Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Show Low, AZ and Phuket

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,278 a month against $3,000 in Show Low, AZ, rent and utilities included – about $20,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Show Low, AZ, United States
Phuket, Thailand
Show Low, AZ
🇺🇸 United States
$3,000
/mo nomad
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,278
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Show Low, AZ 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 Show Low, AZ and in Phuket actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,000 in Show Low, AZ versus $1,278 in Phuket.

  • Show Low, AZ $3,000
  • Phuket $1,278

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,156 in Show Low, AZ versus $2,216 in Phuket.

  • Show Low, AZ $4,156
  • Phuket $2,216

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,312 in Show Low, AZ versus $3,154 in Phuket.

  • Show Low, AZ $5,312
  • Phuket $3,154

Living in Show Low, AZ is roughly 135% more expensive than in Phuket, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Show Low, AZ is 120% above, Phuket is 6% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Show Low, AZ
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.39 $17.39
$4.47 ฿151
289.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.9 $78.9
$32.41 ฿1,094
143.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$18.74 $18.74
$8.81 ฿297
112.71%
Cappuccino
$5.92 $5.92
$2.83 ฿95.4
109.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43 $3.43
$0.87 ฿29.42
294.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 $2.73
$0.49 ฿16.66
457.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.16 $6.16
$2.56 ฿86.3
140.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.87 $6.87
$3.68 ฿124
86.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Show Low, AZ
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 $1.41
$1.66 ฿56.0
-15.06%
White Bread (500g)
$4.49 $4.49
$1.46 ฿49.32
207.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.33 $4.33
$1.50 ฿50.5
188.67%
Eggs
$4.10 $4.10
$2.09 ฿70.5
96.17%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.51 $11.51
$19.07 ฿643
-39.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.34 $11.34
$3.30 ฿111
243.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.81 $17.81
$10.91 ฿368
63.24%
Apples (1kg)
$5.72 $5.72
$2.93 ฿98.9
95.22%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 $1.63
$1.69 ฿57.0
-3.55%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$2.25 ฿75.8
100.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.67 $4.67
$2.08 ฿70.1
124.52%
Potato (1kg)
$3.18 $3.18
$1.51 ฿51.0
110.60%
Onion (1kg)
$3.04 $3.04
$1.38 ฿46.54
120.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.96 $1.96
$1.07 ฿35.97
83.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.52 $2.52
$0.52 ฿17.51
384.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.19 $10.19
$4.20 ฿142
142.62%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.93 $14.93
$18.79 ฿634
-20.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.07 $2.07
$1.82 ฿61.5
13.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45 $3.45
$2.84 ฿95.9
21.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Show Low, AZ
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.26 $2.26
$1.45 ฿49.00
55.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$63.5 $63.5
$56.7 ฿1,912
11.98%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.16 $3.16
$3.02 ฿102
4.64%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.97 $1.97
$1.02 ฿34.34
93.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.78 $30.78
$3.69 ฿125
734.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.13 $1.13
$1.47 ฿49.78
-23.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.4K $28.4K
$26.8K ฿903.7K
6.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K $26.6K
$26.7K ฿900.8K
-0.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Show Low, AZ
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$204 $204
$96.4 ฿3,252
111.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$57.7 $57.7
$11.26 ฿380
412.34%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$101 $101
$16.85 ฿569
500.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Show Low, AZ
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.67 $39.67
$67.2 ฿2,269
-40.99%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$10.73 ฿362
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.14 $9.14
$7.50 ฿253
21.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Show Low, AZ
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,331 $1,331
$476 ฿16.1K
179.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$26.6K $26.6K
$11.3K ฿380.1K
136.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Show Low, AZ
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.79 $49.79
$62.4 ฿2,105
-20.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.09 $47.09
$28.41 ฿959
65.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.3 $90.3
$94.3 ฿3,182
-4.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104 $104
$85.8 ฿2,896
20.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Show Low, AZ
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,488 $1,488
$716 ฿24.2K
107.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,609 $1,609
$491 ฿16.6K
227.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,472 $2,472
$1,927 ฿65.0K
28.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,295 $2,295
$1,431 ฿48.3K
60.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,989 $2,989
$4,175 ฿140.9K
-28.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,423 $2,423
$3,045 ฿102.8K
-20.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Show Low, AZ
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$502 ฿17.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.57
5.57
17.95%

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

Last update for Show Low, AZ: October 26, 2026

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Show Low, AZ
$1.6K
Phuket
$491 69.5% $1.1K
Groceries & Markets
Show Low, AZ
$418
Phuket
$266 36.3% $152
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Show Low, AZ
$362
Phuket
$124 65.7% $238
Eating Out
Show Low, AZ
$336
Phuket
$122 63.7% $214
Clothing & Footwear
Show Low, AZ
$131
Phuket
$122 6.9% $9
Getting Around
Show Low, AZ
$86
Phuket
$71 17.5% $15
Sport & Entertainment
Show Low, AZ
$58
Phuket
$82 41.9% $24

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,488 in Show Low, AZ and $716 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $79 in Show Low, AZ vs $32 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $418 vs $266 per month, with Phuket cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Show Low, AZ
🇹🇭 Phuket
🕒 Local time
21:40 9:40 PM
11:40 11:40 AM
14 h ahead of Show Low, AZ
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
11,732
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 November 2, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.896 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.75 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.68 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Show Low, AZ Phuket 14,460 km ≈ 19 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Show Low, AZ
  • 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
Show Low, AZ vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Show Low, AZ?
Phuket is about 57% cheaper overall, especially in eating out, groceries, and utilities. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You’d need roughly $4,499 in Show Low, AZ and $1,917 in Phuket 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 Show Low, AZ and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,488 in Show Low, AZ versus $716 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $1,331 in Show Low, AZ versus $476 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 Show Low, AZ and in Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 57% higher in Show Low, AZ. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Show Low, AZ or in Phuket?
At $1,278 in Phuket versus $3,000 in Show Low, AZ, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Show Low, AZ. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Show Low, AZ or in Phuket?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 57% less than in Show Low, AZ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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