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 $2,100 per month in Fargo, ND vs $1,265 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,236 per month in Fargo, ND vs $2,297 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,372 per month in Fargo, ND vs $3,329 in Phuket, rent included.

Fargo, ND costs about 66% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Fargo, ND sits 57% above the global median, while Phuket is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.72 $14.72

$4.70 ฿154

213.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.4 $50.4

$45.37 ฿1,489

11.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.84 $10.84

$8.43 ฿277

28.59%

Cappuccino

$5.37 $5.37

$2.93 ฿96.1

83.28%

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

$2.56 $2.56

$0.69 ฿22.50

271.01%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 $2.01

$0.37 ฿12.04

443.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.74 $5.74

$2.41 ฿79.0

138.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.29 $8.29

$3.72 ฿122

122.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$2.23 ฿73.3

-45.29%

White Bread (500g)

$3.39 $3.39

$1.83 ฿60.1

85.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.86 $5.86

$2.17 ฿71.1

170.05%

Eggs

$4.03 $4.03

$2.21 ฿72.6

82.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.30 $12.30

$19.74 ฿648

-37.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.17 $15.17

$3.63 ฿119

317.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.24 $19.24

$13.53 ฿444

42.20%

Apples (1kg)

$8.18 $8.18

$3.28 ฿108

149.39%

Banana (1kg)

$2.71 $2.71

$1.61 ฿52.9

68.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.37 $6.37

$2.41 ฿79.0

164.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.78 $4.78

$2.08 ฿68.4

129.81%

Potato (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$1.53 ฿50.2

145.10%

Onion (1kg)

$3.52 $3.52

$1.48 ฿48.58

137.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.96 $1.96

$0.99 ฿32.44

97.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$0.51 ฿16.74

413.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.15 $9.15

$4.41 ฿145

107.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.81 $18.81

$19.38 ฿636

-2.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$1.78 ฿58.4

43.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.93 $4.93

$2.71 ฿89.0

81.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.37 ฿44.99

7.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.80 $41.80

$11.39 ฿374

266.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.58 $4.58

$3.02 ฿99.1

51.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 $1.63

$0.99 ฿32.63

64.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.94 $28.94

$14.10 ฿463

105.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 $0.85

$1.36 ฿44.71

-37.50%

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

$32.6K $32.6K

$28.2K ฿925.3K

15.67%

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

$25.2K $25.2K

$32.9K ฿1.1M

-23.47%

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

$162 $162

$122 ฿3,993

33.47%

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

$54.8 $54.8

$13.57 ฿445

303.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.0 $57.0

$18.31 ฿601

211.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.4 $54.4

$60.2 ฿1,976

-9.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 ฿562

Cinema Ticket

$13.90 $13.90

$8.69 ฿285

59.95%

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

$1,223 $1,223

$693 ฿22.8K

76.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.2K $23.2K

$15.7K ฿514.7K

47.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.1 $50.1

$59.5 ฿1,953

-15.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.64 $46.64

$34.77 ฿1,141

34.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.9 $90.9

$115 ฿3,760

-20.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 $109

$83.3 ฿2,733

31.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$946 $946

$613 ฿20.1K

54.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$746 $746

$437 ฿14.3K

70.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,523 $2,523

$2,094 ฿68.7K

20.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,528 $1,528

$1,509 ฿49.5K

1.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,802 $1,802

$3,749 ฿123.0K

-51.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,806 $1,806

$2,616 ฿85.8K

-30.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,727 $3,727

$508 ฿16.7K

633.53%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $946 in Fargo, ND versus $613 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 634% 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 $50.0 in Fargo, ND versus $45.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $480 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

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

Fargo, ND costs about 66% 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 $3,151 per month in Fargo, ND and $1,898 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 $45.00 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 $2,100 in Fargo, ND and $1,265 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 $1,265, than in Fargo, ND at $2,100. 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 $1,265 versus $2,100 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.