Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Monticello, AR Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Monticello, AR

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $2,460 in Monticello, AR, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,255 per month in Phuket vs $3,532 in Monticello, AR, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,279 per month in Phuket vs $4,605 in Monticello, AR, rent included.

Phuket is about 50% cheaper than Monticello, AR, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Phuket sits 8% below the global median, while Monticello, AR is 84% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.63 ฿151

$19.27 $19.27

-75.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.84 ฿1,532

$75.9 $75.9

-38.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.84 ฿289

$9.85 $9.85

-10.25%

Cappuccino

$3.00 ฿98.0

$5.33 $5.33

-43.71%

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

$0.74 ฿24.25

$2.55 $2.55

-70.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.95

$1.99 $1.99

-81.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 ฿79.8

$5.93 $5.93

-58.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 ฿118

$7.84 $7.84

-53.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ฿73.9

$0.92 $0.92

145.65%

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 ฿60.1

$1.15 $1.15

60.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.24 ฿73.4

$2.06 $2.06

8.74%

Eggs

$2.32 ฿75.7

$4.18 $4.18

-44.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.67 ฿643

$8.61 $8.61

128.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.65 ฿119

$6.52 $6.52

-44.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.10 ฿428

$8.83 $8.83

48.36%

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 ฿111

$3.33 $3.33

1.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.7

$1.31 $1.31

25.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿79.0

$2.78 $2.78

-13.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 ฿66.4

$2.20 $2.20

-7.73%

Potato (1kg)

$1.56 ฿50.9

$3.22 $3.22

-51.55%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 ฿48.94

$2.32 $2.32

-35.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 ฿33.50

$1.84 $1.84

-44.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.00

$2.36 $2.36

-79.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.45 ฿145

$7.78 $7.78

-42.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.88 ฿617

$14.51 $14.51

30.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

$1.77 $1.77

0.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$1.83 $1.83

50.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.40 ฿45.81

$1.96 $1.96

-28.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.48 ฿376

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.12 ฿102

$1.96 $1.96

59.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.00 ฿32.67

$1.36 $1.36

-26.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.09 ฿461

$19.67 $19.67

-28.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 ฿44.19

$0.78 $0.78

73.08%

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

$27.2K ฿888.9K

$33.5K $33.5K

-18.89%

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

$32.9K ฿1.1M

$27.5K $27.5K

19.82%

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

$125 ฿4,087

$217 $217

-42.53%

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

$13.57 ฿444

$40.30 $40.30

-66.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.52 ฿606

$44.66 $44.66

-58.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.5 ฿2,010

$43.31 $43.31

41.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.84 ฿551

Cinema Ticket

$9.19 ฿300

$11.10 $11.10

-17.21%

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

$698 ฿22.8K

$1,217 $1,217

-42.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.6K ฿509.9K

$27.7K $27.7K

-43.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.8 ฿1,889

$24.15 $24.15

139.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.24 ฿1,152

$32.19 $32.19

9.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 ฿3,699

$70.2 $70.2

61.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.4 ฿2,825

$137 $137

-36.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$616 ฿20.1K

$1,577 $1,577

-60.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$446 ฿14.6K

$1,354 $1,354

-67.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,048 ฿67.0K

$2,644 $2,644

-22.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,492 ฿48.8K

$2,261 $2,261

-34.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,779 ฿123.6K

$2,704 $2,704

39.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,649 ฿86.6K

$2,323 $2,323

14.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$524 ฿17.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

6.53

-18.38%

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

Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026

Last update for Monticello, AR: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $616 in Phuket versus $1,577 in Monticello, AR. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket versus $76.0 in Monticello, AR. Groceries tell a different story – $292 in Phuket vs $269 in Monticello, AR – so Monticello, AR wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Monticello, AR: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Monticello, AR is pricier by about 100%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $3,690 in Monticello, AR. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket and $76.0 in Monticello, AR. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 9% cheaper in Monticello, AR – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,232, than in Monticello, AR at $2,460. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Monticello, AR it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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