Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Rolla, MO and Phuket

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,207 a month against $2,408 in Rolla, MO, rent and utilities included – about $14,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Rolla, MO
🇺🇸 United States
$2,408
/mo nomad
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,207
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Rolla, MO and in Phuket

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Rolla, MO and in Phuket actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,408 in Rolla, MO versus $1,207 in Phuket.

  • Rolla, MO $2,408
  • Phuket $1,207

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,725 in Rolla, MO versus $2,037 in Phuket.

  • Rolla, MO $2,725
  • Phuket $2,037

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,042 in Rolla, MO versus $2,867 in Phuket.

  • Rolla, MO $3,042
  • Phuket $2,867

Living in Rolla, MO is roughly 99% more expensive than in Phuket, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

The two cities straddle the global median: Rolla, MO is 78% above, Phuket is 11% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rolla, MO
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.13 $12.13
$4.58 ฿153
164.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.90 $34.90
$32.48 ฿1,086
7.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.15 $9.15
$8.55 ฿286
7.02%
Cappuccino
$4.06 $4.06
$2.72 ฿91.0
49.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 $1.96
$0.94 ฿31.25
108.51%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23 $1.23
$0.49 ฿16.39
151.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.06 $3.06
$2.59 ฿86.6
18.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96 $3.96
$3.83 ฿128
3.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rolla, MO
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.01 $1.01
$1.74 ฿58.1
-41.95%
White Bread (500g)
$3.37 $3.37
$1.43 ฿47.82
135.66%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.20 $2.20
$1.53 ฿51.0
43.79%
Eggs
$1.42 $1.42
$2.17 ฿72.7
-34.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.06 $11.06
$19.15 ฿640
-42.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.87 $8.87
$3.30 ฿110
168.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.49 $7.49
$11.14 ฿372
-32.76%
Apples (1kg)
$4.37 $4.37
$2.95 ฿98.5
48.14%
Banana (1kg)
$1.12 $1.12
$1.68 ฿56.1
-33.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.13 $3.13
$2.30 ฿76.8
36.09%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.49 $4.49
$2.13 ฿71.3
110.80%
Potato (1kg)
$1.68 $1.68
$1.53 ฿51.1
9.80%
Onion (1kg)
$2.36 $2.36
$1.36 ฿45.55
73.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.77 $1.77
$1.12 ฿37.44
58.04%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.08 $2.08
$0.55 ฿18.24
278.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.89 $4.89
$4.26 ฿142
14.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.97 $4.97
$18.19 ฿608
-72.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 $1.77
$1.74 ฿58.2
1.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.43 $4.43
$2.79 ฿93.3
58.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Rolla, MO
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.27 $2.27
$2.22 ฿74.1
2.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$22.06 ฿737
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.97 $2.97
$2.91 ฿97.3
2.06%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.40 $1.40
$1.01 ฿33.79
38.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.78 $35.78
$3.83 ฿128
834.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.91 $0.91
$1.49 ฿49.85
-38.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K $35.0K
$26.7K ฿891.6K
31.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K $26.5K
$26.7K ฿892.7K
-0.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rolla, MO
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$270 $270
$99.4 ฿3,321
172.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.2 $59.2
$11.28 ฿377
424.91%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.7 $71.7
$17.36 ฿580
312.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rolla, MO
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.07 $41.07
$52.3 ฿1,747
-21.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.13 $10.13
$10.85 ฿362
-6.64%
Cinema Ticket
$10.02 $10.02
$7.57 ฿253
32.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rolla, MO
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$770 $770
$558 ฿18.7K
37.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.8K $25.8K
$11.5K ฿383.9K
124.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rolla, MO
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.3 $72.3
$62.9 ฿2,102
15.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.93 $36.93
$28.58 ฿955
29.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.8 $79.8
$96.1 ฿3,213
-17.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 $123
$88.1 ฿2,943
39.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rolla, MO
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$729 ฿24.4K
117.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,286 $1,286
$460 ฿15.4K
179.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,085 $1,085
$2,096 ฿70.0K
-48.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$834 $834
$1,222 ฿40.8K
-31.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,620 $2,620
$3,459 ฿115.6K
-24.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,260 $2,260
$2,489 ฿83.2K
-9.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rolla, MO
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,552 $4,552
$493 ฿16.5K
823.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.36
5.57
14.18%

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

Last update for Rolla, MO: October 13, 2026

Last update for Phuket: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Rolla, MO
$1.3K
Phuket
$460 64.2% $826
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rolla, MO
$401
Phuket
$128 68.1% $273
Groceries & Markets
Rolla, MO
$291
Phuket
$268 8.2% $24
Eating Out
Rolla, MO
$209
Phuket
$121 42% $88
Clothing & Footwear
Rolla, MO
$140
Phuket
$124 11.5% $16
Sport & Entertainment
Rolla, MO
$61
Phuket
$67 10.3% $6.3
Getting Around
Rolla, MO
$19 *
Phuket
$39 104% $20

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,584 in Rolla, MO and $729 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rolla, MO pays 823% 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: $35.00 in Rolla, MO vs $32.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $291 vs $268 per month, with Phuket cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Rolla, MO
🇹🇭 Phuket
🕒 Local time
04:16 4:16 AM
16:16 4:16 PM
12 h ahead of Rolla, MO
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
19,943
79,308
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Rolla, MO Phuket 14,810 km ≈ 19 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Rolla, MO
  • Phuket

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
Rolla, MO vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Rolla, MO?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 99% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Rolla, MO or Phuket?
Average pay runs 823% higher in Rolla, MO, 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 Rolla, MO and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,584 in Rolla, MO versus $729 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $770 in Rolla, MO versus $558 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Rolla, MO or in Phuket?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket – a meal for two runs $32.00 versus $35.00 in Rolla, MO. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Rolla, MO or in Phuket?
At $1,207 in Phuket versus $2,408 in Rolla, MO, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Rolla, MO. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Rolla, MO or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Rolla, MO, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Rolla, MO or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Rolla, MO 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 – expenses run 99% less than in Rolla, MO. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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