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 $1,250 per month in Phuket vs $736 in Nong Khai, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,284 per month in Phuket vs $1,402 in Nong Khai, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,317 per month in Phuket vs $2,068 in Nong Khai, rent included.

Phuket costs about 70% 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 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.55 ฿153

$3.14 ฿106

44.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.18 ฿1,554

$27.42 ฿923

68.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.84 ฿298

$6.45 ฿217

37.05%

Cappuccino

$3.06 ฿103

$1.55 ฿52.2

97.42%

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

$0.73 ฿24.42

$0.67 ฿22.39

8.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ฿13.40

$0.35 ฿11.72

14.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 ฿81.8

$2.49 ฿83.9

-2.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.78 ฿127

$3.65 ฿123

3.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ฿76.0

$1.75 ฿59.1

29.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.81 ฿60.9

$1.34 ฿45.21

35.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 ฿75.8

$1.28 ฿43.00

75.78%

Eggs

$2.25 ฿75.6

$2.22 ฿74.8

1.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.51 ฿656

$18.59 ฿626

4.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.65 ฿123

$3.09 ฿104

18.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.05 ฿439

$10.97 ฿369

18.96%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ฿109

$3.10 ฿104

4.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.4

$1.21 ฿40.79

33.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.38 ฿80.2

$1.89 ฿63.6

25.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 ฿68.2

$1.52 ฿51.2

33.55%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿51.6

$1.46 ฿49.17

4.79%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.5

$1.22 ฿40.93

22.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ฿32.93

$1.02 ฿34.35

-3.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.40

$0.52 ฿17.62

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.44 ฿149

$4.39 ฿148

1.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.32 ฿616

$14.44 ฿486

26.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.7

$1.72 ฿57.8

8.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 ฿90.2

$2.77 ฿93.2

-3.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.41 ฿47.49

$0.94 ฿31.51

50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.70 ฿394

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.11 ฿105

$1.11 ฿37.26

180.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿35.08

$1.14 ฿38.32

-8.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.11 ฿475

$6.13 ฿206

130.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 ฿44.13

$1.28 ฿42.94

2.34%

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

$27.8K ฿936.0K

$27.7K ฿933.6K

0.26%

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

$33.2K ฿1.1M

$27.6K ฿929.5K

20.25%

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

$122 ฿4,120

$77.5 ฿2,606

58.09%

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

$13.59 ฿457

$13.43 ฿452

1.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.70 ฿629

$18.65 ฿628

0.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.5 ฿2,035

$48.60 ฿1,635

24.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.98 ฿572

$11.96 ฿403

41.97%

Cinema Ticket

$9.07 ฿305

$6.90 ฿232

31.45%

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

$706 ฿23.8K

$304 ฿10.2K

132.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K ฿531.8K

$9,773 ฿328.9K

61.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 ฿1,970

$34.18 ฿1,150

71.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.36 ฿1,190

$34.16 ฿1,149

3.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,885

$101 ฿3,384

14.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.7 ฿2,818

$71.3 ฿2,400

17.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$626 ฿21.1K

$419 ฿14.1K

49.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$445 ฿15.0K

$125 ฿4,202

256.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,040 ฿68.7K

$798 ฿26.9K

155.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,492 ฿50.2K

$663 ฿22.3K

125.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,483 ฿117.2K

$1,662 ฿55.9K

109.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,577 ฿86.7K

$1,654 ฿55.6K

55.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$500 ฿16.8K

$443 ฿14.9K

12.78%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Nong Khai: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $626 in Phuket versus $419 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 13% 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 $46.00 in Phuket versus $27.00 in Nong Khai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $289 vs $247 – 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 70%, 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 $1,104 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 $1,250 in Phuket and $736 in Nong Khai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $706 per month in Phuket and $304 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 $736, than in Phuket at $1,250. 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.