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 $3,274 per month in Davis, CA vs $1,261 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,678 per month in Davis, CA vs $2,286 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,083 per month in Davis, CA vs $3,310 in Phuket, rent included.

Davis, CA costs about 160% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Davis, CA sits 144% above the global median, while Phuket is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.71 $14.71

$4.56 ฿149

222.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.8 $65.8

$46.63 ฿1,519

41.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.85 $11.85

$8.47 ฿276

39.91%

Cappuccino

$4.80 $4.80

$3.03 ฿98.6

58.42%

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

$3.35 $3.35

$0.69 ฿22.45

385.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$0.37 ฿11.92

537.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.03 $8.03

$2.49 ฿81.0

222.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.08 $8.08

$3.66 ฿119

120.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$2.18 ฿71.0

-41.74%

White Bread (500g)

$4.05 $4.05

$1.90 ฿62.0

113.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$2.20 ฿71.6

55.45%

Eggs

$5.23 $5.23

$2.22 ฿72.4

135.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.45 $12.45

$19.99 ฿651

-37.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.56 $11.56

$3.66 ฿119

215.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.62 $24.62

$13.25 ฿432

85.81%

Apples (1kg)

$4.54 $4.54

$3.23 ฿105

40.56%

Banana (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$1.70 ฿55.3

64.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.22 $6.22

$2.39 ฿78.0

160.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.84 $4.84

$2.08 ฿67.7

132.69%

Potato (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$1.59 ฿51.8

140.25%

Onion (1kg)

$3.50 $3.50

$1.48 ฿48.31

136.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.56 $2.56

$1.03 ฿33.54

148.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.52 $3.52

$0.52 ฿16.83

576.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.91 $9.91

$4.25 ฿138

133.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.89 $13.89

$18.79 ฿612

-26.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.76 ฿57.2

0.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.12 $8.12

$2.76 ฿89.8

194.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.36 ฿44.32

-10.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.36 ฿370

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.52 $3.52

$3.14 ฿102

12.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.04 ฿33.74

52.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.77 $29.77

$13.77 ฿448

116.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.34 ฿43.79

-8.96%

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

$28.1K $28.1K

$27.7K ฿901.4K

1.42%

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

$24.1K $24.1K

$33.9K ฿1.1M

-28.77%

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

$234 $234

$124 ฿4,025

89.01%

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

$51.9 $51.9

$13.52 ฿440

284.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.3 $70.3

$18.69 ฿609

276.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.58 $42.58

$61.8 ฿2,013

-31.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.25 ฿562

Cinema Ticket

$11.77 $11.77

$9.14 ฿298

28.77%

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

$1,487 $1,487

$703 ฿22.9K

111.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.4K $23.4K

$15.9K ฿517.0K

47.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.40 $49.40

$59.5 ฿1,937

-16.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.88 $37.88

$35.07 ฿1,142

8.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.0 $98.0

$115 ฿3,754

-15.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$137 $137

$84.1 ฿2,737

62.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,156 $2,156

$619 ฿20.1K

248.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,888 $1,888

$433 ฿14.1K

336.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,415 $3,415

$2,062 ฿67.2K

65.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,213 $3,213

$1,511 ฿49.2K

112.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,740 $2,740

$3,646 ฿118.7K

-24.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,401 $2,401

$2,626 ฿85.5K

-8.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,019 $5,019

$507 ฿16.5K

889.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.36

5.33

19.32%

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

Last update for Davis, CA: June 6, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,156 in Davis, CA versus $619 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 890% 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 $66.0 in Davis, CA versus $47.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $469 vs $293 – 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 160%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,911 per month in Davis, CA and $1,892 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 $3,274 in Davis, CA and $1,261 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,487 per month in Davis, CA and $703 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,261, than in Davis, CA at $3,274. 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.