Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Williamsburg, VA

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,208 a month against $2,819 in Williamsburg, VA, rent and utilities included – about $19,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,208
/mo nomad
Williamsburg, VA
🇺🇸 United States
$2,819
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Williamsburg, VA

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 Williamsburg, VA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,208 in Phuket versus $2,819 in Williamsburg, VA.

  • Phuket $1,208
  • Williamsburg, VA $2,819

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,027 in Phuket versus $4,192 in Williamsburg, VA.

  • Phuket $2,027
  • Williamsburg, VA $4,192

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,845 in Phuket versus $5,566 in Williamsburg, VA.

  • Phuket $2,845
  • Williamsburg, VA $5,566

Living in Phuket costs roughly 57% less than in Williamsburg, VA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 11% below, Williamsburg, VA is 108% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Williamsburg, VA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.40 ฿147
$18.86 $18.86
-76.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26 ฿1,078
$76.3 $76.3
-57.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.76 ฿293
$12.80 $12.80
-31.56%
Cappuccino
$2.83 ฿94.5
$5.64 $5.64
-49.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90 ฿30.14
$2.76 $2.76
-67.39%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 ฿15.56
$2.12 $2.12
-77.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.55 ฿85.2
$5.09 $5.09
-49.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.83 ฿128
$7.43 $7.43
-48.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Williamsburg, VA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.73 ฿57.7
$1.10 $1.10
57.27%
White Bread (500g)
$1.47 ฿49.11
$3.80 $3.80
-61.32%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.51 ฿50.6
$3.87 $3.87
-60.98%
Eggs
$2.17 ฿72.7
$3.49 $3.49
-37.82%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.70 ฿658
$13.12 $13.12
50.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.34 ฿112
$8.23 $8.23
-59.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ฿373
$14.66 $14.66
-23.87%
Apples (1kg)
$2.85 ฿95.1
$5.65 $5.65
-49.56%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 ฿56.9
$1.35 $1.35
25.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.19 ฿73.3
$4.73 $4.73
-53.70%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.05 ฿68.4
$3.37 $3.37
-39.17%
Potato (1kg)
$1.45 ฿48.57
$5.62 $5.62
-74.20%
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.16
$3.31 $3.31
-58.31%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ฿35.69
$1.55 $1.55
-30.97%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.91
$1.79 $1.79
-71.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26 ฿142
$6.56 $6.56
-35.06%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.58 ฿621
$10.59 $10.59
75.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿59.7
$2.24 $2.24
-20.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85 ฿95.2
$3.70 $3.70
-22.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Williamsburg, VA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.26 ฿75.6
$1.53 $1.53
47.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.10 ฿738
$44.81 $44.81
-50.68%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.01 ฿101
$3.05 $3.05
-1.31%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.06 ฿35.34
$1.42 $1.42
-25.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.86 ฿129
$22.73 $22.73
-83.02%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.45
$0.84 $0.84
72.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.3K ฿879.9K
$35.7K $35.7K
-26.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K ฿900.4K
$25.4K $25.4K
6.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Williamsburg, VA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.4 ฿3,221
$186 $186
-48.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.04 ฿369
$47.66 $47.66
-76.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.14 ฿573
$59.7 $59.7
-71.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Williamsburg, VA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.2 ฿1,744
$93.5 $93.5
-44.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.16 ฿373
$24.79 $24.79
-54.98%
Cinema Ticket
$7.81 ฿261
$14.74 $14.74
-47.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Williamsburg, VA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$556 ฿18.6K
$1,887 $1,887
-70.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K ฿387.0K
$24.2K $24.2K
-52.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Williamsburg, VA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.2 ฿2,146
$37.56 $37.56
70.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.69 ฿959
$35.37 $35.37
-18.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.4 ฿3,187
$85.7 $85.7
11.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.0 ฿2,940
$155 $155
-43.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Williamsburg, VA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$737 ฿24.6K
$2,290 $2,290
-67.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$462 ฿15.5K
$1,517 $1,517
-69.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,095 ฿70.0K
$2,670 $2,670
-21.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,201 ฿40.1K
$2,651 $2,651
-54.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,488 ฿116.6K
$2,168 $2,168
60.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,523 ฿84.3K
$1,727 $1,727
46.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Williamsburg, VA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$501 ฿16.7K
$4,462 $4,462
-88.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
6.5
-14.31%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 19, 2026

Last update for Williamsburg, VA: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$462
Williamsburg, VA
$1.5K 228% $1.1K
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$269
Williamsburg, VA
$366 36.3% $97
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$125
Williamsburg, VA
$294 136% $169
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$124
Williamsburg, VA
$141 13.6% $17
Eating Out
Phuket
$121
Williamsburg, VA
$317 161% $196
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$68
Williamsburg, VA
$123 81.4% $55
Getting Around
Phuket
$39
Williamsburg, VA
$61 54.8% $22

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $737 in Phuket and $2,290 in Williamsburg, VA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Williamsburg, VA pays 791% 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: $32.00 in Phuket vs $76.0 in Williamsburg, VA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $366 per month, with Phuket cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇺🇸 Williamsburg, VA
🕒 Local time
09:33 9:33 AM
22:33 10:33 PM
11 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
15,425
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Williamsburg, VA 14,970 km ≈ 19 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Williamsburg, VA

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 Williamsburg, VA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Williamsburg, VA cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. The 133% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Williamsburg, VA?
On paper, salaries run 791% lower in Williamsburg, VA. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Williamsburg, VA?
Rent for a central apartment: $737 in Phuket versus $2,290 in Williamsburg, VA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $556 in Phuket versus $1,887 in Williamsburg, VA. 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 Williamsburg, VA?
Supermarket bills run roughly 36% higher in Williamsburg, VA. 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 Williamsburg, VA?
At $1,208 in Phuket versus $2,819 in Williamsburg, VA, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Williamsburg, VA. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Williamsburg, VA more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Williamsburg, VA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Williamsburg, VA?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Williamsburg, VA 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 – expenses run 133% less than in Williamsburg, VA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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