ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $2,552 in Mountain Home, ID.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $3,702 in Mountain Home, ID.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $4,853 in Mountain Home, ID.
ðLiving in Phuket costs roughly 52% less than in Mountain Home, ID, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðThe two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 8% below, Mountain Home, ID is 91% above.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Mountain Home, ID
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63āļŋ151
$18.68$18.68
-75.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84āļŋ1,532
$74.4$74.4
-37.07%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84āļŋ289
$10.89$10.89
-18.82%
Cappuccino
$3.00āļŋ98.0
$5.11$5.11
-41.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74āļŋ24.25
$2.56$2.56
-71.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37āļŋ11.95
$1.96$1.96
-81.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44āļŋ79.8
$6.01$6.01
-59.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61āļŋ118
$6.81$6.81
-46.99%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Mountain Home, ID
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26āļŋ73.9
$1.04$1.04
117.31%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84āļŋ60.1
$3.60$3.60
-48.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24āļŋ73.4
$4.28$4.28
-47.66%
Eggs
$2.32āļŋ75.7
$4.18$4.18
-44.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67āļŋ643
$12.08$12.08
62.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65āļŋ119
$11.38$11.38
-67.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10āļŋ428
$15.40$15.40
-14.94%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39āļŋ111
$4.93$4.93
-31.24%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64āļŋ53.7
$1.61$1.61
1.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41āļŋ79.0
$4.30$4.30
-43.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03āļŋ66.4
$4.84$4.84
-58.06%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56āļŋ50.9
$2.90$2.90
-46.21%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50āļŋ48.94
$2.90$2.90
-48.28%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02āļŋ33.50
$2.10$2.10
-51.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49āļŋ16.00
$2.21$2.21
-77.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45āļŋ145
$9.74$9.74
-54.31%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88āļŋ617
$15.22$15.22
24.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78āļŋ58.1
$1.79$1.79
-0.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75āļŋ90.1
$3.28$3.28
-16.16%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Mountain Home, ID
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40āļŋ45.81
$1.98$1.98
-29.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48āļŋ376
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12āļŋ102
$3.56$3.56
-12.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00āļŋ32.67
$1.63$1.63
-38.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09āļŋ461
$29.14$29.14
-51.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35āļŋ44.19
$0.91$0.91
48.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2Kāļŋ888.9K
$29.1K$29.1K
-6.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
$25.8K$25.8K
27.65%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Mountain Home, ID
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125āļŋ4,087
$189$189
-34.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57āļŋ444
$53.5$53.5
-74.64%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52āļŋ606
$68.5$68.5
-72.95%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Mountain Home, ID
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5āļŋ2,010
$42.77$42.77
43.75%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84āļŋ551
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.19āļŋ300
$13.67$13.67
-32.77%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Mountain Home, ID
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698āļŋ22.8K
$1,293$1,293
-46.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6Kāļŋ509.9K
$23.0K$23.0K
-32.34%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Mountain Home, ID
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8āļŋ1,889
$51.5$51.5
12.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24āļŋ1,152
$40.39$40.39
-12.75%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,699
$85.8$85.8
31.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4āļŋ2,825
$113$113
-23.25%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Mountain Home, ID
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616āļŋ20.1K
$1,626$1,626
-62.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446āļŋ14.6K
$1,356$1,356
-67.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048āļŋ67.0K
$2,601$2,601
-21.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492āļŋ48.8K
$2,201$2,201
-32.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779āļŋ123.6K
$2,608$2,608
44.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649āļŋ86.6K
$2,411$2,411
9.86%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Mountain Home, ID
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524āļŋ17.1K
-
-
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 27, 2026
Last update for Mountain Home, ID: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $616 in Phuket and $1,626 in Mountain Home, ID. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ðDining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $74.0 in Mountain Home, ID for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $391 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 Mountain Home, ID: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mountain Home, ID cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 107% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,847 in Phuket and $3,827 in Mountain Home, ID to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Mountain Home, ID?
Rent for a central apartment: $616 in Phuket versus $1,626 in Mountain Home, ID. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and Mountain Home, ID?
Supermarket bills run roughly 34% higher in Mountain Home, ID. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket vs Mountain Home, ID?
All in, you'll spend $1,232 per month in Phuket versus $2,552 in Mountain Home, ID â a 107% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Mountain Home, ID?
At $1,232 in Phuket versus $2,552 in Mountain Home, ID, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Mountain Home, ID. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Mountain Home, ID more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Mountain Home, ID, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Mountain Home, ID?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Mountain Home, ID 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 â expenses run 107% less than in Mountain Home, ID. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.