Cost of Living

Phuket, Thailand

Live cost-of-living data for Phuket — rent, groceries, transport, healthcare and more, sourced and cross-checked by AI and refreshed regularly.

CheapestNew York = 100
20/ 10080% cheaper than New York
$1,190/mo
Median Income
45/100
Safety
15%
Income Tax
tropical monsoon
Climate

Cost Breakdown by Category

Each score runs 0–100, where higher means pricier. Representative prices shown per category.

Housing
25/100
1-Bed Apartment (City Center)$540/month
1-Bed Apartment (Outside Center)$380/month
3-Bed Apartment (City Center)$1,000/month
Food & Groceries
18/100
Milk (1 liter)$1.45/liter
Bread (500g loaf)$1/loaf
Rice (1 kg)$0.85/kg
Transportation
20/100
Monthly Transit Pass$40/month
One-Way Ticket$1.15/trip
Taxi (1 km)$0.8/km
Utilities
20/100
Basic (Elec, Heat, Water, Garbage) 85m2$85/month
Internet (60+ Mbps)$22/month
Mobile Plan (10GB+)$14/month
Healthcare
50/100
Doctor Visit (15 min)$35/visit
Dentist Visit$45/visit
Prescription Medicine (avg)$8/course
Education
40/100
Preschool/Kindergarten (monthly)$350/month
International Primary School (yearly)$8,500/year
Language Course (12 weeks)$250/course
Entertainment
35/100
Cinema Ticket (1 seat)$6.5/ticket
Theater Ticket$25/ticket
Museum Entry$8/ticket
Clothing
35/100
Jeans (Levi's or similar)$40/pair
Summer Dress (Zara/H&M)$25/piece
Running Shoes (Nike/Adidas)$55/pair
Personal Care
25/100
Haircut (Men)$6/cut
Haircut (Women)$12/cut
Shampoo (400ml)$2.5/bottle
Dining Out
22/100
Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant$4/meal
Meal for 2 (Mid-Range)$25/meal
McMeal at McDonald's$5/meal
Childcare
35/100
Full-Day Daycare (monthly)$450/month
Babysitter (per hour)$6/hour
Pack of Diapers (60 ct)$10/pack
Fitness & Sports
30/100
Gym Membership (monthly)$25/month
Tennis Court Rent (1 hr)$12/hour
Swimming Pool (adult entry)$4/entry

Digital Nomad Profile

95 Mbps
Internet Speed
$175
Coworking/Month
good
Café WiFi
moderate
English Level
growing
Nomad Community
58/100
Walkability

Best neighborhoods: Kata Beach, Rawai, Patong Beach

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Phuket cheap to live in?

Phuket has a cost of living index of 20/100, where New York = 100. It is 80% cheaper than New York. A single person can live comfortably for approximately $700–$980 per month.

How much does rent cost in Phuket?

A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center of Phuket costs approximately $540/month. Outside the center, expect to pay around $380/month.

Is Phuket good for digital nomads?

Phuket has a growing digital nomad community. Average internet speed is 95 Mbps, café wifi reliability is good, and coworking spaces run about $175/month. English proficiency is moderate.

What is the average salary in Phuket?

The median net monthly salary in Phuket is approximately $1,190 USD. The income tax rate is around 15%.

How does Phuket compare to New York for cost of living?

Phuket (cost index 20) is 80% cheaper than New York (cost index 100). You could save roughly $2,000/month by moving from New York to Phuket.

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