Cost of Living Comparison Between Carlsbad, CA and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Carlsbad, CA and Phuket

😐 Solo nomad: Carlsbad, CA is 69.5% more expensive than Phuket without rent, and 196.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Carlsbad, CA is 70.5% more expensive than Phuket without rent, and 102.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Carlsbad, CA
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.84 $19.84
$4.68 ฿151
323.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$82.3 $82.3
$46.4 ฿1,502
77.41%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.92 $11.92
$8.65 ฿280
37.80%
Cappuccino
$5.02 $5.02
$3.09 ฿100
62.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72 $2.72
$0.73 ฿23.53
272.60%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97 $1.97
$0.37 ฿11.95
432.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.8 $6.8
$2.39 ฿77.4
184.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.02 $7.02
$3.62 ฿117
93.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Carlsbad, CA
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.11 $1.11
$2.24 ฿72.5
-50.45%
White Bread (500g)
$4.12 $4.12
$1.8 ฿58.2
128.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.01 $4.01
$2.24 ฿72.3
79.02%
Eggs
$5.65 $5.65
$2.23 ฿72.1
153.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.8 $10.8
$19.31 ฿625
-44.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.32 $8.32
$3.77 ฿122
120.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.6 $14.6
$13.05 ฿422
11.88%
Apples (1kg)
$3.37 $3.37
$3.28 ฿106
2.74%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 $1.72
$1.63 ฿52.6
5.52%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.82 $2.82
$2.4 ฿77.7
17.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.68 $5.68
$1.99 ฿64.3
185.43%
Potato (1kg)
$3.66 $3.66
$1.53 ฿49.62
139.22%
Onion (1kg)
$3.21 $3.21
$1.49 ฿48.11
115.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.4 $1.4
$1.02 ฿32.87
37.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.09 $2.09
$0.48 ฿15.61
335.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.95 $10.95
$4.32 ฿140
153.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.07 $15.07
$21.68 ฿702
-30.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.47 $1.47
$1.77 ฿57.3
-16.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.2 $1.2
$2.79 ฿90.4
-56.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Carlsbad, CA
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.35 ฿43.74
87.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$178 $178
$11.76 ฿380
1413.78%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$9.94 $9.94
$3.15 ฿102
215.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.71 $1.71
$1 ฿32.3
71.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.91 $34.91
$13.64 ฿442
155.94%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 $1.24
$1.3 ฿42.2
-4.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.3K $24.3K
$27.4K ฿885.2K
-11.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.1K $24.1K
$33.9K ฿1.1M
-28.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Carlsbad, CA
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$241 $241
$123 ฿3,970
96.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$46.27 $46.27
$13.93 ฿451
232.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.2 $60.2
$18.24 ฿590
229.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Carlsbad, CA
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$84.4 $84.4
$60.8 ฿1,966
38.93%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$32.38 $32.38
$17.11 ฿554
89.25%
Cinema Ticket
$20.93 $20.93
$9.07 ฿294
130.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Carlsbad, CA
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,187 $1,187
$694 ฿22.5K
70.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.1K $23.1K
$15.9K ฿514.4K
45.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Carlsbad, CA
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.2 $53.2
$57.5 ฿1,861
-7.49%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.3 $24.3
$34.51 ฿1,117
-29.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.6 $76.6
$115 ฿3,727
-33.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.8 $84.8
$84.8 ฿2,743
0.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Carlsbad, CA
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,628 $2,628
$611 ฿19.8K
330.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,220 $2,220
$442 ฿14.3K
401.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,364 $4,364
$2,014 ฿65.2K
116.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,508 $3,508
$1,460 ฿47.2K
140.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,959 $6,959
$4,244 ฿137.3K
63.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,253 $6,253
$2,886 ฿93.4K
116.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Carlsbad, CA
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,553 $6,553
$697 ฿22.5K
840.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.97
5.33
12.01%

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

Last update for Carlsbad, CA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Phuket: October 29, 2025

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