Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and New Bern, NC Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and New Bern, NC

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $1,993 in New Bern, NC, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,255 per month in Phuket vs $3,323 in New Bern, NC, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,279 per month in Phuket vs $4,652 in New Bern, NC, rent included.

Phuket is about 38% cheaper than New Bern, NC, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Phuket sits 8% below the global median, while New Bern, NC is 49% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.63 ฿151

$16.57 $16.57

-72.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.84 ฿1,532

$94.6 $94.6

-50.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.84 ฿289

$11.65 $11.65

-24.12%

Cappuccino

$3.00 ฿98.0

$4.56 $4.56

-34.21%

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

$0.74 ฿24.25

$2.69 $2.69

-72.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.95

$2.22 $2.22

-83.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 ฿79.8

$4.56 $4.56

-46.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 ฿118

$7.95 $7.95

-54.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ฿73.9

$0.97 $0.97

132.99%

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 ฿60.1

$3.32 $3.32

-44.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.24 ฿73.4

$4.57 $4.57

-50.98%

Eggs

$2.32 ฿75.7

$3.43 $3.43

-32.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.67 ฿643

$13.72 $13.72

43.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.65 ฿119

$9.00 $9.00

-59.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.10 ฿428

$15.23 $15.23

-13.99%

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 ฿111

$5.19 $5.19

-34.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.7

$1.22 $1.22

34.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿79.0

$3.34 $3.34

-27.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 ฿66.4

$5.33 $5.33

-61.91%

Potato (1kg)

$1.56 ฿50.9

$2.30 $2.30

-32.17%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 ฿48.94

$2.81 $2.81

-46.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 ฿33.50

$1.90 $1.90

-46.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.00

$2.25 $2.25

-78.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.45 ฿145

$10.18 $10.18

-56.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.88 ฿617

$12.62 $12.62

49.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

$2.04 $2.04

-12.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$1.91 $1.91

43.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.40 ฿45.81

$2.03 $2.03

-31.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.48 ฿376

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.12 ฿102

$3.43 $3.43

-9.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.00 ฿32.67

$2.26 $2.26

-55.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.09 ฿461

$32.29 $32.29

-56.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 ฿44.19

$0.75 $0.75

80.00%

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

$27.2K ฿888.9K

$19.6K $19.6K

38.68%

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

$32.9K ฿1.1M

$21.3K $21.3K

54.51%

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

$125 ฿4,087

$145 $145

-13.56%

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

$13.57 ฿444

$63.3 $63.3

-78.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.52 ฿606

$68.2 $68.2

-72.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.5 ฿2,010

$56.0 $56.0

9.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.84 ฿551

Cinema Ticket

$9.19 ฿300

$10.09 $10.09

-8.92%

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

$698 ฿22.8K

$1,279 $1,279

-45.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.6K ฿509.9K

$23.9K $23.9K

-34.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.8 ฿1,889

$34.25 $34.25

68.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.24 ฿1,152

$25.49 $25.49

38.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 ฿3,699

$68.2 $68.2

65.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.4 ฿2,825

$96.4 $96.4

-10.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$616 ฿20.1K

$1,122 $1,122

-45.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$446 ฿14.6K

$884 $884

-49.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,048 ฿67.0K

$2,474 $2,474

-17.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,492 ฿48.8K

$2,134 $2,134

-30.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,779 ฿123.6K

$2,068 $2,068

82.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,649 ฿86.6K

$2,046 $2,046

29.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$524 ฿17.1K

$3,261 $3,261

-83.94%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

6.36

-16.19%

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

Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026

Last update for New Bern, NC: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $616 in Phuket versus $1,122 in New Bern, NC. 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 523% higher in New Bern, NC, 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 $47.00 in Phuket versus $95.0 in New Bern, NC. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $366 – 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 New Bern, NC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – New Bern, NC is pricier by about 62%, 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 $2,990 in New Bern, NC. 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 $95.0 in New Bern, NC. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 25% more in New Bern, NC, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,232, than in New Bern, NC at $1,993. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in New Bern, NC 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, New Bern, NC makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.