Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between The Villages, FL and Phuket

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,208 a month against $2,190 in The Villages, FL, rent and utilities included – about $11,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

The Villages, FL
🇺🇸 United States
$2,190
/mo nomad
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,208
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in The Villages, FL 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 The Villages, FL and in Phuket actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,190 in The Villages, FL versus $1,208 in Phuket.

  • The Villages, FL $2,190
  • Phuket $1,208

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,452 in The Villages, FL versus $2,027 in Phuket.

  • The Villages, FL $3,452
  • Phuket $2,027

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,714 in The Villages, FL versus $2,845 in Phuket.

  • The Villages, FL $4,714
  • Phuket $2,845

Living in The Villages, FL is roughly 81% more expensive than in Phuket, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: The Villages, FL is 62% above, Phuket is 11% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
The Villages, FL
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.08 $12.08
$4.40 ฿147
174.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.2 $75.2
$32.26 ฿1,078
133.11%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.71 $8.71
$8.76 ฿293
-0.57%
Cappuccino
$4.45 $4.45
$2.83 ฿94.5
57.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57 $2.57
$0.90 ฿30.14
185.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46 $2.46
$0.47 ฿15.56
423.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.97 $4.97
$2.55 ฿85.2
94.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.08 $7.08
$3.83 ฿128
84.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
The Villages, FL
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.02 $1.02
$1.73 ฿57.7
-41.04%
White Bread (500g)
$3.55 $3.55
$1.47 ฿49.11
141.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.31 $4.31
$1.51 ฿50.6
185.43%
Eggs
$4.26 $4.26
$2.17 ฿72.7
96.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.54 $12.54
$19.70 ฿658
-36.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.41 $11.41
$3.34 ฿112
241.62%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.25 $17.25
$11.16 ฿373
54.57%
Apples (1kg)
$4.90 $4.90
$2.85 ฿95.1
71.93%
Banana (1kg)
$1.29 $1.29
$1.70 ฿56.9
-24.12%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.38 $4.38
$2.19 ฿73.3
100.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.81 $4.81
$2.05 ฿68.4
134.63%
Potato (1kg)
$3.05 $3.05
$1.45 ฿48.57
110.34%
Onion (1kg)
$2.70 $2.70
$1.38 ฿46.16
95.65%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.19 $2.19
$1.07 ฿35.69
104.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.41 $2.41
$0.51 ฿16.91
372.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.05 $10.05
$4.26 ฿142
135.92%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.16 $15.16
$18.58 ฿621
-18.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.16 $2.16
$1.78 ฿59.7
21.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.65 $3.65
$2.85 ฿95.2
28.07%
🚌 Getting Around
The Villages, FL
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.91 $1.91
$2.26 ฿75.6
-15.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$22.10 ฿738
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.08 $3.08
$3.01 ฿101
2.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.85 $1.85
$1.06 ฿35.34
74.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$26.49 $26.49
$3.86 ฿129
586.27%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.88 $0.88
$1.45 ฿48.45
-39.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.4K $25.4K
$26.3K ฿879.9K
-3.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.8K $24.8K
$26.9K ฿900.4K
-7.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
The Villages, FL
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$195 $195
$96.4 ฿3,221
102.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.2 $59.2
$11.04 ฿369
436.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.8 $69.8
$17.14 ฿573
307.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
The Villages, FL
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.22 $41.22
$52.2 ฿1,744
-21.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$11.16 ฿373
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.72 $13.72
$7.81 ฿261
75.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
The Villages, FL
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,260 $1,260
$556 ฿18.6K
126.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.3K $22.3K
$11.6K ฿387.0K
92.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
The Villages, FL
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.9 $53.9
$64.2 ฿2,146
-16.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.33 $41.33
$28.69 ฿959
44.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.9 $84.9
$95.4 ฿3,187
-11.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116 $116
$88.0 ฿2,940
31.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
The Villages, FL
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,426 $1,426
$737 ฿24.6K
93.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,008 $1,008
$462 ฿15.5K
117.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,785 $2,785
$2,095 ฿70.0K
32.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,096 $2,096
$1,201 ฿40.1K
74.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,721 $2,721
$3,488 ฿116.6K
-21.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,336 $2,336
$2,523 ฿84.3K
-7.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
The Villages, FL
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,414 $6,414
$501 ฿16.7K
1180.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.47
5.57
16.16%

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

Last update for The Villages, FL: October 18, 2026

Last update for Phuket: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
The Villages, FL
$1K
Phuket
$462 54.1% $545
Groceries & Markets
The Villages, FL
$401
Phuket
$269 33% $132
Monthly Utilities & Internet
The Villages, FL
$325
Phuket
$125 61.6% $200
Eating Out
The Villages, FL
$235
Phuket
$121 48.5% $114
Clothing & Footwear
The Villages, FL
$133
Phuket
$124 6.6% $8.8
Sport & Entertainment
The Villages, FL
$69
Phuket
$68 1.3% $0.9
Getting Around
The Villages, FL
$20 *
Phuket
$39 97.7% $19

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 $1,426 in The Villages, FL and $737 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

The Villages, FL pays 1181% 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: $75.0 in The Villages, FL vs $32.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $401 vs $269 per month, with Phuket cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 The Villages, FL
🇹🇭 Phuket
🕒 Local time
10:54 10:54 AM
21:54 9:54 PM
11 h ahead of The Villages, FL
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,077
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 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 22, 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
  • The Villages, FL Phuket 15,920 km ≈ 20 h nonstop flight
From you
  • The Villages, FL
  • 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
The Villages, FL vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than The Villages, FL?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 81% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: The Villages, FL or Phuket?
Average pay runs 1181% higher in The Villages, FL, 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 The Villages, FL and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,426 in The Villages, FL versus $737 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $1,260 in The Villages, FL versus $556 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in The Villages, FL or in Phuket?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket – a meal for two runs $32.00 versus $75.0 in The Villages, FL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in The Villages, FL or in Phuket?
At $1,208 in Phuket versus $2,190 in The Villages, FL, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in The Villages, FL. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is The Villages, FL or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in The Villages, FL, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, The Villages, FL or Phuket?
Safety-wise, The Villages, FL 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 81% less than in The Villages, FL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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