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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,469 per month in Fontana, CA vs $1,261 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,136 per month in Fontana, CA vs $2,286 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,804 per month in Fontana, CA vs $3,310 in Phuket, rent included.

Fontana, CA costs about 175% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Fontana, CA sits 158% above the global median, while Phuket is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.27 $18.27

$4.56 ฿149

300.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.1 $79.1

$46.63 ฿1,519

69.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.15 $12.15

$8.47 ฿276

43.45%

Cappuccino

$4.88 $4.88

$3.03 ฿98.6

61.06%

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

$2.94 $2.94

$0.69 ฿22.45

326.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 $2.24

$0.37 ฿11.92

505.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$2.49 ฿81.0

175.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.96 $6.96

$3.66 ฿119

90.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 $1.12

$2.18 ฿71.0

-48.62%

White Bread (500g)

$4.12 $4.12

$1.90 ฿62.0

116.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.55 $4.55

$2.20 ฿71.6

106.82%

Eggs

$4.94 $4.94

$2.22 ฿72.4

122.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.12 $12.12

$19.99 ฿651

-39.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.12 $16.12

$3.66 ฿119

340.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.18 $15.18

$13.25 ฿432

14.57%

Apples (1kg)

$4.54 $4.54

$3.23 ฿105

40.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.89 $1.89

$1.70 ฿55.3

11.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.33 $4.33

$2.39 ฿78.0

81.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.56 $5.56

$2.08 ฿67.7

167.31%

Potato (1kg)

$4.57 $4.57

$1.59 ฿51.8

187.42%

Onion (1kg)

$3.17 $3.17

$1.48 ฿48.31

114.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.03 ฿33.54

39.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.16 $2.16

$0.52 ฿16.83

315.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.20 $11.20

$4.25 ฿138

163.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.14 $16.14

$18.79 ฿612

-14.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.02 $2.02

$1.76 ฿57.2

14.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 $3.47

$2.76 ฿89.8

25.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.36 ฿44.32

43.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.59 $44.59

$11.36 ฿370

292.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.50 $6.50

$3.14 ฿102

107.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.24 $4.24

$1.04 ฿33.74

307.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.24 $29.24

$13.77 ฿448

112.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.34 ฿43.79

-6.72%

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

$24.1K $24.1K

$27.7K ฿901.4K

-12.77%

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

$24.2K $24.2K

$33.9K ฿1.1M

-28.48%

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

$266 $266

$124 ฿4,025

114.83%

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

$54.4 $54.4

$13.52 ฿440

302.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.3 $59.3

$18.69 ฿609

217.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.45 $42.45

$61.8 ฿2,013

-31.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.25 ฿562

Cinema Ticket

$13.73 $13.73

$9.14 ฿298

50.22%

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

$1,186 $1,186

$703 ฿22.9K

68.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.0K $23.0K

$15.9K ฿517.0K

45.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.29 $47.29

$59.5 ฿1,937

-20.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.06 $34.06

$35.07 ฿1,142

-2.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.0 $90.0

$115 ฿3,754

-21.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.6 $91.6

$84.1 ฿2,737

8.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,011 $2,011

$619 ฿20.1K

225.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,128 $2,128

$433 ฿14.1K

391.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,222 $3,222

$2,062 ฿67.2K

56.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,779 $3,779

$1,511 ฿49.2K

150.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,646 ฿118.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,626 ฿85.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,187 $5,187

$507 ฿16.5K

923.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.58

5.33

23.45%

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

Last update for Fontana, CA: June 7, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,011 in Fontana, 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 923% higher in Fontana, 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 $79.0 in Fontana, CA versus $47.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $433 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

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

Fontana, CA costs about 175% more than Phuket, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,203 per month in Fontana, 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 $3,469 in Fontana, CA and $1,261 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 293% 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 $1,261, than in Fontana, CA at $3,469. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Fontana, CA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,261 versus $3,469 in Fontana, CA. 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, Fontana, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.