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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,383 per month in Fullerton, CA vs $1,265 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,196 per month in Fullerton, CA vs $2,297 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,008 per month in Fullerton, CA vs $3,329 in Phuket, rent included.

Fullerton, CA costs about 167% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Fullerton, CA sits 152% above the global median, while Phuket is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.15 $25.15

$4.70 ฿153

435.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.0 $84.0

$45.37 ฿1,482

85.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.31 $11.31

$8.43 ฿275

34.16%

Cappuccino

$5.42 $5.42

$2.93 ฿95.6

84.98%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$0.69 ฿22.40

297.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 $2.03

$0.37 ฿11.99

448.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.28 $7.28

$2.41 ฿78.6

202.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.62 $8.62

$3.72 ฿122

131.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$2.23 ฿72.9

-46.64%

White Bread (500g)

$4.00 $4.00

$1.83 ฿59.8

118.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.14 $4.14

$2.17 ฿70.8

90.78%

Eggs

$4.38 $4.38

$2.21 ฿72.3

98.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.87 $10.87

$19.74 ฿645

-44.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.79 $8.79

$3.63 ฿119

142.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.80 $14.80

$13.53 ฿442

9.39%

Apples (1kg)

$3.38 $3.38

$3.28 ฿107

3.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 $1.92

$1.61 ฿52.6

19.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.79 $3.79

$2.41 ฿78.6

57.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.60 $5.60

$2.08 ฿68.1

169.23%

Potato (1kg)

$3.27 $3.27

$1.53 ฿49.93

113.73%

Onion (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$1.48 ฿48.36

120.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.49 $1.49

$0.99 ฿32.29

50.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 $2.11

$0.51 ฿16.67

313.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.07 $11.07

$4.41 ฿144

151.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.27 $15.27

$19.38 ฿633

-21.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.78 ฿58.1

-0.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.65 $4.65

$2.71 ฿88.6

71.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.29 $2.29

$1.37 ฿44.79

67.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$63.3 $63.3

$11.39 ฿372

455.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.05 $4.05

$3.02 ฿98.6

34.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.66 $1.66

$0.99 ฿32.48

67.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$32.28 $32.28

$14.10 ฿461

128.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.36 ฿44.51

-6.62%

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

$24.2K $24.2K

$28.2K ฿921.1K

-14.08%

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

$24.1K $24.1K

$32.9K ฿1.1M

-26.79%

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

$198 $198

$122 ฿3,975

62.71%

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

$49.86 $49.86

$13.57 ฿443

267.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.6 $65.6

$18.31 ฿598

258.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.74 $39.74

$60.2 ฿1,967

-34.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 ฿560

Cinema Ticket

$14.07 $14.07

$8.69 ฿284

61.91%

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

$1,378 $1,378

$693 ฿22.6K

98.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.4K $39.4K

$15.7K ฿512.3K

151.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.3 $70.3

$59.5 ฿1,944

18.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.06 $35.06

$34.77 ฿1,136

0.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.9 $83.9

$115 ฿3,743

-26.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 $118

$83.3 ฿2,720

41.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,625 $2,625

$613 ฿20.0K

328.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,017 $2,017

$437 ฿14.3K

361.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,887 $3,887

$2,094 ฿68.4K

85.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,012 $4,012

$1,509 ฿49.3K

165.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,437 $5,437

$3,749 ฿122.5K

45.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,616 ฿85.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,607 $4,607

$508 ฿16.6K

806.74%

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 Fullerton, CA: May 31, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,625 in Fullerton, CA 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 807% higher in Fullerton, 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 $84.0 in Fullerton, CA versus $45.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $375 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $3,383 in Fullerton, CA, $1,265 in Phuket – roughly 167% apart. Fullerton, CA costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,075 per month in Fullerton, CA 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.

Kindergarten costs $1,378 per month in Fullerton, CA and $693 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 28% more in Fullerton, CA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,265, than in Fullerton, CA at $3,383. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Fullerton, CA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Fullerton, CA has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,265 in Phuket to $3,383 in Fullerton, CA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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