Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Shelby, NC Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Shelby, NC

🙂 Solo nomad: Phuket is 31.5% cheaper than Shelby, NC without rent, and 34.7% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Phuket is 23.2% cheaper than Shelby, NC without rent, and 3.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Shelby, NC
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.65 ฿149
$14.05 $14.05
-66.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.11 ฿1,474
$35.04 $35.04
31.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.74 ฿279
$9.47 $9.47
-7.71%
Cappuccino
$3.04 ฿97.1
$3.85 $3.85
-21.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 ฿23.03
$1.48 $1.48
-51.35%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39 ฿12.50
$1.27 $1.27
-69.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.44 ฿78.0
$2.55 $2.55
-4.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 ฿121
$3.02 $3.02
25.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Shelby, NC
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.14 ฿68.6
$0.81 $0.81
164.20%
White Bread (500g)
$1.86 ฿59.5
$2.62 $2.62
-29.01%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.19 ฿69.9
$3.60 $3.60
-39.17%
Eggs
$2.25 ฿71.8
$4.24 $4.24
-46.93%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.73 ฿631
$9.44 $9.44
109.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.79 ฿121
$12.87 $12.87
-70.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.55 ฿433
$22.34 $22.34
-39.35%
Apples (1kg)
$3.25 ฿104
$5.08 $5.08
-36.02%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 ฿53.4
$1.81 $1.81
-7.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.39 ฿76.5
$5.03 $5.03
-52.49%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.09 ฿66.9
$3.11 $3.11
-32.80%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿48.88
$3.35 $3.35
-54.33%
Onion (1kg)
$1.51 ฿48.27
$4.67 $4.67
-67.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 ฿31.62
$1.94 $1.94
-48.97%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.46
$1.81 $1.81
-71.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27 ฿137
$8.41 $8.41
-49.23%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.31 ฿649
$14.79 $14.79
37.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿57.3
$1.93 $1.93
-7.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 ฿88.5
$2.62 $2.62
5.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Shelby, NC
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.40 ฿44.89
$1.98 $1.98
-29.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.70 ฿374
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.11 ฿99.4
$2.03 $2.03
53.20%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.99 ฿31.80
$2.32 $2.32
-57.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.73 ฿439
$18.19 $18.19
-24.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.32 ฿42.17
$0.76 $0.76
73.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K ฿870.7K
$24.0K $24.0K
13.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1K ฿1.1M
$21.7K $21.7K
57.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Shelby, NC
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$120 ฿3,849
$224 $224
-46.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.93 ฿445
$35.65 $35.65
-60.93%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31 ฿585
$49.59 $49.59
-63.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Shelby, NC
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.9 ฿1,948
$42.45 $42.45
43.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.23 ฿551
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.71 ฿278
$15.09 $15.09
-42.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Shelby, NC
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$698 ฿22.3K
$302 $302
131.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.7K ฿503.0K
$22.3K $22.3K
-29.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Shelby, NC
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.6 ฿1,843
$49.37 $49.37
16.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.24 ฿1,095
$34.90 $34.90
-1.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 ฿3,618
$70.7 $70.7
60.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.8 ฿2,711
$80.0 $80.0
6.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Shelby, NC
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$604 ฿19.3K
$1,605 $1,605
-62.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$436 ฿13.9K
$809 $809
-46.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,057 ฿65.8K
$2,673 $2,673
-23.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,498 ฿47.9K
$1,158 $1,158
29.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,252 ฿135.9K
$3,075 $3,075
38.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,988 ฿95.5K
$2,623 $2,623
13.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Shelby, NC
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$529 ฿16.9K
$2,519 $2,519
-78.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
6.38
-16.46%

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

Last update for Phuket: February 28, 2026

Last update for Shelby, NC: March 3, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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