Cost of Living Comparison Between Toms River, NJ and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Toms River, NJ and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,753 in Toms River, NJ versus $1,250 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,222 in Toms River, NJ versus $2,284 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,691 in Toms River, NJ versus $3,317 in Phuket.

Living in Toms River, NJ is roughly 120% more expensive than in Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Toms River, NJ is 106% above, Phuket is 6% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.13 $18.13

$4.55 ฿153

298.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.2 $81.2

$46.18 ฿1,553

75.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.47 $11.47

$8.84 ฿297

29.75%

Cappuccino

$4.92 $4.92

$3.06 ฿103

60.78%

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

$2.38 $2.38

$0.73 ฿24.40

226.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 $1.33

$0.40 ฿13.39

232.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.87 $4.87

$2.43 ฿81.8

100.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.59 $6.59

$3.78 ฿127

74.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$2.26 ฿76.0

-40.27%

White Bread (500g)

$5.04 $5.04

$1.81 ฿60.9

178.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.25 ฿75.8

4.44%

Eggs

$4.64 $4.64

$2.25 ฿75.5

106.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.48 $17.48

$19.51 ฿656

-10.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.21 $16.21

$3.65 ฿123

344.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.78 $16.78

$13.05 ฿439

28.58%

Apples (1kg)

$5.78 $5.78

$3.23 ฿109

78.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.62 ฿54.4

-16.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.15 $5.15

$2.38 ฿80.1

116.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.21 $6.21

$2.03 ฿68.1

205.91%

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.53 ฿51.6

-0.65%

Onion (1kg)

$2.71 $2.71

$1.50 ฿50.5

80.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.56 $2.56

$0.98 ฿32.91

161.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$0.52 ฿17.39

278.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.18 $10.18

$4.44 ฿149

129.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.21 $10.21

$18.32 ฿616

-44.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.91 $2.91

$1.86 ฿62.7

56.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 $3.72

$2.68 ฿90.1

38.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.05 $2.05

$1.41 ฿47.46

45.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.70 ฿393

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.05 $5.05

$3.11 ฿105

62.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.22 $2.22

$1.04 ฿35.06

113.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.97 $41.97

$14.11 ฿474

197.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 $0.79

$1.31 ฿44.10

-39.69%

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

$34.8K $34.8K

$27.8K ฿935.4K

25.08%

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

$27.5K $27.5K

$33.2K ฿1.1M

-17.32%

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

$185 $185

$122 ฿4,118

51.01%

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

$30.25 $30.25

$13.59 ฿457

122.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.1 $62.1

$18.70 ฿629

232.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.56 $29.56

$60.5 ฿2,034

-51.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.98 ฿571

Cinema Ticket

$14.73 $14.73

$9.07 ฿305

62.40%

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

$3,103 $3,103

$706 ฿23.8K

339.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$56.3K $56.3K

$15.8K ฿531.5K

256.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.8 $67.8

$58.6 ฿1,969

15.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.19 $47.19

$35.36 ฿1,189

33.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 $111

$115 ฿3,883

-3.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$171 $171

$83.7 ฿2,816

104.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,637 $1,637

$626 ฿21.0K

161.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,523 $1,523

$445 ฿15.0K

242.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,842 $2,842

$2,040 ฿68.6K

39.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,806 $2,806

$1,492 ฿50.2K

88.03%

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)

$4,799 $4,799

$500 ฿16.8K

860.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

5.33

20.83%

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

Last update for Toms River, NJ: July 13, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,637 in Toms River, NJ and $626 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Toms River, NJ pays 860% 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: $81.0 in Toms River, NJ vs $46.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $451 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

Toms River, NJ vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 120% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 860% higher in Toms River, NJ, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,637 in Toms River, NJ versus $626 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $3,103 in Toms River, NJ 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 $81.0 in Toms River, NJ. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,250 in Phuket versus $2,753 in Toms River, NJ, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Toms River, NJ. 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 Toms River, NJ, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Toms River, NJ 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 120% less than in Toms River, NJ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.