Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Montana Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Montana

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,250 per month in Phuket vs $830 in Montana, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,284 per month in Phuket vs $1,325 in Montana, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,317 per month in Phuket vs $1,820 in Montana, rent included.

Phuket costs about 51% more than Montana, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Montana are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Montana 38% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.55 ฿153

$10.82 BGN 18.00

-57.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.18 ฿1,553

$34.78 BGN 57.9

32.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.84 ฿297

$7.81 BGN 12.99

13.19%

Cappuccino

$3.06 ฿103

$1.48 BGN 2.46

106.76%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 ฿24.40

$1.40 BGN 2.33

-47.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ฿13.39

$0.90 BGN 1.49

-55.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 ฿81.8

$1.39 BGN 2.31

74.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.78 ฿127

$1.07 BGN 1.78

253.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ฿76.0

$1.74 BGN 2.89

29.89%

White Bread (500g)

$1.81 ฿60.9

$0.94 BGN 1.56

92.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 ฿75.8

$1.82 BGN 3.03

23.63%

Eggs

$2.25 ฿75.5

$2.71 BGN 4.51

-16.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.51 ฿656

$9.40 BGN 15.64

107.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.65 ฿123

$3.29 BGN 5.47

10.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.05 ฿439

$12.91 BGN 21.48

1.08%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ฿109

$1.26 BGN 2.09

156.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.4

$2.51 BGN 4.18

-35.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.38 ฿80.1

$1.92 BGN 3.19

23.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 ฿68.1

$2.00 BGN 3.33

1.50%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿51.6

$0.84 BGN 1.40

82.14%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.5

$0.79 BGN 1.31

89.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ฿32.91

$1.36 BGN 2.26

-27.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.39

$0.56 BGN 0.92

-7.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.44 ฿149

$3.60 BGN 5.99

23.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.32 ฿616

$5.77 BGN 9.60

217.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.7

$0.92 BGN 1.52

102.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 ฿90.1

$1.70 BGN 2.83

57.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.41 ฿47.46

$0.92 BGN 1.53

53.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.70 ฿393

$35.46 BGN 59.0

-67.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.11 ฿105

$0.67 BGN 1.12

364.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿35.06

$0.44 BGN 0.73

136.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.11 ฿474

$10.35 BGN 17.22

36.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 ฿44.10

$1.51 BGN 2.51

-13.25%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$27.8K ฿935.4K

$19.7K BGN 32.8K

40.93%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$33.2K ฿1.1M

$24.4K BGN 40.6K

36.17%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$122 ฿4,118

$99.2 BGN 165

23.43%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.59 ฿457

$17.07 BGN 28.40

-20.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.70 ฿629

$8.91 BGN 14.82

109.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.5 ฿2,034

$20.57 BGN 34.22

194.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.98 ฿571

$8.65 BGN 14.40

96.30%

Cinema Ticket

$9.07 ฿305

$5.56 BGN 9.25

63.13%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$706 ฿23.8K

$322 BGN 536

119.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K ฿531.5K

$5,484 BGN 9,123

188.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 ฿1,969

$54.0 BGN 89.8

8.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.36 ฿1,189

$29.94 BGN 49.81

18.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,883

$75.0 BGN 125

53.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.7 ฿2,816

$105 BGN 174

-19.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$626 ฿21.0K

$218 BGN 363

186.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$445 ฿15.0K

$159 BGN 265

179.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,040 ฿68.6K

$409 BGN 681

398.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,492 ฿50.2K

$304 BGN 506

390.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,483 ฿117.1K

$1,331 BGN 2,214

161.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,577 ฿86.7K

$1,109 BGN 1,845

132.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$500 ฿16.8K

$1,018 BGN 1,693

-50.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

3.2

66.56%

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

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Last update for Montana: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $626 in Phuket versus $218 in Montana. 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 104% higher in Montana, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Phuket versus $35.00 in Montana. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $289 vs $203 – making Montana 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 Montana: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 51%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,875 per month in Phuket and $1,245 in Montana. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Montana, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 203% less in Montana. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $706 per month in Phuket and $322 in Montana. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Montana, where all-in costs run around $830, than in Phuket at $1,250. In Montana it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Montana – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Montana. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.