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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,717 per month in Modesto, CA vs $1,250 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,143 per month in Modesto, CA vs $2,284 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,569 per month in Modesto, CA vs $3,317 in Phuket, rent included.

Modesto, CA costs about 117% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Modesto, CA sits 103% above the global median, while Phuket is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.23 $15.23

$4.55 ฿153

234.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.2 $81.2

$46.18 ฿1,554

75.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.80 $8.80

$8.84 ฿298

-0.45%

Cappuccino

$5.44 $5.44

$3.06 ฿103

77.78%

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

$2.69 $2.69

$0.73 ฿24.42

268.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 $1.60

$0.40 ฿13.40

300.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.93 $4.93

$2.43 ฿81.8

102.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.85 $6.85

$3.78 ฿127

81.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$2.26 ฿76.0

-51.77%

White Bread (500g)

$3.54 $3.54

$1.81 ฿60.9

95.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.30 $3.30

$2.25 ฿75.8

46.67%

Eggs

$4.94 $4.94

$2.25 ฿75.6

119.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.11 $13.11

$19.51 ฿656

-32.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.98 $14.98

$3.65 ฿123

310.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.67 $19.67

$13.05 ฿439

50.73%

Apples (1kg)

$6.27 $6.27

$3.23 ฿109

94.12%

Banana (1kg)

$2.52 $2.52

$1.62 ฿54.4

55.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.99 $4.99

$2.38 ฿80.2

109.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.60 $6.60

$2.03 ฿68.2

225.12%

Potato (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$1.53 ฿51.6

124.18%

Onion (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$1.50 ฿50.5

200.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.00 $3.00

$0.98 ฿32.93

206.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.83 $2.83

$0.52 ฿17.40

444.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.05 $10.05

$4.44 ฿149

126.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.85 $14.85

$18.32 ฿616

-18.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.86 ฿62.7

-1.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 $3.44

$2.68 ฿90.2

28.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.41 ฿47.49

44.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.25 $39.25

$11.70 ฿394

235.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.48 $3.48

$3.11 ฿105

11.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.99 $1.99

$1.04 ฿35.08

91.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.18 $30.18

$14.11 ฿475

113.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 $1.21

$1.31 ฿44.13

-7.63%

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

$27.4K $27.4K

$27.8K ฿936.0K

-1.54%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$33.2K ฿1.1M

-20.41%

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

$292 $292

$122 ฿4,120

138.71%

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

$48.30 $48.30

$13.59 ฿457

255.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.3 $63.3

$18.70 ฿629

238.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.81 $41.81

$60.5 ฿2,035

-30.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.89 $14.89

$16.98 ฿572

-12.31%

Cinema Ticket

$10.96 $10.96

$9.07 ฿305

20.84%

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

$1,983 $1,983

$706 ฿23.8K

180.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.7K $25.7K

$15.8K ฿531.8K

62.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.27 $49.27

$58.6 ฿1,970

-15.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.13 $39.13

$35.36 ฿1,190

10.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.7 $86.7

$115 ฿3,885

-24.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$129 $129

$83.7 ฿2,818

54.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,424 $1,424

$626 ฿21.1K

127.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,271 $1,271

$445 ฿15.0K

185.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,455 $2,455

$2,040 ฿68.7K

20.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,447 $2,447

$1,492 ฿50.2K

63.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,279 $3,279

$3,483 ฿117.2K

-5.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,172 $3,172

$2,577 ฿86.7K

23.10%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,119 $4,119

$500 ฿16.8K

724.03%

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 Modesto, CA: July 14, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,424 in Modesto, CA versus $626 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 724% higher in Modesto, 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 $81.0 in Modesto, CA versus $46.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $463 vs $289 – 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

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

Modesto, CA costs about 117% more than Phuket, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,075 per month in Modesto, CA and $1,875 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 $2,717 in Modesto, CA and $1,250 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 235% 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 $1,250, than in Modesto, CA at $2,717. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Modesto, CA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,250 versus $2,717 in Modesto, 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, Modesto, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.