Cost of Living Comparison Between Southampton and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Southampton and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,667 in Southampton versus $1,250 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $8,441 in Southampton versus $2,284 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $13.2K in Southampton versus $3,317 in Phuket.

Living in Southampton is roughly 193% more expensive than in Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Southampton is 175% above, Phuket is 6% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$59.9 BMD 59.9

$4.55 ฿153

1216.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$183 BMD 183

$46.18 ฿1,553

297.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.08 BMD 15.08

$8.84 ฿297

70.59%

Cappuccino

$6.50 BMD 6.50

$3.06 ฿103

112.42%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.46 BMD 3.46

$0.73 ฿24.40

373.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 BMD 2.86

$0.40 ฿13.39

615.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.83 BMD 9.83

$2.43 ฿81.8

304.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.37 BMD 8.37

$3.78 ฿127

121.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.53 BMD 4.53

$2.26 ฿76.0

100.44%

White Bread (500g)

$8.99 BMD 8.99

$1.81 ฿60.9

396.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.33 BMD 5.33

$2.25 ฿75.8

136.89%

Eggs

$7.68 BMD 7.68

$2.25 ฿75.5

241.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.49 BMD 11.49

$19.51 ฿656

-41.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$24.31 BMD 24.31

$3.65 ฿123

566.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$32.34 BMD 32.34

$13.05 ฿439

147.82%

Apples (1kg)

$10.52 BMD 10.52

$3.23 ฿109

225.70%

Banana (1kg)

$6.24 BMD 6.24

$1.62 ฿54.4

285.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$12.56 BMD 12.56

$2.38 ฿80.1

427.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$11.44 BMD 11.44

$2.03 ฿68.1

463.55%

Potato (1kg)

$8.58 BMD 8.58

$1.53 ฿51.6

460.78%

Onion (1kg)

$4.93 BMD 4.93

$1.50 ฿50.5

228.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$6.17 BMD 6.17

$0.98 ฿32.91

529.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.15 BMD 3.15

$0.52 ฿17.39

505.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$17.54 BMD 17.54

$4.44 ฿149

295.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$25.04 BMD 25.04

$18.32 ฿616

36.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.43 BMD 5.43

$1.86 ฿62.7

191.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.37 BMD 4.37

$2.68 ฿90.1

63.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.41 ฿47.46

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.70 ฿393

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.24 BMD 6.24

$3.11 ฿105

100.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿35.06

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$53.3 BMD 53.3

$14.11 ฿474

277.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.05 BMD 2.05

$1.31 ฿44.10

56.49%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.5K BMD 35.5K

$27.8K ฿935.4K

27.75%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$38.4K BMD 38.4K

$33.2K ฿1.1M

15.59%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$237 BMD 237

$122 ฿4,118

93.57%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$119 BMD 119

$13.59 ฿457

775.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$158 BMD 158

$18.70 ฿629

746.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.5 ฿2,034

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.98 ฿571

Cinema Ticket

$13.34 BMD 13.34

$9.07 ฿305

47.08%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,335 BMD 1,335

$706 ฿23.8K

88.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.0K BMD 25.0K

$15.8K ฿531.5K

58.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$78.5 BMD 78.5

$58.6 ฿1,969

34.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.9 BMD 59.9

$35.36 ฿1,189

69.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$138 BMD 138

$115 ฿3,883

19.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$129 BMD 129

$83.7 ฿2,816

53.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$626 ฿21.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,475 BMD 1,475

$445 ฿15.0K

231.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,040 ฿68.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$8,022 BMD 8,022

$1,492 ฿50.2K

437.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,483 ฿117.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,577 ฿86.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$9,656 BMD 9,656

$500 ฿16.8K

1831.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.22

5.33

35.46%

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

Last update for Southampton: July 13, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Southampton pays 1832% 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: $183 in Southampton vs $46.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $822 vs $289 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

Southampton vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear. The 193% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 1832% higher in Southampton, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Childcare runs $1,335 in Southampton versus $706 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Phuket – a meal for two runs $46.00 versus $183 in Southampton. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,250 in Phuket versus $3,667 in Southampton, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Southampton. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Southampton, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Southampton 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.

Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 193% less than in Southampton. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.