56.53%
Potato (1kg)
$1.60 ฿54.0
$2.81 $2.81
-43.06%
Onion (1kg)
$1.49 ฿50.5
$2.88 $2.88
-48.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 ฿34.17
$2.03 $2.03
-50.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48 ฿16.09
$2.14 $2.14
-77.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45 ฿150
$9.72 $9.72
-54.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.63 ฿629
$14.79 $14.79
25.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿60.3
$1.76 $1.76
1.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80 ฿94.4
$3.31 $3.31
-15.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Merrill, WI
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.42 ฿47.90
$2.05 $2.05
-30.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.33 ฿382
$109 $109
-89.63%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.09 ฿104
$3.58 $3.58
-13.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.04 ฿35.19
$1.66 $1.66
-37.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.63 ฿460
$29.57 $29.57
-53.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 ฿44.23
$0.85 $0.85
54.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.3K ฿920.7K
$29.8K $29.8K
-8.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K ฿1.1M
$25.6K $25.6K
29.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Merrill, WI
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$123 ฿4,157
$191 $191
-35.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.81 ฿466
$53.7 $53.7
-74.29%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52 ฿625
$68.3 $68.3
-72.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Merrill, WI
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.4 ฿2,037
$43.73 $43.73
38.03%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80 ฿567
$9.13 $9.13
84.01%
Cinema Ticket
$8.89 ฿300
$13.31 $13.31
-33.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Merrill, WI
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$687 ฿23.2K
$1,287 $1,287
-46.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.6K ฿524.8K
$23.8K $23.8K
-34.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Merrill, WI
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.6 ฿1,945
$51.2 $51.2
12.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.66 ฿1,170
$40.56 $40.56
-14.55%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,879
$88.2 $88.2
30.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.9 ฿2,865
$114 $114
-25.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Merrill, WI
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$618 ฿20.8K
$1,602 $1,602
-61.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$443 ฿15.0K
$1,371 $1,371
-67.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,047 ฿69.1K
$2,599 $2,599
-21.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,506 ฿50.8K
$2,197 $2,197
-31.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,568 ฿120.4K
$2,742 $2,742
30.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,511 ฿84.7K
$2,348 $2,348
6.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Merrill, WI
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$503 ฿17.0K
$7,197 $7,197
-93.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
6.51
-18.13%

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

Last update for Phuket: July 20, 2026

Last update for Merrill, WI: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $618 in Phuket versus $1,602 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.

Salaries run about 1332% higher in Merrill, WI, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Phuket versus $75.0 in Merrill, WI. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $386 – 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 – Merrill, WI is pricier by about 109%, 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 $1,891 per month in Phuket and $3,954 in Merrill, WI. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – 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 in Merrill, WI?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Phuket and $75.0 in Merrill, WI. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket and in Merrill, WI?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,261 in Phuket and $2,636 in Merrill, WI. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Merrill, WI?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,261, than in Merrill, WI at $2,636. 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 – 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 – 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.

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