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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,370 per month in Davis, CA vs $1,232 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,980 per month in Davis, CA vs $2,054 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,590 per month in Davis, CA vs $2,876 in Phuket, rent included.

Davis, CA costs about 174% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Davis, CA sits 146% above the global median, while Phuket is 10% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.46 $22.46

$4.41 ฿147

409.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.3 $99.3

$32.26 ฿1,077

207.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.25 $13.25

$8.93 ฿298

48.38%

Cappuccino

$5.24 $5.24

$2.90 ฿96.6

80.69%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 $3.61

$0.88 ฿29.38

310.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$0.48 ฿16.06

377.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.98 $7.98

$2.35 ฿78.5

239.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.23 $8.23

$3.72 ฿124

121.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 $1.33

$1.87 ฿62.3

-28.88%

White Bread (500g)

$3.67 $3.67

$1.47 ฿48.94

149.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.02 $4.02

$1.55 ฿51.8

159.35%

Eggs

$5.23 $5.23

$2.10 ฿70.1

149.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.87 $10.87

$19.59 ฿654

-44.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.25 $15.25

$3.42 ฿114

345.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.01 $17.01

$11.38 ฿380

49.47%

Apples (1kg)

$4.86 $4.86

$2.98 ฿99.6

63.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.68 ฿56.2

-1.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.50 $4.50

$2.21 ฿73.7

103.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.76 $4.76

$2.16 ฿72.1

120.37%

Potato (1kg)

$2.72 $2.72

$1.52 ฿50.9

78.95%

Onion (1kg)

$3.01 $3.01

$1.34 ฿44.67

124.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.31 $2.31

$1.13 ฿37.67

104.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$0.55 ฿18.24

305.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.16 $10.16

$4.26 ฿142

138.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.21 $16.21

$19.09 ฿637

-15.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.10 $2.10

$1.78 ฿59.4

17.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 $3.43

$2.78 ฿92.9

23.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$2.23 ฿74.4

-31.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.07 $38.07

$22.74 ฿759

67.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.45 $3.45

$3.03 ฿101

13.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.02 ฿34.15

49.02%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.61 $27.61

$3.89 ฿130

609.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 $1.30

$1.49 ฿49.77

-12.75%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$36.2K $36.2K

$26.6K ฿887.3K

36.36%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.3K $25.3K

$27.0K ฿902.2K

-6.33%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$290 $290

$102 ฿3,420

182.85%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$56.1 $56.1

$11.33 ฿378

394.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.5 $76.5

$17.40 ฿581

339.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$58.5 $58.5

$52.1 ฿1,738

12.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.07 ฿370

Cinema Ticket

$15.63 $15.63

$7.69 ฿257

103.25%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,402 $1,402

$561 ฿18.7K

150.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.8K $22.8K

$11.5K ฿384.1K

98.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.7 $53.7

$63.0 ฿2,104

-14.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.91 $41.91

$29.52 ฿986

41.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.3 $96.3

$98.0 ฿3,272

-1.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$88.5 ฿2,954

29.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,184 $2,184

$738 ฿24.6K

195.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,892 $1,892

$482 ฿16.1K

292.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,809 $3,809

$2,107 ฿70.3K

80.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,369 $3,369

$1,226 ฿40.9K

174.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,771 $2,771

$3,617 ฿120.7K

-23.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,405 $2,405

$2,603 ฿86.9K

-7.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,954 $4,954

$494 ฿16.5K

903.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.1

5.57

9.52%

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

Last update for Davis, CA: September 14, 2026

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,184 in Davis, CA versus $738 in Phuket. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 904% higher in Davis, CA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $99.0 in Davis, CA versus $32.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $423 vs $274 – making Phuket the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Davis, CA vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Davis, CA is pricier by about 174%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,056 per month in Davis, CA and $1,847 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,370 in Davis, CA and $1,232 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 67% less in Phuket. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,232, than in Davis, CA at $3,370. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Davis, CA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Phuket – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Davis, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.