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: $3,686 in Southampton versus $1,265 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $8,489 in Southampton versus $2,297 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $13.3K in Southampton versus $3,329 in Phuket.

Living in Southampton is roughly 191% more expensive than 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

$59.1 BMD 59.1

$4.70 ฿153

1156.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$177 BMD 177

$45.37 ฿1,482

290.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.88 BMD 14.88

$8.43 ฿275

76.51%

Cappuccino

$6.47 BMD 6.47

$2.93 ฿95.6

120.82%

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

$3.33 BMD 3.33

$0.69 ฿22.40

382.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 BMD 2.94

$0.37 ฿11.99

694.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.90 BMD 9.90

$2.41 ฿78.6

310.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.40 BMD 8.40

$3.72 ฿122

125.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.34 BMD 4.34

$2.23 ฿72.9

94.62%

White Bread (500g)

$8.63 BMD 8.63

$1.83 ฿59.8

371.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.43 BMD 5.43

$2.17 ฿70.8

150.23%

Eggs

$7.65 BMD 7.65

$2.21 ฿72.3

246.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.48 BMD 11.48

$19.74 ฿645

-41.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$24.02 BMD 24.02

$3.63 ฿119

561.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$32.59 BMD 32.59

$13.53 ฿442

140.87%

Apples (1kg)

$10.18 BMD 10.18

$3.28 ฿107

210.37%

Banana (1kg)

$6.43 BMD 6.43

$1.61 ฿52.6

299.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$12.66 BMD 12.66

$2.41 ฿78.6

425.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$11.41 BMD 11.41

$2.08 ฿68.1

448.56%

Potato (1kg)

$8.31 BMD 8.31

$1.53 ฿49.93

443.14%

Onion (1kg)

$5.16 BMD 5.16

$1.48 ฿48.36

248.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$6.15 BMD 6.15

$0.99 ฿32.29

521.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.21 BMD 3.21

$0.51 ฿16.67

529.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$17.76 BMD 17.76

$4.41 ฿144

302.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$25.42 BMD 25.42

$19.38 ฿633

31.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.43 BMD 5.43

$1.78 ฿58.1

205.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 BMD 4.39

$2.71 ฿88.6

61.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.37 ฿44.79

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.39 ฿372

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.40 BMD 6.40

$3.02 ฿98.6

111.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 ฿32.48

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$53.8 BMD 53.8

$14.10 ฿461

281.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.01 BMD 2.01

$1.36 ฿44.51

47.79%

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

$34.3K BMD 34.3K

$28.2K ฿921.1K

21.64%

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

$38.4K BMD 38.4K

$32.9K ฿1.1M

16.82%

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

$232 BMD 232

$122 ฿3,975

90.69%

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

$120 BMD 120

$13.57 ฿443

783.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$157 BMD 157

$18.31 ฿598

757.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.2 ฿1,967

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 ฿560

Cinema Ticket

$13.51 BMD 13.51

$8.69 ฿284

55.47%

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

$1,342 BMD 1,342

$693 ฿22.6K

93.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.4K BMD 24.4K

$15.7K ฿512.3K

55.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$78.5 BMD 78.5

$59.5 ฿1,944

31.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.8 BMD 60.8

$34.77 ฿1,136

74.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$139 BMD 139

$115 ฿3,743

21.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$126 BMD 126

$83.3 ฿2,720

51.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$613 ฿20.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,518 BMD 1,518

$437 ฿14.3K

247.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,094 ฿68.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$7,968 BMD 7,968

$1,509 ฿49.3K

427.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,749 ฿122.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,616 ฿85.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$9,756 BMD 9,756

$508 ฿16.6K

1819.99%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Southampton pays 1820% 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: $177 in Southampton vs $45.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $817 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

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 191% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Southampton pays 1820% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Childcare runs $1,342 in Southampton versus $693 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 $45.00 versus $177 in Southampton. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,265 in Phuket versus $3,686 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 191% less than in Southampton. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.