Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Waco, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Waco, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,223 in Phuket versus $2,712 in Waco, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,237 in Phuket versus $3,780 in Waco, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,251 in Phuket versus $4,848 in Waco, TX.

Living in Phuket costs roughly 55% less than in Waco, TX, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 8% below, Waco, TX is 103% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.51 ฿148

$19.91 $19.91

-77.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.62 ฿1,528

$62.0 $62.0

-24.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.49 ฿278

$10.07 $10.07

-15.69%

Cappuccino

$3.08 ฿101

$5.47 $5.47

-43.69%

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

$0.68 ฿22.26

$2.21 $2.21

-69.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.84

$1.46 $1.46

-75.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 ฿79.5

$5.91 $5.91

-58.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

$4.98 $4.98

-27.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.19 ฿71.7

$1.04 $1.04

110.58%

White Bread (500g)

$1.81 ฿59.5

$2.73 $2.73

-33.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.23 ฿73.1

$2.68 $2.68

-16.79%

Eggs

$2.24 ฿73.3

$4.43 $4.43

-49.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.60 ฿642

$12.20 $12.20

60.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.72 ฿122

$10.42 $10.42

-64.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.47 ฿441

$11.72 $11.72

14.93%

Apples (1kg)

$3.36 ฿110

$3.92 $3.92

-14.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.13 $1.13

43.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿79.0

$3.95 $3.95

-38.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.99 ฿65.2

$3.76 $3.76

-47.07%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.2

$2.75 $2.75

-44.36%

Onion (1kg)

$1.45 ฿47.59

$2.72 $2.72

-46.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 ฿33.23

$1.59 $1.59

-36.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿15.86

$1.73 $1.73

-72.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿140

$8.10 $8.10

-47.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.12 ฿627

$13.80 $13.80

38.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 ฿60.2

$1.75 $1.75

5.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 ฿89.8

$3.52 $3.52

-22.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.42 ฿46.44

$1.51 $1.51

-5.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.72 ฿384

$39.79 $39.79

-70.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.00 ฿98.4

$4.43 $4.43

-32.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.05 ฿34.28

$1.82 $1.82

-42.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.90 ฿456

$34.40 $34.40

-59.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 ฿42.28

$0.73 $0.73

76.71%

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

$28.0K ฿918.7K

$25.1K $25.1K

11.49%

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

$33.5K ฿1.1M

$26.5K $26.5K

26.65%

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

$122 ฿3,997

$173 $173

-29.63%

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

$13.93 ฿457

$60.0 $60.0

-76.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.87 ฿618

$65.8 $65.8

-71.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.3 ฿2,008

$27.79 $27.79

120.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.84 ฿552

Cinema Ticket

$8.89 ฿291

$9.76 $9.76

-8.91%

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

$691 ฿22.7K

$854 $854

-19.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.2K ฿529.5K

$21.7K $21.7K

-25.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.8 ฿1,894

$52.0 $52.0

11.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.39 ฿1,160

$45.23 $45.23

-21.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 ฿3,716

$80.0 $80.0

41.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.0 ฿2,720

$117 $117

-28.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$607 ฿19.9K

$1,208 $1,208

-49.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$448 ฿14.7K

$1,577 $1,577

-71.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,029 ฿66.5K

$2,424 $2,424

-16.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,493 ฿48.9K

$2,212 $2,212

-32.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,585 ฿117.5K

$1,945 $1,945

84.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,585 ฿84.7K

$1,977 $1,977

30.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$505 ฿16.5K

$3,207 $3,207

-84.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

6.45

-17.36%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 13, 2026

Last update for Waco, TX: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $607 in Phuket and $1,208 in Waco, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Waco, TX pays 535% 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: $47.00 in Phuket vs $62.0 in Waco, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $335 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 Waco, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 122% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 535% lower in Waco, TX. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $607 in Phuket versus $1,208 in Waco, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $691 in Phuket versus $854 in Waco, TX. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 15% higher in Waco, TX. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $1,223 in Phuket versus $2,712 in Waco, TX, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Waco, TX. 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 Waco, TX, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Phuket and Waco, TX 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 122% less than in Waco, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.