Can I Afford to Live in Phuket vs Eugene on $40K?

Here's how a $40K/year salary plays out in both cities after taxes, rent, and core living expenses — based on Q1 2026 data.

Phuket, TH
$2,728/mo take-home
Rent: $700/mo (26% of take-home)
Comfortable
Eugene, OR
$2,398/mo take-home
Rent: $1,650/mo (69% of take-home)
Difficult

Monthly budget breakdown

Phuket
TH
Eugene
OR
Monthly take-home (est.)
$2,728Best ✓
$2,398
1BR rent
$700Best ✓
$1,650
Groceries (est.)
$380Best ✓
$395
Transport (est.)
$150
$82Best ✓
Utilities
$80Best ✓
$128
Internet
$28Best ✓
$65
Left after essentials
$1,390/month
$78/month
Phuket (Phuket Province) has no state income tax, boosting take-home vs Eugene (OR rate: 9.9%).

Frequently asked questions

Is $40K a good salary in Phuket?

At $40K/year in Phuket, your estimated monthly take-home is $2,728. With 1BR rent around $700/month, rent takes up 26% of your take-home. That's considered comfortable.

Is $40K a good salary in Eugene?

At $40K/year in Eugene, your estimated monthly take-home is $2,398. With 1BR rent around $1,650/month, rent takes up 69% of your take-home. That's considered difficult.

Which city is more affordable on a $40K salary?

Phuket leaves you with more money after core expenses — $1,390/month vs $78/month in Eugene.

Can I afford to live alone in Phuket on $40K?

Yes. At $40K in Phuket, rent takes 26% of your take-home, leaving $1,390/month after essentials. Most financial planners recommend keeping rent below 30%.

Compare other salary bands — Phuket vs Eugene

$50K$60K$75K$80K$100K$120K$150K

See the full cost-of-living comparison

Rent, groceries, taxes, transportation, and more — side by side.

Full comparison

Take-home estimates use simplified federal/state brackets and do not account for pre-tax deductions, 401(k), or local taxes. Data: Zillow, BLS, Numbeo · Q1 2026 · For general guidance only