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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $2,626 in Chico, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $3,916 in Chico, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $5,206 in Chico, CA.

Living in Phuket costs roughly 52% less than in Chico, CA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 6% below, Chico, CA is 96% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.70 ฿153

$24.94 $24.94

-81.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.37 ฿1,482

$59.4 $59.4

-23.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.43 ฿275

$12.97 $12.97

-35.00%

Cappuccino

$2.93 ฿95.6

$5.89 $5.89

-50.25%

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

$0.69 ฿22.40

$2.52 $2.52

-72.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.99

$2.19 $2.19

-83.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$6.97 $6.97

-65.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿122

$8.39 $8.39

-55.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 ฿72.9

$1.29 $1.29

72.87%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 ฿59.8

$3.63 $3.63

-49.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ฿70.8

$3.63 $3.63

-40.22%

Eggs

$2.21 ฿72.3

$5.41 $5.41

-59.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.74 ฿645

$13.30 $13.30

48.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿119

$10.61 $10.61

-65.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.53 ฿442

$16.78 $16.78

-19.37%

Apples (1kg)

$3.28 ฿107

$5.64 $5.64

-41.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ฿52.6

$2.17 $2.17

-25.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$3.96 $3.96

-39.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.1

$5.64 $5.64

-63.12%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.93

$4.57 $4.57

-66.52%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.36

$3.48 $3.48

-57.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ฿32.29

$2.14 $2.14

-53.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.67

$2.38 $2.38

-78.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 ฿144

$8.22 $8.22

-46.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.38 ฿633

$12.02 $12.02

61.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

$1.69 $1.69

5.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ฿88.6

$5.34 $5.34

-49.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.37 ฿44.79

$2.95 $2.95

-53.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.39 ฿372

$35.48 $35.48

-67.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿98.6

$3.42 $3.42

-11.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 ฿32.48

$1.98 $1.98

-50.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.10 ฿461

$39.63 $39.63

-64.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 ฿44.51

$1.20 $1.20

13.33%

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

$28.2K ฿921.1K

$23.7K $23.7K

19.13%

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

$32.9K ฿1.1M

$25.1K $25.1K

31.20%

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

$122 ฿3,975

$188 $188

-35.11%

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

$13.57 ฿443

$52.9 $52.9

-74.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.31 ฿598

$71.5 $71.5

-74.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.2 ฿1,967

$60.5 $60.5

-0.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 ฿560

Cinema Ticket

$8.69 ฿284

$13.90 $13.90

-37.48%

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

$693 ฿22.6K

$1,867 $1,867

-62.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K ฿512.3K

$38.1K $38.1K

-58.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,944

$58.6 $58.6

1.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.77 ฿1,136

$31.99 $31.99

8.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,743

$79.6 $79.6

43.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.3 ฿2,720

$98.4 $98.4

-15.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$613 ฿20.0K

$1,447 $1,447

-57.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$437 ฿14.3K

$1,223 $1,223

-64.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,094 ฿68.4K

$2,761 $2,761

-24.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,509 ฿49.3K

$2,259 $2,259

-33.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,749 ฿122.5K

$3,247 $3,247

15.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,616 ฿85.4K

$2,994 $2,994

-12.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.6K

$3,867 $3,867

-86.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

6.55

-18.63%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Chico, CA: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $613 in Phuket and $1,447 in Chico, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chico, CA pays 661% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $45.00 in Phuket vs $59.0 in Chico, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $415 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 Chico, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 108% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Chico, CA earns 661% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $613 in Phuket versus $1,447 in Chico, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Phuket – a meal for two runs $45.00 versus $59.0 in Chico, CA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,265 per month in Phuket versus $2,626 in Chico, CA – a 108% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,265 in Phuket versus $2,626 in Chico, CA, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Chico, CA. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Chico, CA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Phuket and Chico, 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.

Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 108% less than in Chico, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.