Auckland vs Phuket: cost of living for digital nomads

Auckland, New Zealand and Phuket, Thailand, line by line from the catalogue: what a month costs, rent, food, coworking, safety and internet. Every figure links back to its source on the city page.

The short version

  • Phuket is about 47% cheaper than Auckland for a month of nomad living ($1,450 vs $2,750).
  • Rent is the biggest gap: $600 in Phuket against $1,500 in Auckland.
  • Auckland scores higher on safety (8/10 vs 7/10).
  • Internet is faster in Phuket: 180 Mbps typical against 48 Mbps.
  • Auckland is temperate; Phuket is tropical.

Auckland wins 1 of the measured lines; Phuket wins 7.

LineAucklandPhuket
Monthly total (USD)$2,750$1,450
Rent$1,500$600
Food$550$380
Transport$110$70
Coworking$250$120
Safety (out of 10)8/107/10
Internet (Mbps)48180
Climatetemperatetropical
City sizemetromid
Settingcoastisland
Nomad score (out of 10)7/108/10

Auckland

Safe and outdoorsy but pricey; strong remote-work culture.

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Costs are typical monthly figures for one person in USD, from the sources named on each city page; safety and internet are the catalogue's own ratings. Check the city pages for the dates each was last verified.