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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,743 per month in Manteca, CA vs $1,232 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,865 per month in Manteca, CA vs $2,054 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,986 per month in Manteca, CA vs $2,876 in Phuket, rent included.

Manteca, CA costs about 123% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Manteca, CA sits 101% above the global median, while Phuket is 10% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.30 $14.30

$4.41 ฿147

224.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.60 $37.60

$32.26 ฿1,075

16.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.23 $12.23

$8.93 ฿298

36.95%

Cappuccino

$4.86 $4.86

$2.90 ฿96.5

67.59%

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

$3.18 $3.18

$0.88 ฿29.33

261.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.44 $2.44

$0.48 ฿16.03

408.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.03 $9.03

$2.35 ฿78.3

284.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.13 $9.13

$3.72 ฿124

145.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.41 $1.41

$1.87 ฿62.2

-24.60%

White Bread (500g)

$4.51 $4.51

$1.47 ฿48.86

206.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$1.55 ฿51.7

160.65%

Eggs

$5.78 $5.78

$2.10 ฿70.0

175.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.62 $19.62

$19.59 ฿653

0.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.52 $14.52

$3.42 ฿114

324.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$21.47 $21.47

$11.38 ฿379

88.66%

Apples (1kg)

$5.43 $5.43

$2.98 ฿99.4

82.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.94 $1.94

$1.68 ฿56.1

15.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.62 $5.62

$2.21 ฿73.6

154.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.63 $5.63

$2.16 ฿72.0

160.65%

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 $3.45

$1.52 ฿50.8

126.97%

Onion (1kg)

$3.00 $3.00

$1.34 ฿44.59

123.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.36 $2.36

$1.13 ฿37.60

108.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$0.55 ฿18.21

347.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.73 $11.73

$4.26 ฿142

175.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.43 $15.43

$19.09 ฿636

-19.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.49 $2.49

$1.78 ฿59.3

39.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.29 $3.29

$2.78 ฿92.7

18.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.94 $1.94

$2.23 ฿74.3

-13.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.74 ฿758

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.41 $3.41

$3.03 ฿101

12.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.95 $2.95

$1.02 ฿34.09

189.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.61 $29.61

$3.89 ฿130

661.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 $1.45

$1.49 ฿49.68

-2.68%

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

$37.1K $37.1K

$26.6K ฿885.7K

39.38%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$27.0K ฿900.6K

-2.98%

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

$276 $276

$102 ฿3,414

169.03%

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

$47.64 $47.64

$11.33 ฿377

320.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$82.7 $82.7

$17.40 ฿580

375.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.01 $47.01

$52.1 ฿1,735

-9.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.07 ฿369

Cinema Ticket

$16.71 $16.71

$7.69 ฿256

117.30%

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

$1,836 $1,836

$561 ฿18.7K

227.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.8K $39.8K

$11.5K ฿383.4K

246.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 $60.0

$63.0 ฿2,100

-4.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.8 $50.8

$29.52 ฿984

72.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.2 $99.2

$98.0 ฿3,266

1.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 $118

$88.5 ฿2,949

33.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,568 $1,568

$738 ฿24.6K

112.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,302 $1,302

$482 ฿16.1K

169.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,547 $2,547

$2,107 ฿70.2K

20.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,133 $2,133

$1,226 ฿40.8K

74.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,094 $3,094

$3,617 ฿120.5K

-14.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,209 $2,209

$2,603 ฿86.7K

-15.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,168 $5,168

$494 ฿16.4K

947.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.17

5.57

10.77%

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

Last update for Manteca, CA: September 13, 2026

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,568 in Manteca, CA versus $738 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 947% higher in Manteca, 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 $38.00 in Manteca, CA versus $32.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $489 vs $274 – 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

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

Yes – Manteca, CA is pricier by about 123%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,115 per month in Manteca, CA and $1,847 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 $38.00 in Manteca, CA and $32.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 79% more in Manteca, 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 $1,232, than in Manteca, CA at $2,743. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Manteca, 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, Manteca, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.