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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,264 in Phuket versus $2,772 in Brentwood, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,256 in Phuket versus $4,086 in Brentwood, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,248 in Phuket versus $5,399 in Brentwood, CA.

Living in Phuket costs roughly 54% less than in Brentwood, CA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 5% below, Brentwood, CA is 108% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Brentwood, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.48 ฿150
$30.07 $30.07
-85.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.59 ฿1,521
$112 $112
-59.13%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.76 ฿292
$13.91 $13.91
-37.02%
Cappuccino
$2.97 ฿99.0
$6.50 $6.50
-54.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ฿22.90
$3.60 $3.60
-80.83%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39 ฿13.04
$3.24 $3.24
-87.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.53 ฿84.4
$8.78 $8.78
-71.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75 ฿125
$8.74 $8.74
-57.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Brentwood, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.15 ฿71.6
$1.33 $1.33
61.65%
White Bread (500g)
$1.82 ฿60.6
$4.75 $4.75
-61.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.18 ฿72.9
$3.18 $3.18
-31.45%
Eggs
$2.25 ฿75.0
$5.41 $5.41
-58.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$20.00 ฿667
$10.93 $10.93
82.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.63 ฿121
$11.00 $11.00
-67.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.56 ฿452
$12.43 $12.43
9.09%
Apples (1kg)
$3.24 ฿108
$4.54 $4.54
-28.63%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 ฿54.6
$2.14 $2.14
-23.36%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.33 ฿77.8
$4.43 $4.43
-47.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.07 ฿69.1
$5.09 $5.09
-59.33%
Potato (1kg)
$1.55 ฿51.6
$2.97 $2.97
-47.81%
Onion (1kg)
$1.46 ฿48.54
$3.53 $3.53
-58.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.98 ฿32.86
$2.77 $2.77
-64.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48 ฿16.09
$2.63 $2.63
-81.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35 ฿145
$8.60 $8.60
-49.42%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.57 ฿620
$13.09 $13.09
41.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 ฿61.9
$2.06 $2.06
-9.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65 ฿88.6
$2.37 $2.37
11.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Brentwood, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.42 ฿47.28
$2.05 $2.05
-30.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.57 ฿386
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.17 ฿106
$4.41 $4.41
-28.12%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.03 ฿34.41
$1.85 $1.85
-44.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.89 ฿463
$29.60 $29.60
-53.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 ฿44.84
$1.19 $1.19
12.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K ฿927.1K
$30.3K $30.3K
-8.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4K ฿1.1M
$26.8K $26.8K
24.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Brentwood, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$123 ฿4,105
$221 $221
-44.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77 ฿459
$39.12 $39.12
-64.80%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.33 ฿611
$63.6 $63.6
-71.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Brentwood, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.7 ฿2,025
$42.97 $42.97
41.24%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.16 ฿573
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.87 ฿296
$17.71 $17.71
-49.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Brentwood, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$688 ฿22.9K
$1,144 $1,144
-39.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.8K ฿526.4K
$23.7K $23.7K
-33.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Brentwood, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3 ฿1,978
$45.39 $45.39
30.65%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.69 ฿1,157
$40.51 $40.51
-14.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,843
$78.5 $78.5
46.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.8 ฿2,794
$78.9 $78.9
6.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Brentwood, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$621 ฿20.7K
$1,623 $1,623
-61.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$446 ฿14.9K
$1,336 $1,336
-66.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,034 ฿67.8K
$3,796 $3,796
-46.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,496 ฿49.9K
$2,206 $2,206
-32.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,455 ฿115.3K
$2,688 $2,688
28.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,531 ฿84.4K
$2,320 $2,320
9.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Brentwood, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$494 ฿16.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
6.67
-20.09%

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

Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026

Last update for Brentwood, CA: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $621 in Phuket and $1,623 in Brentwood, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $46.00 in Phuket vs $112 in Brentwood, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $291 vs $399 per month, with Phuket cheaper across the board.

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
Phuket vs Brentwood, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Phuket and in Brentwood, CA?
Phuket and Brentwood, CA differ by about 119% in total monthly costs ($1,264 vs $2,772 including rent). Phuket is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Phuket compared to Brentwood, CA?
You'd need roughly $1,896 in Phuket and $4,158 in Brentwood, CA to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Phuket and in Brentwood, CA?
Rent for a central apartment: $621 in Phuket versus $1,623 in Brentwood, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 37% higher in Brentwood, CA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Phuket or Brentwood, CA?
All in, you'll spend $1,264 per month in Phuket versus $2,772 in Brentwood, CA – a 119% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,264 in Phuket versus $2,772 in Brentwood, CA, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Brentwood, CA. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Brentwood, CA?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Phuket or Brentwood, CA safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Brentwood, CA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Phuket or Brentwood, CA?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 119% less than in Brentwood, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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