Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between the United States and Phuket

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,190 a month against $2,785 in the United States, rent and utilities included – about $19,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

🇺🇸 United States
$2,785
/mo nomad
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,190
/mo nomad
😐 Solo nomad: The United States is 75.6% more expensive than Phuket without rent, and 134% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: The United States is 82.6% more expensive than Phuket without rent, and 83.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
United States
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.22 $20.22
$4.35 ฿146
364.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.1 $81.1
$32.45 ฿1,087
150.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.12 $12.12
$8.42 ฿282
43.94%
Cappuccino
$5.36 $5.36
$2.81 ฿94.0
90.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 $2.77
$0.87 ฿29.29
218.39%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09 $2.09
$0.46 ฿15.39
354.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.84 $5.84
$2.59 ฿86.6
125.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.92 $7.92
$3.64 ฿122
117.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United States
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.71 ฿57.2
-39.18%
White Bread (500g)
$3.56 $3.56
$1.45 ฿48.42
145.52%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.69 $4.69
$1.56 ฿52.3
200.64%
Eggs
$4.43 $4.43
$2.10 ฿70.3
110.95%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.91 $12.91
$19.53 ฿654
-33.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.20 $12.20
$3.40 ฿114
258.82%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.00 $17.00
$11.14 ฿373
52.60%
Apples (1kg)
$5.31 $5.31
$2.83 ฿94.8
87.63%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 $1.67
$1.62 ฿54.3
3.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.49 $4.49
$2.22 ฿74.5
102.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.05 $5.05
$2.15 ฿71.9
134.88%
Potato (1kg)
$2.83 $2.83
$1.49 ฿49.95
89.93%
Onion (1kg)
$3.00 $3.00
$1.33 ฿44.40
125.56%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.28 $2.28
$1.07 ฿35.72
113.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.27 $2.27
$0.51 ฿17.01
345.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.33 $10.33
$4.38 ฿147
135.84%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.72 $14.72
$18.77 ฿629
-21.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.05 $2.05
$1.74 ฿58.3
17.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 $3.66
$2.78 ฿92.9
31.65%
🚌 Getting Around
United States
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.33 $2.33
$2.17 ฿72.6
7.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$65.1 $65.1
$22.28 ฿746
191.97%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.60 $3.60
$3.02 ฿101
19.21%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.90 $1.90
$1.06 ฿35.43
79.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.81 $29.81
$3.71 ฿124
703.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.03 $1.03
$1.43 ฿47.88
-27.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1K $35.1K
$26.3K ฿882.1K
33.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$26.2K ฿877.3K
0.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$216 $216
$96.7 ฿3,236
123.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$62.3 $62.3
$11.41 ฿382
446.10%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$74.6 $74.6
$17.11 ฿573
335.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United States
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.70 $44.70
$52.8 ฿1,768
-15.34%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.55 $22.55
$11.07 ฿371
103.70%
Cinema Ticket
$15.19 $15.19
$7.65 ฿256
98.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United States
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,440 $1,440
$555 ฿18.6K
159.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.2K $25.2K
$11.3K ฿377.7K
123.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United States
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.7 $53.7
$63.4 ฿2,123
-15.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.44 $42.44
$28.61 ฿958
48.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.4 $93.4
$96.7 ฿3,238
-3.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115 $115
$88.6 ฿2,967
29.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United States
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,622 $1,622
$735 ฿24.6K
120.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,357 $1,357
$458 ฿15.3K
196.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,681 $2,681
$2,102 ฿70.4K
27.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,170 $2,170
$1,187 ฿39.7K
82.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,294 $3,294
$3,493 ฿116.9K
-5.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,674 $2,674
$2,491 ฿83.4K
7.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United States
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,242 $4,242
$501 ฿16.8K
746.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.55
5.57
17.59%

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

Last update for the United States: October 6, 2026

Last update for Phuket: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
United States
$1.4K
Phuket
$458 66.2% $899
Groceries & Markets
United States
$411
Phuket
$268 34.8% $143
Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
$353
Phuket
$125 64.5% $228
Eating Out
United States
$327
Phuket
$119 63.5% $208
Clothing & Footwear
United States
$137
Phuket
$125 8.9% $12
Getting Around
United States
$87
Phuket
$39 55.1% $48
Sport & Entertainment
United States
$75
Phuket
$68 9.3% $7
Good to know
🇺🇸 United States
🇹🇭 Phuket
🕒 Local time
06:22 6:22 AM
17:22 5:22 PM
11 h ahead of the United States
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
340,110,988
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 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 33.48 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.52 THB (100 THB = 2.67 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • United States Phuket 15,140 km ≈ 19 h nonstop flight
From you
  • United States
  • 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

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