ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,270 in Phuket versus $2,649 in Southampton, NY.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $2,304 in Phuket versus $3,973 in Southampton, NY.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,339 in Phuket versus $5,298 in Southampton, NY.
ðLiving in Phuket costs roughly 52% less than in Southampton, NY, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðThe two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 5% below, Southampton, NY is 98% above.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Southampton, NY
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.66āļŋ150
$19.83$19.83
-76.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.44āļŋ1,496
$99.2$99.2
-53.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.68āļŋ280
$14.28$14.28
-39.22%
Cappuccino
$2.95āļŋ95.0
$5.49$5.49
-46.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70āļŋ22.52
$2.34$2.34
-70.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39āļŋ12.70
$1.96$1.96
-80.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.53āļŋ81.6
$6.82$6.82
-62.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78āļŋ122
$9.07$9.07
-58.32%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Southampton, NY
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.22āļŋ71.5
$1.30$1.30
70.77%
White Bread(500g)
$1.80āļŋ57.8
$3.70$3.70
-51.35%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.19āļŋ70.4
$5.13$5.13
-57.31%
Eggs
$2.31āļŋ74.5
$4.92$4.92
-53.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.34āļŋ623
$21.70$21.70
-10.88%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.77āļŋ121
$11.67$11.67
-67.69%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.22āļŋ426
$17.02$17.02
-22.33%
Apples(1kg)
$3.33āļŋ107
$5.00$5.00
-33.40%
Banana(1kg)
$1.65āļŋ53.1
$1.74$1.74
-5.17%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.29āļŋ73.7
$3.90$3.90
-41.28%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.99āļŋ64.1
$4.12$4.12
-51.70%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53āļŋ49.24
$2.76$2.76
-44.57%
Onion(1kg)
$1.51āļŋ48.77
$3.85$3.85
-60.78%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03āļŋ33.12
$2.45$2.45
-57.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51āļŋ16.57
$2.56$2.56
-80.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41āļŋ142
$12.04$12.04
-63.37%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.41āļŋ625
$14.89$14.89
30.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80āļŋ58.0
$1.69$1.69
6.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68āļŋ86.4
$6.02$6.02
-55.48%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Southampton, NY
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.43āļŋ46.11
$2.02$2.02
-29.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.70āļŋ377
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.04āļŋ97.9
$2.96$2.96
2.70%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04āļŋ33.37
$2.02$2.02
-48.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.68āļŋ441
$23.58$23.58
-41.98%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30āļŋ41.85
$0.93$0.93
39.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9Kāļŋ898.9K
$35.3K$35.3K
-20.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0Kāļŋ1.1M
$25.0K$25.0K
32.11%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Southampton, NY
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123āļŋ3,962
$124$124
-0.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.82āļŋ445
$44.55$44.55
-68.98%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.86āļŋ608
$58.9$58.9
-67.96%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Southampton, NY
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.2āļŋ1,970
$43.80$43.80
39.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.81āļŋ541
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.87āļŋ286
$17.07$17.07
-48.04%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Southampton, NY
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$696āļŋ22.4K
$2,286$2,286
-69.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.1Kāļŋ517.4K
$23.8K$23.8K
-32.66%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Southampton, NY
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3āļŋ1,910
$74.2$74.2
-20.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.85āļŋ1,123
$62.6$62.6
-44.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,646
$75.5$75.5
49.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.1āļŋ2,740
$135$135
-37.22%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Southampton, NY
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$615āļŋ19.8K
$1,603$1,603
-61.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$448āļŋ14.4K
$1,341$1,341
-66.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,085āļŋ67.2K
$2,633$2,633
-20.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,496āļŋ48.2K
$2,228$2,228
-32.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,734āļŋ120.3K
$2,783$2,783
34.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,662āļŋ85.8K
$2,521$2,521
5.59%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Southampton, NY
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$534āļŋ17.2K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
6.62
-19.49%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 20, 2026
Last update for Southampton, NY: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $615 in Phuket and $1,603 in Southampton, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ðDining out: $46 in Phuket vs $99 in Southampton, NY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $291 vs $443 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, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Southampton, NY cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 109% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,904 in Phuket and $3,973 in Southampton, NY 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 Southampton, NY?
Rent for a central apartment: $615 in Phuket versus $1,603 in Southampton, NY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $696 in Phuket versus $2,286 in Southampton, NY. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or Southampton, NY?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket â a meal for two runs $46.00 versus $99.0 in Southampton, NY. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Southampton, NY?
At $1,270 in Phuket versus $2,649 in Southampton, NY, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Southampton, NY. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Southampton, NY more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Southampton, NY, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Southampton, NY?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Southampton, NY are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet â expenses run 109% less than in Southampton, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.