Cost of Living Comparison Between Palm Desert, CA and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Palm Desert, CA and Phuket

😐 Solo nomad: Palm Desert, CA is 66.9% more expensive than Phuket without rent, and 159.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Palm Desert, CA is 53.4% more expensive than Phuket without rent, and 76.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Palm Desert, CA
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.92 $17.92
$4.68 ΰΈΏ151
282.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.3 $81.3
$46.4 ΰΈΏ1,502
75.30%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.7 $11.7
$8.65 ΰΈΏ280
35.26%
Cappuccino
$5.1 $5.1
$3.09 ΰΈΏ100
65.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.65 $3.65
$0.73 ΰΈΏ23.53
400.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.2 $2.2
$0.37 ΰΈΏ11.95
494.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.13 $7.13
$2.39 ΰΈΏ77.4
198.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.04 $8.04
$3.62 ΰΈΏ117
122.10%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Palm Desert, CA
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.17 $1.17
$2.24 ΰΈΏ72.5
-47.77%
White Bread (500g)
$4.13 $4.13
$1.8 ΰΈΏ58.2
129.44%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.61 $4.61
$2.24 ΰΈΏ72.3
105.80%
Eggs
$3.9 $3.9
$2.23 ΰΈΏ72.1
74.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.15 $11.15
$19.31 ΰΈΏ625
-42.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.92 $15.92
$3.77 ΰΈΏ122
322.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.21 $15.21
$13.05 ΰΈΏ422
16.55%
Apples (1kg)
$4.49 $4.49
$3.28 ΰΈΏ106
36.89%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 $1.55
$1.63 ΰΈΏ52.6
-4.91%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.87 $4.87
$2.4 ΰΈΏ77.7
102.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.68 $5.68
$1.99 ΰΈΏ64.3
185.43%
Potato (1kg)
$3.23 $3.23
$1.53 ΰΈΏ49.62
111.11%
Onion (1kg)
$2.97 $2.97
$1.49 ΰΈΏ48.11
99.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.05 $2.05
$1.02 ΰΈΏ32.87
100.98%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.19 $2.19
$0.48 ΰΈΏ15.61
356.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.21 $11.21
$4.32 ΰΈΏ140
159.49%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.31 $13.31
$21.68 ΰΈΏ702
-38.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.94 $1.94
$1.77 ΰΈΏ57.3
9.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.52 $3.52
$2.79 ΰΈΏ90.4
26.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Palm Desert, CA
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.98 $1.98
$1.35 ΰΈΏ43.74
46.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$11.76 ΰΈΏ380
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.5 $6.5
$3.15 ΰΈΏ102
106.35%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.07 $2.07
$1 ΰΈΏ32.3
107.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.83 $28.83
$13.64 ΰΈΏ442
111.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 $1.09
$1.3 ΰΈΏ42.2
-16.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.3K $25.3K
$27.4K ΰΈΏ885.2K
-7.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.4K $28.4K
$33.9K ΰΈΏ1.1M
-16.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Palm Desert, CA
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$158 $158
$123 ΰΈΏ3,970
28.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$54.1 $54.1
$13.93 ΰΈΏ451
288.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58 $58
$18.24 ΰΈΏ590
217.87%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Palm Desert, CA
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.99 $42.99
$60.8 ΰΈΏ1,966
-29.23%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.11 ΰΈΏ554
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.05 $13.05
$9.07 ΰΈΏ294
43.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Palm Desert, CA
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,514 $1,514
$694 ΰΈΏ22.5K
118.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.7K $23.7K
$15.9K ΰΈΏ514.4K
49.08%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Palm Desert, CA
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.95 $46.95
$57.5 ΰΈΏ1,861
-18.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.73 $29.73
$34.51 ΰΈΏ1,117
-13.85%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$60.6 $60.6
$115 ΰΈΏ3,727
-47.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$60.8 $60.8
$84.8 ΰΈΏ2,743
-28.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Palm Desert, CA
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,512 $2,512
$611 ΰΈΏ19.8K
311.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,028 $2,028
$442 ΰΈΏ14.3K
358.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,145 $3,145
$2,014 ΰΈΏ65.2K
56.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,960 $2,960
$1,460 ΰΈΏ47.2K
102.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,175 $3,175
$4,244 ΰΈΏ137.3K
-25.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,404 $2,404
$2,886 ΰΈΏ93.4K
-16.72%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Palm Desert, CA
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,157 $5,157
$697 ΰΈΏ22.5K
640.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.64
5.33
24.58%

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

Last update for Palm Desert, CA: October 27, 2025

Last update for Phuket: October 29, 2025

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