Cost of Living Comparison Between Tulsa, OK and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Tulsa, OK and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,209 in Tulsa, OK versus $1,264 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,239 in Tulsa, OK versus $2,256 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,269 in Tulsa, OK versus $3,248 in Phuket.

Living in Tulsa, OK is roughly 75% more expensive than in Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Tulsa, OK is 66% above, Phuket is 5% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tulsa, OK
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.85 $16.85
$4.48 ฿150
276.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.7 $69.7
$45.59 ฿1,521
52.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.92 $9.92
$8.76 ฿292
13.24%
Cappuccino
$4.98 $4.98
$2.97 ฿99.0
67.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57 $2.57
$0.69 ฿22.90
272.46%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 $1.72
$0.39 ฿13.04
341.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.87 $4.87
$2.53 ฿84.4
92.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.33 $6.33
$3.75 ฿125
68.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tulsa, OK
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 $1.09
$2.15 ฿71.6
-49.30%
White Bread (500g)
$3.79 $3.79
$1.82 ฿60.6
108.24%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.83 $5.83
$2.18 ฿72.9
167.43%
Eggs
$3.55 $3.55
$2.25 ฿75.0
57.78%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.94 $10.94
$20.00 ฿667
-45.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.21 $11.21
$3.63 ฿121
208.82%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.80 $14.80
$13.56 ฿452
9.14%
Apples (1kg)
$4.18 $4.18
$3.24 ฿108
29.01%
Banana (1kg)
$1.77 $1.77
$1.64 ฿54.6
7.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.58 $3.58
$2.33 ฿77.8
53.65%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.10 $4.10
$2.07 ฿69.1
98.07%
Potato (1kg)
$2.73 $2.73
$1.55 ฿51.6
76.13%
Onion (1kg)
$3.17 $3.17
$1.46 ฿48.54
117.12%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.81 $1.81
$0.98 ฿32.86
84.69%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.00 $2.00
$0.48 ฿16.09
316.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.28 $9.28
$4.35 ฿145
113.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.24 $13.24
$18.57 ฿620
-28.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 $1.70
$1.86 ฿61.9
-8.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.70 $3.70
$2.65 ฿88.6
39.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Tulsa, OK
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.74 $1.74
$1.42 ฿47.28
22.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.94 $44.94
$11.57 ฿386
288.42%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.01 $2.01
$3.17 ฿106
-36.59%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.26 $1.26
$1.03 ฿34.41
22.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.06 $30.06
$13.89 ฿463
116.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.74 $0.74
$1.34 ฿44.84
-44.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.5K $35.5K
$27.8K ฿927.1K
27.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.2K $25.2K
$33.4K ฿1.1M
-24.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tulsa, OK
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$235 $235
$123 ฿4,105
90.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$56.7 $56.7
$13.77 ฿459
311.40%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.9 $65.9
$18.33 ฿611
259.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tulsa, OK
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.02 $48.02
$60.7 ฿2,025
-20.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.66 $19.66
$17.16 ฿573
14.57%
Cinema Ticket
$13.76 $13.76
$8.87 ฿296
55.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tulsa, OK
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,077 $1,077
$688 ฿22.9K
56.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.3K $25.3K
$15.8K ฿526.4K
60.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tulsa, OK
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.4 $65.4
$59.3 ฿1,978
10.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.11 $46.11
$34.69 ฿1,157
32.92%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$114 $114
$115 ฿3,843
-1.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118 $118
$83.8 ฿2,794
41.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tulsa, OK
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,168 $1,168
$621 ฿20.7K
88.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$882 $882
$446 ฿14.9K
97.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,771 $1,771
$2,034 ฿67.8K
-12.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,436 $1,436
$1,496 ฿49.9K
-4.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,820 $1,820
$3,455 ฿115.3K
-47.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,672 $1,672
$2,531 ฿84.4K
-33.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tulsa, OK
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,399 $3,399
$494 ฿16.5K
588.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.56
5.33
23.08%

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

Last update for Tulsa, OK: July 27, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,168 in Tulsa, OK and $621 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tulsa, OK pays 589% 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: $70.0 in Tulsa, OK vs $46.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $374 vs $291 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
Tulsa, OK vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Tulsa, OK?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 75% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Tulsa, OK or Phuket?
Average pay runs 589% higher in Tulsa, OK, 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 Tulsa, OK and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,168 in Tulsa, OK versus $621 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $1,077 in Tulsa, OK versus $688 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Tulsa, OK and in Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 29% higher in Tulsa, OK. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Tulsa, OK or in Phuket?
At $1,264 in Phuket versus $2,209 in Tulsa, OK, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Tulsa, OK. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Tulsa, OK or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Tulsa, OK, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Tulsa, OK or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Tulsa, OK 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 75% less than in Tulsa, OK. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Tulsa, OK vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities