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 $3,485 per month in Fontana, CA vs $1,264 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,219 per month in Fontana, CA vs $2,256 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,953 per month in Fontana, CA vs $3,248 in Phuket, rent included.

Fontana, CA costs about 176% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Fontana, CA sits 162% above the global median, while Phuket is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.98 $17.98

$4.48 ฿150

301.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.5 $79.5

$45.59 ฿1,521

74.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.83 $11.83

$8.76 ฿292

35.05%

Cappuccino

$5.14 $5.14

$2.97 ฿99.0

73.06%

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

$2.91 $2.91

$0.69 ฿22.90

321.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 $2.27

$0.39 ฿13.04

482.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.20 $7.20

$2.53 ฿84.4

184.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.19 $7.19

$3.75 ฿125

91.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$2.15 ฿71.6

-45.58%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$1.82 ฿60.6

128.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.58 $4.58

$2.18 ฿72.9

110.09%

Eggs

$4.94 $4.94

$2.25 ฿75.0

119.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.99 $11.99

$20.00 ฿667

-40.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.36 $16.36

$3.63 ฿121

350.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.14 $15.14

$13.56 ฿452

11.65%

Apples (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$3.24 ฿108

39.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.64 ฿54.6

20.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.48 $4.48

$2.33 ฿77.8

92.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.65 $5.65

$2.07 ฿69.1

172.95%

Potato (1kg)

$4.43 $4.43

$1.55 ฿51.6

185.81%

Onion (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$1.46 ฿48.54

119.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 $1.40

$0.98 ฿32.86

42.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 $2.11

$0.48 ฿16.09

339.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.20 $11.20

$4.35 ฿145

157.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.23 $16.23

$18.57 ฿620

-12.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.86 ฿61.9

5.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.41 $3.41

$2.65 ฿88.6

28.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.99 $1.99

$1.42 ฿47.28

40.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.60 $45.60

$11.57 ฿386

294.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.66 $6.66

$3.17 ฿106

110.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.25 $4.25

$1.03 ฿34.41

312.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.08 $29.08

$13.89 ฿463

109.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 $1.23

$1.34 ฿44.84

-8.21%

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

$23.8K $23.8K

$27.8K ฿927.1K

-14.23%

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

$24.0K $24.0K

$33.4K ฿1.1M

-28.19%

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

$265 $265

$123 ฿4,105

115.04%

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

$54.7 $54.7

$13.77 ฿459

297.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.4 $60.4

$18.33 ฿611

229.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.70 $43.70

$60.7 ฿2,025

-27.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.16 ฿573

Cinema Ticket

$13.93 $13.93

$8.87 ฿296

57.05%

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

$1,229 $1,229

$688 ฿22.9K

78.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.7K $23.7K

$15.8K ฿526.4K

50.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.59 $47.59

$59.3 ฿1,978

-19.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.16 $34.16

$34.69 ฿1,157

-1.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.7 $88.7

$115 ฿3,843

-23.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.7 $90.7

$83.8 ฿2,794

8.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,008 $2,008

$621 ฿20.7K

223.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,114 $2,114

$446 ฿14.9K

373.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,260 $3,260

$2,034 ฿67.8K

60.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,818 $3,818

$1,496 ฿49.9K

155.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,455 ฿115.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,531 ฿84.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,075 $5,075

$494 ฿16.5K

928.02%

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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,008 in Fontana, CA versus $621 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 928% 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 $80.0 in Fontana, CA versus $46.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $435 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

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

Fontana, CA costs about 176% 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 $5,228 per month in Fontana, CA and $1,896 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 $3,485 in Fontana, CA and $1,264 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 294% 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 $1,264, than in Fontana, CA at $3,485. 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 $1,264 versus $3,485 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.