Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and North Charleston, SC Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and North Charleston, SC

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,261 per month in Phuket vs $2,684 in North Charleston, SC, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,276 per month in Phuket vs $3,818 in North Charleston, SC, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,291 per month in Phuket vs $4,953 in North Charleston, SC, rent included.

Phuket is about 53% cheaper than North Charleston, SC, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Phuket sits 6% below the global median, while North Charleston, SC is 101% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.53 ฿153

$17.87 $17.87

-74.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.36 ฿1,565

$85.6 $85.6

-45.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.65 ฿292

$9.96 $9.96

-13.15%

Cappuccino

$3.09 ฿104

$6.57 $6.57

-52.97%

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

$0.68 ฿22.89

$2.57 $2.57

-73.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿12.44

$2.33 $2.33

-84.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.42 ฿81.6

$6.01 $6.01

-59.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.81 ฿129

$8.15 $8.15

-53.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.18 ฿73.5

$0.93 $0.93

134.41%

White Bread (500g)

$1.82 ฿61.3

$4.04 $4.04

-54.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.18 ฿73.5

$3.20 $3.20

-31.87%

Eggs

$2.24 ฿75.4

$3.73 $3.73

-39.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.93 ฿673

$13.81 $13.81

44.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.64 ฿123

$12.69 $12.69

-71.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.56 ฿458

$14.83 $14.83

-8.56%

Apples (1kg)

$3.29 ฿111

$6.77 $6.77

-51.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.9

$1.65 $1.65

2.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.33 ฿78.8

$4.67 $4.67

-50.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 ฿68.4

$5.73 $5.73

-64.57%

Potato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$2.76 $2.76

-42.03%

Onion (1kg)

$1.49 ฿50.5

$2.90 $2.90

-48.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 ฿34.17

$2.00 $2.00

-49.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.09

$2.30 $2.30

-79.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.45 ฿150

$7.70 $7.70

-42.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.63 ฿629

$15.37 $15.37

21.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿60.3

$1.83 $1.83

-2.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.80 ฿94.4

$2.68 $2.68

4.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.42 ฿47.90

$3.41 $3.41

-58.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.33 ฿382

$29.98 $29.98

-62.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 ฿104

$3.07 $3.07

0.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿35.19

$1.49 $1.49

-30.20%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.63 ฿460

$20.38 $20.38

-33.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 ฿44.23

$0.84 $0.84

55.95%

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

$27.3K ฿920.7K

$29.1K $29.1K

-6.31%

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

$33.2K ฿1.1M

$25.4K $25.4K

30.63%

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

$123 ฿4,157

$208 $208

-40.74%

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

$13.81 ฿466

$64.1 $64.1

-78.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.52 ฿625

$73.3 $73.3

-74.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.4 ฿2,037

$43.74 $43.74

38.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.80 ฿567

Cinema Ticket

$8.89 ฿300

$11.93 $11.93

-25.48%

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

$687 ฿23.2K

$754 $754

-8.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.6K ฿524.8K

$14.3K $14.3K

8.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.6 ฿1,945

$60.4 $60.4

-4.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.66 ฿1,170

$43.03 $43.03

-19.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,879

$92.0 $92.0

24.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.9 ฿2,865

$139 $139

-39.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$618 ฿20.8K

$1,932 $1,932

-68.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$443 ฿15.0K

$1,278 $1,278

-65.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,047 ฿69.1K

$1,932 $1,932

5.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,506 ฿50.8K

$1,953 $1,953

-22.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,568 ฿120.4K

$2,836 $2,836

25.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,511 ฿84.7K

$2,847 $2,847

-11.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$503 ฿17.0K

$4,302 $4,302

-88.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

6.49

-17.87%

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

Last update for Phuket: July 20, 2026

Last update for North Charleston, SC: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $618 in Phuket versus $1,932 in North Charleston, SC. 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 756% higher in North Charleston, SC, 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 $86.0 in North Charleston, SC. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $413 – 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 North Charleston, SC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

North Charleston, SC costs about 113% more than Phuket, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,891 per month in Phuket and $4,026 in North Charleston, SC. 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.

Groceries cost about 42% more in North Charleston, SC, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Phuket and $86.0 in North Charleston, SC. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,261, than in North Charleston, SC at $2,684. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in North Charleston, SC it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,261 versus $2,684 in North Charleston, SC. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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, North Charleston, SC makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.