Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Southampton Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Southampton

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $3,686 in Southampton.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $8,489 in Southampton.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $13.3K in Southampton.

Living in Phuket costs roughly 66% less than in Southampton, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 6% below, Southampton is 175% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.70 ฿153

$59.1 BMD 59.1

-92.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.37 ฿1,482

$177 BMD 177

-74.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.43 ฿275

$14.88 BMD 14.88

-43.35%

Cappuccino

$2.93 ฿95.6

$6.47 BMD 6.47

-54.71%

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

$0.69 ฿22.40

$3.33 BMD 3.33

-79.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.99

$2.94 BMD 2.94

-87.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$9.90 BMD 9.90

-75.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿122

$8.40 BMD 8.40

-55.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 ฿72.9

$4.34 BMD 4.34

-48.62%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 ฿59.8

$8.63 BMD 8.63

-78.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ฿70.8

$5.43 BMD 5.43

-60.04%

Eggs

$2.21 ฿72.3

$7.65 BMD 7.65

-71.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.74 ฿645

$11.48 BMD 11.48

71.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿119

$24.02 BMD 24.02

-84.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.53 ฿442

$32.59 BMD 32.59

-58.48%

Apples (1kg)

$3.28 ฿107

$10.18 BMD 10.18

-67.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ฿52.6

$6.43 BMD 6.43

-74.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$12.66 BMD 12.66

-80.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.1

$11.41 BMD 11.41

-81.77%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.93

$8.31 BMD 8.31

-81.59%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.36

$5.16 BMD 5.16

-71.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ฿32.29

$6.15 BMD 6.15

-83.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.67

$3.21 BMD 3.21

-84.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 ฿144

$17.76 BMD 17.76

-75.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.38 ฿633

$25.42 BMD 25.42

-23.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

$5.43 BMD 5.43

-67.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ฿88.6

$4.39 BMD 4.39

-38.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.37 ฿44.79

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.39 ฿372

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿98.6

$6.40 BMD 6.40

-52.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 ฿32.48

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.10 ฿461

$53.8 BMD 53.8

-73.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 ฿44.51

$2.01 BMD 2.01

-32.34%

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

$28.2K ฿921.1K

$34.3K BMD 34.3K

-17.79%

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

$32.9K ฿1.1M

$38.4K BMD 38.4K

-14.40%

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

$122 ฿3,975

$232 BMD 232

-47.56%

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

$13.57 ฿443

$120 BMD 120

-88.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.31 ฿598

$157 BMD 157

-88.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.2 ฿1,967

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 ฿560

Cinema Ticket

$8.69 ฿284

$13.51 BMD 13.51

-35.68%

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

$693 ฿22.6K

$1,342 BMD 1,342

-48.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K ฿512.3K

$24.4K BMD 24.4K

-35.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,944

$78.5 BMD 78.5

-24.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.77 ฿1,136

$60.8 BMD 60.8

-42.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,743

$139 BMD 139

-17.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.3 ฿2,720

$126 BMD 126

-34.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$613 ฿20.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$437 ฿14.3K

$1,518 BMD 1,518

-71.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,094 ฿68.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,509 ฿49.3K

$7,968 BMD 7,968

-81.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,749 ฿122.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,616 ฿85.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.6K

$9,756 BMD 9,756

-94.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

7.22

-26.18%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Southampton: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Southampton pays 1820% 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: $45.00 in Phuket vs $177 in Southampton for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $817 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 Southampton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 191% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Southampton earns 1820% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Childcare runs $693 in Phuket versus $1,342 in Southampton. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Phuket – a meal for two runs $45.00 versus $177 in Southampton. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,265 in Phuket versus $3,686 in Southampton, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Southampton. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Southampton, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Phuket and Southampton are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 191% less than in Southampton. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.