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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,017 per month in Fresno, CA vs $1,264 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,256 per month in Fresno, CA vs $2,256 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,495 per month in Fresno, CA vs $3,248 in Phuket, rent included.

Fresno, CA costs about 139% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Fresno, CA sits 127% above the global median, while Phuket is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.09 $20.09

$4.48 ฿150

348.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.0 $69.0

$45.59 ฿1,520

51.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.70 $11.70

$8.76 ฿292

33.56%

Cappuccino

$5.17 $5.17

$2.97 ฿99.0

74.07%

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

$2.82 $2.82

$0.69 ฿22.89

308.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 $2.03

$0.39 ฿13.03

420.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$2.53 ฿84.4

209.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.75 $8.75

$3.75 ฿125

133.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$2.15 ฿71.6

-53.49%

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 $2.75

$1.82 ฿60.5

51.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.77 $4.77

$2.18 ฿72.9

118.81%

Eggs

$4.52 $4.52

$2.25 ฿75.0

100.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.04 $10.04

$20.00 ฿667

-49.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.48 $8.48

$3.63 ฿121

133.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.94 $16.94

$13.56 ฿452

24.93%

Apples (1kg)

$4.17 $4.17

$3.24 ฿108

28.70%

Banana (1kg)

$2.11 $2.11

$1.64 ฿54.6

28.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.46 $3.46

$2.33 ฿77.8

48.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.07 ฿69.1

61.35%

Potato (1kg)

$3.07 $3.07

$1.55 ฿51.6

98.06%

Onion (1kg)

$2.11 $2.11

$1.46 ฿48.53

44.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.92 $1.92

$0.98 ฿32.85

95.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.24 $3.24

$0.48 ฿16.09

575.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.95 $10.95

$4.35 ฿145

151.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.09 $18.09

$18.57 ฿619

-2.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.86 ฿61.9

-7.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.58 $5.58

$2.65 ฿88.5

110.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.42 ฿47.26

-10.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.34 $45.34

$11.57 ฿386

291.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.33 $3.33

$3.17 ฿106

5.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.05 $2.05

$1.03 ฿34.40

99.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.80 $24.80

$13.89 ฿463

78.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.34 ฿44.83

-5.22%

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

$36.9K $36.9K

$27.8K ฿926.8K

32.80%

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

$29.0K $29.0K

$33.4K ฿1.1M

-13.13%

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

$308 $308

$123 ฿4,104

150.59%

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

$49.90 $49.90

$13.77 ฿459

262.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$85.1 $85.1

$18.33 ฿611

364.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$72.0 $72.0

$60.7 ฿2,024

18.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$75.1 $75.1

$17.16 ฿572

337.35%

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 $14.71

$8.87 ฿296

65.84%

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

$979 $979

$688 ฿22.9K

42.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.8K $12.8K

$15.8K ฿526.2K

-19.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.7 $55.7

$59.3 ฿1,978

-6.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.05 $46.05

$34.69 ฿1,157

32.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.6 $74.6

$115 ฿3,841

-35.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$167 $167

$83.8 ฿2,793

99.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,574 $1,574

$621 ฿20.7K

153.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,528 $1,528

$446 ฿14.9K

242.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,362 $2,362

$2,034 ฿67.8K

16.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,311 $2,311

$1,496 ฿49.9K

54.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,616 $2,616

$3,455 ฿115.2K

-24.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,102 $3,102

$2,531 ฿84.4K

22.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,759 $3,759

$494 ฿16.5K

661.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

5.33

22.14%

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

Last update for Fresno, CA: July 27, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,574 in Fresno, 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 662% higher in Fresno, 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 $69.0 in Fresno, CA versus $46.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $378 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

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

Yes – Fresno, CA is pricier by about 139%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,526 per month in Fresno, 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Fresno, CA 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 $3,017 in Fresno, CA and $1,264 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 $1,264, than in Fresno, CA at $3,017. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Fresno, CA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Phuket – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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