Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Nong Khai Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Nong Khai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $760 in Nong Khai, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,297 per month in Phuket vs $1,400 in Nong Khai, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,329 per month in Phuket vs $2,040 in Nong Khai, rent included.

Phuket costs about 67% more than Nong Khai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Nong Khai are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Nong Khai 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.70 ฿153

$3.12 ฿102

50.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.37 ฿1,482

$26.85 ฿877

68.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.43 ฿275

$6.37 ฿208

32.34%

Cappuccino

$2.93 ฿95.6

$1.57 ฿51.2

86.62%

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

$0.69 ฿22.40

$0.67 ฿21.82

2.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.99

$0.35 ฿11.31

5.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$2.41 ฿78.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿122

$3.74 ฿122

-0.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 ฿72.9

$1.70 ฿55.6

31.18%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 ฿59.8

$1.33 ฿43.47

37.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ฿70.8

$1.27 ฿41.33

70.87%

Eggs

$2.21 ฿72.3

$2.20 ฿71.7

0.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.74 ฿645

$18.14 ฿592

8.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿119

$3.06 ฿100

18.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.53 ฿442

$10.74 ฿351

25.98%

Apples (1kg)

$3.28 ฿107

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ฿52.6

$1.22 ฿39.72

31.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$1.88 ฿61.5

28.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.1

$1.54 ฿50.3

35.06%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.93

$1.49 ฿48.51

2.68%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.36

$1.26 ฿41.00

17.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ฿32.29

$0.97 ฿31.75

2.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.67

$0.51 ฿16.69

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 ฿144

$4.32 ฿141

2.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.38 ฿633

$14.14 ฿462

37.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

$1.72 ฿56.1

3.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ฿88.6

$2.78 ฿90.7

-2.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.37 ฿44.79

$0.88 ฿28.71

55.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.39 ฿372

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿98.6

$1.10 ฿36.00

174.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 ฿32.48

$1.15 ฿37.53

-13.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.10 ฿461

$6.27 ฿205

124.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 ฿44.51

$1.30 ฿42.38

4.62%

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

$28.2K ฿921.1K

$27.4K ฿895.6K

2.85%

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

$32.9K ฿1.1M

$27.5K ฿899.5K

19.47%

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

$122 ฿3,975

$76.0 ฿2,483

60.07%

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

$13.57 ฿443

$13.95 ฿456

-2.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.31 ฿598

$18.29 ฿597

0.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.2 ฿1,967

$49.53 ฿1,618

21.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 ฿560

$11.96 ฿391

43.31%

Cinema Ticket

$8.69 ฿284

$6.93 ฿226

25.40%

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

$693 ฿22.6K

$297 ฿9,697

133.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K ฿512.3K

$9,614 ฿314.0K

63.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,944

$33.40 ฿1,091

78.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.77 ฿1,136

$34.19 ฿1,117

1.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,743

$97.7 ฿3,190

17.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.3 ฿2,720

$71.1 ฿2,322

17.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$613 ฿20.0K

$415 ฿13.6K

47.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$437 ฿14.3K

$124 ฿4,056

251.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,094 ฿68.4K

$805 ฿26.3K

160.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,509 ฿49.3K

$657 ฿21.4K

129.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,749 ฿122.5K

$1,875 ฿61.2K

99.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,616 ฿85.4K

$1,438 ฿47.0K

81.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.6K

$463 ฿15.1K

9.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

5.45

-2.20%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Nong Khai: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $613 in Phuket versus $415 in Nong Khai. 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 10% higher in Phuket, 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 $45.00 in Phuket versus $27.00 in Nong Khai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $244 – making Nong Khai 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 Nong Khai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 67%, 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 $1,898 per month in Phuket and $1,140 in Nong Khai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,265 in Phuket and $760 in Nong Khai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $693 per month in Phuket and $297 in Nong Khai. 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 Nong Khai, where all-in costs run around $760, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Nong Khai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Nong Khai – 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 Nong Khai. 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.