Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Cali Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Cali

😐 Solo nomad: Phuket is 40% more expensive than Cali without rent, and 63.6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Phuket is 40.8% more expensive than Cali without rent, and 96.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Cali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.65 ฿147
$3.59 COP 13.5K
29.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.11 ฿1,460
$29.51 COP 111.1K
56.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.74 ฿277
$7.46 COP 28.1K
17.16%
Cappuccino
$3.04 ฿96.2
$1.63 COP 6,132
86.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 ฿22.80
$0.95 COP 3,584
-24.21%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39 ฿12.38
$0.56 COP 2,122
-30.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.44 ฿77.2
$1.05 COP 3,958
132.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 ฿120
$2.50 COP 9,419
51.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Cali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.14 ฿67.9
$1.22 COP 4,572
75.41%
White Bread (500g)
$1.86 ฿58.9
$1.51 COP 5,692
23.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.19 ฿69.2
$1.20 COP 4,521
82.50%
Eggs
$2.25 ฿71.1
$2.54 COP 9,540
-11.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.73 ฿625
$4.17 COP 15.7K
373.14%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.79 ฿120
$5.36 COP 20.2K
-29.29%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.55 ฿429
$7.59 COP 28.6K
78.52%
Apples (1kg)
$3.25 ฿103
$2.40 COP 9,050
35.42%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 ฿52.9
$0.90 COP 3,392
85.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.39 ฿75.7
$1.14 COP 4,276
109.65%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.09 ฿66.2
$1.26 COP 4,756
65.87%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿48.39
$0.87 COP 3,263
75.86%
Onion (1kg)
$1.51 ฿47.79
$1.06 COP 4,004
42.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 ฿31.30
$0.76 COP 2,863
30.26%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.30
$0.65 COP 2,462
-21.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27 ฿135
$2.82 COP 10.6K
51.42%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.31 ฿643
$11.21 COP 42.2K
81.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿56.7
$1.11 COP 4,158
61.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 ฿87.6
$1.92 COP 7,223
44.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Cali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.40 ฿44.44
$0.68 COP 2,555
105.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.70 ฿370
$20.33 COP 76.5K
-42.45%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.11 ฿98.4
$1.61 COP 6,051
93.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.99 ฿31.48
$1.95 COP 7,327
-49.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.73 ฿435
$9.76 COP 36.7K
40.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.32 ฿41.75
$0.95 COP 3,573
38.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K ฿862.0K
$21.8K COP 82.2M
24.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1K ฿1.1M
$29.7K COP 111.9M
14.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Cali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$120 ฿3,811
$82.8 COP 311.6K
45.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.93 ฿441
$8.79 COP 33.1K
58.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31 ฿579
$24.10 COP 90.7K
-24.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Cali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.9 ฿1,928
$20.12 COP 75.7K
202.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.23 ฿545
$14.36 COP 54.0K
19.99%
Cinema Ticket
$8.71 ฿276
$4.96 COP 18.7K
75.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Cali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$698 ฿22.1K
$228 COP 857.7K
206.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.7K ฿498.0K
$5,953 COP 22.4M
164.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Cali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.6 ฿1,824
$62.9 COP 236.8K
-8.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.24 ฿1,084
$43.78 COP 164.7K
-21.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 ฿3,582
$77.0 COP 289.8K
46.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.8 ฿2,684
$89.0 COP 334.8K
-4.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Cali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$604 ฿19.1K
$242 COP 909.1K
149.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$436 ฿13.8K
$185 COP 697.4K
135.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,057 ฿65.1K
$624 COP 2.3M
229.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,498 ฿47.4K
$407 COP 1.5M
267.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,252 ฿134.6K
$1,085 COP 4.1M
291.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,988 ฿94.6K
$854 COP 3.2M
249.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Cali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$529 ฿16.7K
$489 COP 1.8M
8.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
11.58
-53.97%

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

Last update for Phuket: February 28, 2026

Last update for Cali: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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