ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $2,635 in Silver City, NM versus $1,247 in Phuket.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $3,764 in Silver City, NM versus $2,276 in Phuket.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,893 in Silver City, NM versus $3,306 in Phuket.
ðLiving in Silver City, NM is roughly 111% more expensive than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðThe two cities straddle the global median: Silver City, NM is 96% above, Phuket is 7% below.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Silver City, NM
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.88$17.88
$4.59āļŋ147
289.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.9$57.9
$46.83āļŋ1,501
23.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.12$12.12
$8.70āļŋ279
39.31%
Cappuccino
$5.20$5.20
$2.92āļŋ93.7
78.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82$2.82
$0.68āļŋ21.92
314.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39$1.39
$0.40āļŋ12.70
247.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.10$5.10
$2.51āļŋ80.4
103.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.90$5.90
$3.80āļŋ122
55.26%
ð Groceries & Markets
Silver City, NM
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.80$0.80
$2.16āļŋ69.3
-62.96%
White Bread(500g)
$3.30$3.30
$1.88āļŋ60.3
75.53%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.08$5.08
$2.16āļŋ69.2
135.19%
Eggs
$4.27$4.27
$2.22āļŋ71.2
92.34%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.89$10.89
$19.57āļŋ627
-44.35%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.95$10.95
$3.80āļŋ122
188.16%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.26$15.26
$13.41āļŋ430
13.80%
Apples(1kg)
$4.45$4.45
$3.26āļŋ104
36.50%
Banana(1kg)
$1.88$1.88
$1.61āļŋ51.7
16.77%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.88$3.88
$2.31āļŋ74.0
67.97%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.13$4.13
$2.06āļŋ66.0
100.49%
Potato(1kg)
$2.40$2.40
$1.61āļŋ51.5
49.07%
Onion(1kg)
$2.52$2.52
$1.44āļŋ46.26
75.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93$1.93
$1.03āļŋ33.01
87.38%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.47$1.47
$0.48āļŋ15.39
206.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.97$8.97
$4.50āļŋ144
99.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.10$15.10
$19.18āļŋ615
-21.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.14$2.14
$1.82āļŋ58.4
17.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.47$3.47
$2.69āļŋ86.2
29.00%
ð Getting Around
Silver City, NM
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.97$1.97
$1.38āļŋ44.16
42.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$11.76āļŋ377
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.74$2.74
$3.11āļŋ99.6
-11.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.38$1.38
$1.00āļŋ32.18
38.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$36.55$36.55
$13.74āļŋ441
166.01%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.95$0.95
$1.30āļŋ41.61
-26.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.4K$31.4K
$27.4Kāļŋ877.0K
14.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.6K$21.6K
$33.0Kāļŋ1.1M
-34.54%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Silver City, NM
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$273$273
$125āļŋ4,004
118.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$69.6$69.6
$13.74āļŋ440
406.62%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.7$68.7
$18.61āļŋ597
268.89%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Silver City, NM
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.54$43.54
$60.6āļŋ1,941
-28.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.15āļŋ550
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.23$13.23
$9.01āļŋ289
46.84%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Silver City, NM
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,106$1,106
$698āļŋ22.4K
58.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.5K$15.5K
$16.1Kāļŋ516.5K
-3.83%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Silver City, NM
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.3$51.3
$59.2āļŋ1,898
-13.44%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.66$38.66
$34.86āļŋ1,118
10.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.8$83.8
$114āļŋ3,662
-26.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103$103
$85.8āļŋ2,751
19.99%
ð Accommodation & Living
Silver City, NM
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,007$1,007
$619āļŋ19.8K
62.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,359$1,359
$437āļŋ14.0K
211.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,752$1,752
$2,075āļŋ66.5K
-15.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,239$2,239
$1,509āļŋ48.4K
48.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,896$1,896
$3,764āļŋ120.7K
-49.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,959$1,959
$2,694āļŋ86.4K
-27.29%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Silver City, NM
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,015$3,015
$528āļŋ16.9K
470.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.54
5.33
22.70%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Silver City, NM: April 12, 2026
Last update for Phuket: April 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,007 in Silver City, NM and $619 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ð°Silver City, NM pays 470% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
ðDining out: $58 in Silver City, NM vs $47 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $367 vs $292 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
Silver City, NM vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Silver City, NM?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 111% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Silver City, NM or Phuket?
Silver City, NM pays 470% 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 Silver City, NM and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,007 in Silver City, NM versus $619 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $1,106 in Silver City, NM versus $698 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Silver City, NM or Phuket?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket â a meal for two runs $47.00 versus $58.0 in Silver City, NM. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Silver City, NM or Phuket?
At $1,247 in Phuket versus $2,635 in Silver City, NM, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Silver City, NM. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Silver City, NM or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Silver City, NM, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Silver City, NM or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Silver City, NM 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 â expenses run 111% less than in Silver City, NM. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Silver City, NM vs other spots: cost of living compared