Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Roanoke, AL

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,294 a month against $2,443 in Roanoke, AL, rent and utilities included – about $13,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Phuket, Thailand
Roanoke, AL, United States
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,294
/mo nomad
Roanoke, AL
🇺🇸 United States
$2,443
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Roanoke, AL

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 Roanoke, AL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,294 in Phuket versus $2,443 in Roanoke, AL.

  • Phuket $1,294
  • Roanoke, AL $2,443

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,204 in Phuket versus $3,736 in Roanoke, AL.

  • Phuket $2,204
  • Roanoke, AL $3,736

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,115 in Phuket versus $5,030 in Roanoke, AL.

  • Phuket $3,115
  • Roanoke, AL $5,030

Living in Phuket costs roughly 47% less than in Roanoke, AL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 4% below, Roanoke, AL is 81% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Roanoke, AL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.39 ฿148
$20.13 $20.13
-78.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.31 ฿1,090
$73.9 $73.9
-56.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.70 ฿294
$11.56 $11.56
-24.74%
Cappuccino
$2.72 ฿91.9
$5.27 $5.27
-48.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93 ฿31.39
$2.65 $2.65
-64.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50 ฿16.85
$2.02 $2.02
-75.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.53 ฿85.4
$5.90 $5.90
-57.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 ฿122
$6.57 $6.57
-44.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Roanoke, AL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 ฿58.7
$1.04 $1.04
67.31%
White Bread (500g)
$1.45 ฿48.95
$3.61 $3.61
-59.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.7
$4.95 $4.95
-69.70%
Eggs
$2.17 ฿73.3
$4.09 $4.09
-46.94%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.09 ฿644
$10.63 $10.63
79.59%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.40 ฿115
$11.55 $11.55
-70.56%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.90 ฿368
$17.03 $17.03
-36.00%
Apples (1kg)
$2.94 ฿99.2
$5.17 $5.17
-43.13%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 ฿57.1
$1.65 $1.65
2.42%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.19 ฿74.0
$4.47 $4.47
-51.01%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.12 ฿71.7
$4.64 $4.64
-54.31%
Potato (1kg)
$1.46 ฿49.21
$2.85 $2.85
-48.77%
Onion (1kg)
$1.37 ฿46.15
$2.64 $2.64
-48.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 ฿36.30
$2.34 $2.34
-53.85%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿18.41
$2.54 $2.54
-78.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.43 ฿149
$10.41 $10.41
-57.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.25 ฿616
$15.03 $15.03
21.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 ฿59.8
$1.84 $1.84
-3.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 ฿97.2
$3.00 $3.00
-4.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Roanoke, AL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.45 ฿48.84
$1.79 $1.79
-18.99%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.9 ฿1,852
$60.5 $60.5
-9.24%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.51 ฿51.0
$3.14 $3.14
-51.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.78 ฿26.18
$1.88 $1.88
-58.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.84 ฿130
$25.55 $25.55
-84.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 ฿50.2
$0.96 $0.96
55.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.9K ฿907.0K
$26.1K $26.1K
2.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K ฿888.9K
$24.6K $24.6K
6.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Roanoke, AL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$97.8 ฿3,300
$196 $196
-50.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.29 ฿381
$67.0 $67.0
-83.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.19 ฿580
$69.2 $69.2
-75.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Roanoke, AL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.3 ฿2,305
$40.23 $40.23
69.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.92 ฿368
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.43 ฿251
$13.80 $13.80
-46.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Roanoke, AL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$530 ฿17.9K
$1,342 $1,342
-60.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.8K ฿633.7K
$23.0K $23.0K
-18.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Roanoke, AL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.7 ฿2,081
$53.7 $53.7
14.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.25 ฿953
$41.09 $41.09
-31.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.0 ฿3,239
$89.8 $89.8
6.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.8 ฿2,929
$116 $116
-24.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Roanoke, AL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$721 ฿24.3K
$1,673 $1,673
-56.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$509 ฿17.2K
$1,108 $1,108
-54.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,950 ฿65.8K
$2,534 $2,534
-23.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,397 ฿47.1K
$2,102 $2,102
-33.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,192 ฿141.4K
$2,844 $2,844
47.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,298 ฿111.3K
$2,343 $2,343
40.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Roanoke, AL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$492 ฿16.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
6.59
-15.48%

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

Last update for Phuket: November 2, 2026

Last update for Roanoke, AL: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$509
Roanoke, AL
$1.1K 118% $599
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$267
Roanoke, AL
$399 49.6% $132
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$126
Roanoke, AL
$332 163% $206
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$123
Roanoke, AL
$135 10% $12
Eating Out
Phuket
$120
Roanoke, AL
$320 168% $201
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$83
Roanoke, AL
$68 18.4% $15
Getting Around
Phuket
$66
Roanoke, AL
$80 21.3% $14

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $721 in Phuket and $1,673 in Roanoke, AL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $32 in Phuket vs $74 in Roanoke, AL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $399 per month, with Phuket cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇺🇸 Roanoke, AL
🕒 Local time
23:41 11:41 PM
10:41 10:41 AM
13 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
99,837
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 33.74 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.77 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.893 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Roanoke, AL 15,430 km ≈ 20 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Roanoke, AL

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 Roanoke, AL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Roanoke, AL?
Phuket is about 47% cheaper overall, especially in eating out, groceries, and utilities. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You’d need roughly $1,940 in Phuket and $3,664 in Roanoke, AL to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Roanoke, AL?
Rent for a central apartment: $721 in Phuket versus $1,673 in Roanoke, AL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $530 in Phuket versus $1,342 in Roanoke, AL. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and in Roanoke, AL?
Supermarket bills run roughly 50% higher in Roanoke, AL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Roanoke, AL?
At $1,294 in Phuket versus $2,443 in Roanoke, AL, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Roanoke, AL. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Phuket or in Roanoke, AL?
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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 47% less than in Roanoke, AL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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