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 $2,011 per month in Fargo, ND vs $1,232 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,207 per month in Fargo, ND vs $2,054 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,402 per month in Fargo, ND vs $2,876 in Phuket, rent included.

Fargo, ND costs about 63% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Fargo, ND sits 47% above the global median, while Phuket is 10% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.05 $15.05

$4.41 ฿146

241.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.6 $60.6

$32.26 ฿1,071

87.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.05 $11.05

$8.93 ฿297

23.74%

Cappuccino

$5.27 $5.27

$2.90 ฿96.1

81.72%

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

$2.59 $2.59

$0.88 ฿29.22

194.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$0.48 ฿15.97

310.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.35 $5.35

$2.35 ฿78.1

127.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.94 $8.94

$3.72 ฿124

140.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.87 ฿61.9

-34.76%

White Bread (500g)

$3.50 $3.50

$1.47 ฿48.68

138.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$7.50 $7.50

$1.55 ฿51.5

383.87%

Eggs

$4.09 $4.09

$2.10 ฿69.8

94.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.43 $14.43

$19.59 ฿650

-26.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.35 $15.35

$3.42 ฿114

348.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$21.43 $21.43

$11.38 ฿378

88.31%

Apples (1kg)

$10.64 $10.64

$2.98 ฿99.1

257.05%

Banana (1kg)

$2.36 $2.36

$1.68 ฿55.9

40.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.35 $6.35

$2.21 ฿73.3

187.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.66 $5.66

$2.16 ฿71.8

162.04%

Potato (1kg)

$5.07 $5.07

$1.52 ฿50.6

233.55%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$1.34 ฿44.43

185.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.13 ฿37.47

75.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$0.55 ฿18.14

392.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.00 $9.00

$4.26 ฿142

111.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.57 $18.57

$19.09 ฿634

-2.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.61 $2.61

$1.78 ฿59.1

46.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.53 $5.53

$2.78 ฿92.4

98.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.48 $1.48

$2.23 ฿74.0

-33.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.56 $41.56

$22.74 ฿755

82.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.55 $4.55

$3.03 ฿101

50.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ฿33.96

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.89 ฿129

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 $0.94

$1.49 ฿49.50

-36.91%

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

$34.8K $34.8K

$26.6K ฿882.5K

30.83%

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

$24.8K $24.8K

$27.0K ฿897.4K

-8.20%

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

$135 $135

$102 ฿3,402

31.37%

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

$54.2 $54.2

$11.33 ฿376

378.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.6 $58.6

$17.40 ฿578

236.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.9 $55.9

$52.1 ฿1,729

7.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.07 ฿368

Cinema Ticket

$13.68 $13.68

$7.69 ฿255

77.89%

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

$1,243 $1,243

$561 ฿18.6K

121.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ฿382.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.7 $51.7

$63.0 ฿2,093

-17.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.04 $47.04

$29.52 ฿980

59.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.0 $91.0

$98.0 ฿3,254

-7.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 $101

$88.5 ฿2,938

13.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$939 $939

$738 ฿24.5K

27.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$689 $689

$482 ฿16.0K

42.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,237 $2,237

$2,107 ฿69.9K

6.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,493 $1,493

$1,226 ฿40.7K

21.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,788 $1,788

$3,617 ฿120.1K

-50.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,777 $1,777

$2,603 ฿86.4K

-31.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,773 $3,773

$494 ฿16.4K

664.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.3

5.57

13.11%

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

Last update for Fargo, ND: September 12, 2026

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $939 in Fargo, ND 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 664% 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 $61.0 in Fargo, ND versus $32.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $524 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

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

Fargo, ND costs about 63% 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 $3,017 per month in Fargo, ND 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in Fargo, ND and $32.00 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 $2,011 in Fargo, ND and $1,232 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 $1,232, than in Fargo, ND at $2,011. 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 $1,232 versus $2,011 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.