😐A single person spends $2,767 per month in Hermosa Beach, CA vs $1,253 in Phuket, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $4,237 per month in Hermosa Beach, CA vs $2,043 in Phuket, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,707 per month in Hermosa Beach, CA vs $2,833 in Phuket, rent included.
😐Hermosa Beach, CA costs about 121% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Hermosa Beach, CA sits 101% above the global median, while Phuket is 9% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hermosa Beach, CA
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.96$24.96
$4.56฿150
447.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$119$119
$32.62฿1,072
266.28%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.16$14.16
$8.90฿293
59.10%
Cappuccino
$6.29$6.29
$2.80฿92.2
124.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33$3.33
$0.88฿28.93
278.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85$2.85
$0.49฿16.08
481.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.13$8.13
$2.39฿78.5
240.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.04$10.04
$3.71฿122
170.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hermosa Beach, CA
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.32$1.32
$1.79฿58.7
-26.26%
White Bread(500g)
$5.03$5.03
$1.44฿47.38
249.31%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.86$4.86
$1.58฿52.1
207.59%
Eggs
$5.91$5.91
$2.13฿69.9
177.46%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.83$11.83
$19.92฿655
-40.61%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.52$13.52
$3.43฿113
294.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.97$19.97
$11.33฿372
76.26%
Apples(1kg)
$4.66$4.66
$2.95฿96.9
57.97%
Banana(1kg)
$1.90$1.90
$1.72฿56.6
10.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.47$4.47
$2.32฿76.4
92.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.19$5.19
$2.08฿68.4
149.52%
Potato(1kg)
$3.37$3.37
$1.47฿48.33
129.25%
Onion(1kg)
$2.70$2.70
$1.36฿44.64
98.53%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.03$2.03
$1.10฿36.12
84.55%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.17$2.17
$0.57฿18.89
280.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.61$11.61
$4.27฿140
171.90%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.79$14.79
$18.42฿605
-19.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.24$2.24
$1.87฿61.5
19.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73$2.73
$2.92฿96.0
-6.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Hermosa Beach, CA
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.97$1.97
$2.22฿72.9
-11.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$22.90฿753
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.02$3.02
$3.03฿99.6
-0.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.89$1.89
$1.07฿35.31
76.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$27.93$27.93
$3.93฿129
610.69%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.56$1.56
$1.49฿49.04
4.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.5K$36.5K
$27.1K฿891.7K
34.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K$25.5K
$27.5K฿902.3K
-7.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hermosa Beach, CA
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$258$258
$103฿3,379
151.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$73.1$73.1
$10.99฿361
565.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$80.8$80.8
$17.51฿576
361.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hermosa Beach, CA
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.15$42.15
$53.5฿1,760
-21.26%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.95$14.95
$11.20฿368
33.48%
Cinema Ticket
$19.37$19.37
$7.48฿246
158.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hermosa Beach, CA
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,747$1,747
$557฿18.3K
213.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$32.7K$32.7K
$11.9K฿389.6K
176.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hermosa Beach, CA
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.6$70.6
$64.1฿2,106
10.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.3$57.3
$29.07฿956
97.18%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113$113
$96.0฿3,154
18.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$144$144
$90.3฿2,970
59.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hermosa Beach, CA
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,569$1,569
$730฿24.0K
114.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,314$1,314
$500฿16.4K
162.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,508$2,508
$2,090฿68.7K
19.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,106$2,106
$1,209฿39.7K
74.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,737$2,737
$3,596฿118.2K
-23.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,308$2,308
$2,512฿82.6K
-8.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hermosa Beach, CA
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$7,038$7,038
$503฿16.5K
1298.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.42
5.57
15.26%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hermosa Beach, CA: August 30, 2026
Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,569 in Hermosa Beach, CA versus $730 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 1298% higher in Hermosa Beach, 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 $119 in Hermosa Beach, CA versus $33.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $444 vs $273 – 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
Hermosa Beach, CA vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Hermosa Beach, CA?
Yes – Hermosa Beach, CA is pricier by about 121%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,150 per month in Hermosa Beach, CA and $1,880 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
What are total monthly expenses in Hermosa Beach, CA and in Phuket?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,767 in Hermosa Beach, CA and $1,253 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $1,747 per month in Hermosa Beach, CA and $557 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Hermosa Beach, CA or in Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,253, than in Hermosa Beach, CA at $2,767. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hermosa Beach, CA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Hermosa Beach, CA or Phuket more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Hermosa Beach, CA or Phuket?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hermosa Beach, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Hermosa Beach, CA vs other spots: cost of living compared