Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Oxford

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,278 a month against $3,210 in Oxford, rent and utilities included – about $23,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Phuket, Thailand
Oxford, United Kingdom
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,278
/mo nomad
Oxford
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
$3,210
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Oxford

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Phuket and in Oxford actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,278 per month in Phuket vs $3,210 in Oxford, rent included.

  • Phuket $1,278
  • Oxford $3,210

A couple spends around $2,216 per month in Phuket vs $4,477 in Oxford, rent included.

  • Phuket $2,216
  • Oxford $4,477

A family of three spends $3,154 per month in Phuket vs $5,743 in Oxford, rent included.

  • Phuket $3,154
  • Oxford $5,743

Phuket is about 60% cheaper than Oxford, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Phuket sits 6% below the global median, while Oxford is 136% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Oxford
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.47 ฿151
$24.95 £18.61
-82.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.41 ฿1,093
$104 £77.5
-68.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.81 ฿297
$10.60 £7.90
-16.89%
Cappuccino
$2.83 ฿95.4
$4.94 £3.68
-42.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 ฿29.40
$4.46 £3.32
-80.49%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.65
$2.19 £1.64
-77.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.56 ฿86.3
$9.04 £6.74
-71.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 ฿124
$8.55 £6.38
-56.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Oxford
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 ฿55.9
$1.69 £1.26
-1.78%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 ฿49.29
$1.70 £1.26
-14.12%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.5
$1.97 £1.47
-23.86%
Eggs
$2.09 ฿70.5
$4.06 £3.03
-48.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.07 ฿643
$13.74 £10.25
38.79%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.30 ฿111
$8.58 £6.40
-61.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.91 ฿368
$14.83 £11.06
-26.43%
Apples (1kg)
$2.93 ฿98.8
$3.33 £2.49
-12.01%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 ฿57.0
$1.70 £1.26
-0.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 ฿75.7
$3.01 £2.24
-25.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿70.0
$3.73 £2.78
-44.24%
Potato (1kg)
$1.51 ฿51.0
$1.73 £1.29
-12.72%
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.51
$1.76 £1.31
-21.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ฿35.95
$1.21 £0.90
-11.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.50
$1.61 £1.20
-67.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20 ฿142
$23.70 £17.67
-82.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.79 ฿634
$11.30 £8.43
66.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 ฿61.4
$3.26 £2.43
-44.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 ฿95.8
$3.39 £2.53
-16.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Oxford
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.45 ฿48.97
$3.89 £2.90
-62.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$56.7 ฿1,911
$110 £81.9
-48.40%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿102
$4.98 £3.71
-39.36%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ฿34.32
$3.18 £2.37
-67.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.69 ฿124
$42.14 £31.42
-91.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ฿49.75
$2.11 £1.57
-30.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K ฿903.2K
$38.4K £28.7K
-30.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿900.3K
$41.1K £30.7K
-35.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Oxford
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.4 ฿3,250
$361 £269
-73.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.26 ฿380
$18.08 £13.48
-37.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.85 ฿568
$44.18 £32.94
-61.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Oxford
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.2 ฿2,268
$41.85 £31.20
60.65%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.73 ฿362
$11.49 £8.56
-6.61%
Cinema Ticket
$7.50 ฿253
$16.03 £11.95
-53.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Oxford
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$476 ฿16.1K
$2,254 £1,680
-78.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.3K ฿379.9K
$15.2K £11.4K
-26.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Oxford
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.4 ฿2,103
$98.8 £73.7
-36.89%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.41 ฿958
$46.09 £34.36
-38.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.3 ฿3,180
$102 £76.3
-7.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.8 ฿2,894
$104 £77.6
-17.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Oxford
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$716 ฿24.1K
$2,187 £1,631
-67.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$491 ฿16.6K
$1,706 £1,272
-71.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,927 ฿65.0K
$3,231 £2,409
-40.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,431 ฿48.3K
$2,464 £1,837
-41.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,175 ฿140.8K
$8,794 £6,556
-52.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,045 ฿102.7K
$6,600 £4,921
-53.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Oxford
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$502 ฿16.9K
$4,032 £3,006
-87.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
4.79
16.28%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Last update for Oxford: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$491
Oxford
$1.7K 248% $1.2K
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$266
Oxford
$323 21.2% $56
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$124
Oxford
$423 240% $299
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$122
Oxford
$158 29.7% $36
Eating Out
Phuket
$122
Oxford
$380 212% $258
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$82
Oxford
$74 10.1% $8.3
Getting Around
Phuket
$71
Oxford
$146 107% $76

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $716 in Phuket versus $2,187 in Oxford. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Oxford are about 8 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32 in Phuket versus $104 in Oxford. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $266 vs $323 – making Phuket the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇬🇧 Oxford
🕒 Local time
05:25 5:25 AM
22:25 10:25 PM
7 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
165,000
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

GBP, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.73 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.81 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

British Pound exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 0.746 GBP (1 GBP = 1.34 USD). 1 EUR = 0.836 GBP (1 GBP = 1.2 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Oxford 9,980 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Oxford

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Oxford: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Oxford?
Oxford costs about 151% more than Phuket, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Phuket and in Oxford?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,917 per month in Phuket and $4,815 in Oxford. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Phuket or Oxford?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $716 there versus $2,187 in Oxford.
How do dining costs compare in Phuket and in Oxford?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $32 in Phuket and $104 in Oxford. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Phuket compared to Oxford?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,278 in Phuket and $3,210 in Oxford. That makes Phuket about 60% cheaper.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Phuket or in Oxford?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,278, than in Oxford at $3,210. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Oxford it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Oxford?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,278 versus $3,210 in Oxford. Both appeal to remote workers, and the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Phuket compared to Oxford?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Should I move to Phuket or to Oxford?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Oxford makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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