🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,804 in Orange, NSW.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,054 in Phuket versus $3,023 in Orange, NSW.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,876 in Phuket versus $4,241 in Orange, NSW.
🌍Living in Phuket costs roughly 32% less than in Orange, NSW, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 10% below, Orange, NSW is 32% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Orange, NSW
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.41฿147
$14.85A$20.94
-70.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26฿1,077
$78.2A$110
-58.76%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.93฿298
$10.72A$15.12
-16.70%
Cappuccino
$2.90฿96.6
$3.51A$4.95
-17.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88฿29.38
$3.29A$4.64
-73.25%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.06
$2.24A$3.16
-78.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.35฿78.5
$6.94A$9.79
-66.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿124
$6.97A$9.83
-46.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Orange, NSW
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.87฿62.3
$1.17A$1.65
59.83%
White Bread(500g)
$1.47฿48.94
$3.02A$4.26
-51.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.55฿51.8
$2.19A$3.09
-29.22%
Eggs
$2.10฿70.1
$4.09A$5.76
-48.66%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.59฿654
$8.54A$12.05
129.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.42฿114
$8.80A$12.41
-61.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.38฿380
$14.27A$20.12
-20.25%
Apples(1kg)
$2.98฿99.6
$3.11A$4.38
-4.18%
Banana(1kg)
$1.68฿56.2
$2.52A$3.55
-33.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.21฿73.7
$3.43A$4.84
-35.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.16฿72.1
$4.02A$5.67
-46.27%
Potato(1kg)
$1.52฿50.9
$1.80A$2.54
-15.56%
Onion(1kg)
$1.34฿44.67
$2.62A$3.70
-48.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.13฿37.67
$2.05A$2.89
-44.88%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55฿18.24
$1.88A$2.65
-70.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26฿142
$35.46A$50.0
-87.99%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.09฿637
$11.22A$15.82
70.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿59.4
$2.88A$4.06
-38.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78฿92.9
$4.92A$6.93
-43.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Orange, NSW
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.23฿74.4
$3.07A$4.34
-27.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.74฿759
$85.6A$121
-73.44%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.03฿101
$2.50A$3.52
21.20%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02฿34.15
$1.60A$2.25
-36.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.89฿130
$44.01A$62.1
-91.16%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49฿49.77
$1.33A$1.88
12.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K฿887.3K
$30.2KA$42.6K
-12.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K฿902.2K
$42.4KA$59.8K
-36.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Orange, NSW
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102฿3,420
$167A$235
-38.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.33฿378
$18.01A$25.40
-37.09%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.40฿581
$51.8A$73.0
-66.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Orange, NSW
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.1฿1,738
$55.9A$78.8
-6.82%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07฿370
$18.64A$26.29
-40.61%
Cinema Ticket
$7.69฿257
$13.79A$19.45
-44.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Orange, NSW
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$561฿18.7K
$2,199A$3,102
-74.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.5K฿384.1K
$19.9KA$28.1K
-42.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Orange, NSW
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.0฿2,104
$55.8A$78.6
13.06%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.52฿986
$62.4A$88.0
-52.69%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.0฿3,272
$146A$206
-32.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5฿2,954
$111A$156
-20.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Orange, NSW
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$738฿24.6K
$845A$1,192
-12.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$482฿16.1K
$612A$863
-21.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,107฿70.3K
$1,451A$2,046
45.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,226฿40.9K
$1,507A$2,125
-18.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,617฿120.7K
$6,495A$9,160
-44.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,603฿86.9K
$4,528A$6,386
-42.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Orange, NSW
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494฿16.5K
$4,942A$6,970
-90.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
5.23
6.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026
Last update for Orange, NSW: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $738 in Phuket and $845 in Orange, NSW. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Orange, NSW pays 901% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $32.00 in Phuket vs $78.0 in Orange, NSW for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $274 vs $332 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 Orange, NSW: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Phuket and in Orange, NSW?
Phuket and Orange, NSW differ by about 46% in total monthly costs ($1,232 vs $1,804 including rent). Phuket is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 901% lower in Orange, NSW. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Phuket and in Orange, NSW?
Rent for a central apartment: $738 in Phuket versus $845 in Orange, NSW. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Phuket and Orange, NSW?
Childcare runs $561 in Phuket versus $2,199 in Orange, NSW. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 21% higher in Orange, NSW. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,804 in Orange, NSW, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Orange, NSW. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Orange, NSW?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Phuket or Orange, NSW safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Orange, NSW are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Phuket or Orange, NSW?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 46% less than in Orange, NSW. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.