πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $2,815 in Port St Lucie, FL versus $1,265 in Phuket.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $4,150 in Port St Lucie, FL versus $2,297 in Phuket.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,485 in Port St Lucie, FL versus $3,329 in Phuket.
πLiving in Port St Lucie, FL is roughly 122% more expensive than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πThe two cities straddle the global median: Port St Lucie, FL is 110% above, Phuket is 6% below.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Port St Lucie, FL
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.96$19.96
$4.70ΰΈΏ154
324.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.5$79.5
$45.37ΰΈΏ1,489
75.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.18$11.18
$8.43ΰΈΏ277
32.62%
Cappuccino
$4.38$4.38
$2.93ΰΈΏ96.1
49.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95$2.95
$0.69ΰΈΏ22.50
327.54%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19$2.19
$0.37ΰΈΏ12.04
491.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.91$4.91
$2.41ΰΈΏ79.0
103.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.21$7.21
$3.72ΰΈΏ122
93.82%
π Groceries & Markets
Port St Lucie, FL
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.16$1.16
$2.23ΰΈΏ73.3
-47.98%
White Bread(500g)
$3.59$3.59
$1.83ΰΈΏ60.1
96.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.94$4.94
$2.17ΰΈΏ71.1
127.65%
Eggs
$4.63$4.63
$2.21ΰΈΏ72.6
109.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.36$10.36
$19.74ΰΈΏ648
-47.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.89$11.89
$3.63ΰΈΏ119
227.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.50$16.50
$13.53ΰΈΏ444
21.95%
Apples(1kg)
$4.85$4.85
$3.28ΰΈΏ108
47.87%
Banana(1kg)
$2.08$2.08
$1.61ΰΈΏ52.9
29.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.45$4.45
$2.41ΰΈΏ79.0
84.65%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.36$3.36
$2.08ΰΈΏ68.4
61.54%
Potato(1kg)
$2.62$2.62
$1.53ΰΈΏ50.2
71.24%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23$2.23
$1.48ΰΈΏ48.58
50.68%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.66$2.66
$0.99ΰΈΏ32.44
168.69%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.67$1.67
$0.51ΰΈΏ16.74
227.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.58$7.58
$4.41ΰΈΏ145
71.88%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.05$15.05
$19.38ΰΈΏ636
-22.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76$1.76
$1.78ΰΈΏ58.4
-1.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79$2.79
$2.71ΰΈΏ89.0
2.95%
π Getting Around
Port St Lucie, FL
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.02$2.02
$1.37ΰΈΏ44.99
47.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$89.9$89.9
$11.39ΰΈΏ374
689.55%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.96$2.96
$3.02ΰΈΏ99.1
-1.99%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.53$1.53
$0.99ΰΈΏ32.63
54.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$30.25$30.25
$14.10ΰΈΏ463
114.54%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.83$0.83
$1.36ΰΈΏ44.71
-38.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.8K$23.8K
$28.2KΰΈΏ925.3K
-15.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K$25.7K
$32.9KΰΈΏ1.1M
-22.02%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Port St Lucie, FL
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$202$202
$122ΰΈΏ3,993
65.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$70.0$70.0
$13.57ΰΈΏ445
415.55%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$79.1$79.1
$18.31ΰΈΏ601
332.22%
π Sport & Entertainment
Port St Lucie, FL
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.32$34.32
$60.2ΰΈΏ1,976
-43.01%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.58$24.58
$17.14ΰΈΏ562
43.41%
Cinema Ticket
$14.85$14.85
$8.69ΰΈΏ285
70.89%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Port St Lucie, FL
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,195$1,195
$693ΰΈΏ22.8K
72.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,896$9,896
$15.7KΰΈΏ514.7K
-36.92%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Port St Lucie, FL
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.40$41.40
$59.5ΰΈΏ1,953
-30.46%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.02$37.02
$34.77ΰΈΏ1,141
6.47%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.1$83.1
$115ΰΈΏ3,760
-27.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.2$91.2
$83.3ΰΈΏ2,733
9.48%
π Accommodation & Living
Port St Lucie, FL
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,593$1,593
$613ΰΈΏ20.1K
159.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,543$1,543
$437ΰΈΏ14.3K
253.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,464$2,464
$2,094ΰΈΏ68.7K
17.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,466$2,466
$1,509ΰΈΏ49.5K
63.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,646$2,646
$3,749ΰΈΏ123.0K
-29.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,657$2,657
$2,616ΰΈΏ85.8K
1.58%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Port St Lucie, FL
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,816$3,816
$508ΰΈΏ16.7K
650.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.3
5.33
18.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Port St Lucie, FL: May 31, 2026
Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,593 in Port St Lucie, FL and $613 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Port St Lucie, FL pays 651% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $79.0 in Port St Lucie, FL vs $45.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $385 vs $293 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
Port St Lucie, FL vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Port St Lucie, FL?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 122% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Port St Lucie, FL or Phuket?
Port St Lucie, FL pays 651% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Port St Lucie, FL and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,593 in Port St Lucie, FL versus $613 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $1,195 in Port St Lucie, FL versus $693 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Port St Lucie, FL and Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 31% higher in Port St Lucie, FL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Port St Lucie, FL or Phuket?
At $1,265 in Phuket versus $2,815 in Port St Lucie, FL, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Port St Lucie, FL. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Port St Lucie, FL or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Port St Lucie, FL, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Port St Lucie, FL or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Port St Lucie, FL and Phuket 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 β expenses run 122% less than in Port St Lucie, FL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Port St Lucie, FL vs other spots: cost of living compared