Cost of Living Comparison Between Fargo, ND and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Fargo, ND and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,045 per month in Fargo, ND vs $1,270 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,203 per month in Fargo, ND vs $2,304 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,361 per month in Fargo, ND vs $3,339 in Phuket, rent included.

Fargo, ND costs about 61% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Fargo, ND sits 53% above the global median, while Phuket is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.92 $14.92

$4.66 ฿150

220.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.5 $50.5

$46.44 ฿1,496

8.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.95 $10.95

$8.68 ฿280

26.15%

Cappuccino

$5.22 $5.22

$2.95 ฿95.0

76.95%

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

$2.66 $2.66

$0.70 ฿22.52

280.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$0.39 ฿12.70

405.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.93 $5.93

$2.53 ฿81.6

134.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.39 $8.39

$3.78 ฿122

121.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$2.22 ฿71.5

-43.24%

White Bread (500g)

$3.40 $3.40

$1.80 ฿57.8

88.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.03 $6.03

$2.19 ฿70.4

175.34%

Eggs

$3.89 $3.89

$2.31 ฿74.5

68.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.45 $12.45

$19.34 ฿623

-35.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.64 $14.64

$3.77 ฿121

288.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.36 $19.36

$13.22 ฿426

46.44%

Apples (1kg)

$8.30 $8.30

$3.33 ฿107

149.25%

Banana (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$1.65 ฿53.1

69.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.42 $6.42

$2.29 ฿73.7

180.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.69 $4.69

$1.99 ฿64.1

135.68%

Potato (1kg)

$3.68 $3.68

$1.53 ฿49.24

140.52%

Onion (1kg)

$3.51 $3.51

$1.51 ฿48.77

132.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.96 $1.96

$1.03 ฿33.12

90.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.73 $2.73

$0.51 ฿16.57

435.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.94 $8.94

$4.41 ฿142

102.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.77 $16.77

$19.41 ฿625

-13.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.63 $2.63

$1.80 ฿58.0

46.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.93 $4.93

$2.68 ฿86.4

83.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.43 ฿46.11

7.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.57 $41.57

$11.70 ฿377

255.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.55 $4.55

$3.04 ฿97.9

49.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.60 $1.60

$1.04 ฿33.37

53.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.67 $29.67

$13.68 ฿441

116.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$1.30 ฿41.85

-40.00%

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

$33.4K $33.4K

$27.9K ฿898.9K

19.79%

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

$25.3K $25.3K

$33.0K ฿1.1M

-23.27%

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

$161 $161

$123 ฿3,962

31.11%

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

$54.9 $54.9

$13.82 ฿445

296.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.9 $57.9

$18.86 ฿608

206.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.8 $55.8

$61.2 ฿1,970

-8.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.81 ฿541

Cinema Ticket

$13.89 $13.89

$8.87 ฿286

56.60%

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

$1,252 $1,252

$696 ฿22.4K

79.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.2K $23.2K

$16.1K ฿517.4K

44.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.3 $51.3

$59.3 ฿1,910

-13.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.12 $47.12

$34.85 ฿1,123

35.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.1 $89.1

$113 ฿3,646

-21.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 $108

$85.1 ฿2,740

27.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$970 $970

$615 ฿19.8K

57.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$766 $766

$448 ฿14.4K

70.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,598 $2,598

$2,085 ฿67.2K

24.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,547 $1,547

$1,496 ฿48.2K

3.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,795 $1,795

$3,734 ฿120.3K

-51.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,774 $1,774

$2,662 ฿85.8K

-33.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,785 $3,785

$534 ฿17.2K

609.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.56

5.33

23.08%

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

Last update for Fargo, ND: April 19, 2026

Last update for Phuket: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $970 in Fargo, ND versus $615 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 609% higher in Fargo, ND, 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 $50 in Fargo, ND versus $46 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $478 vs $291 – 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

Fargo, ND vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Fargo, ND costs about 61% more than Phuket, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,067 per month in Fargo, ND and $1,904 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $50.0 in Fargo, ND and $46.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,045 in Fargo, ND and $1,270 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,270, than in Fargo, ND at $2,045. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Fargo, ND it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,270 versus $2,045 in Fargo, ND. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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, Fargo, ND makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.