Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Hermosa Beach, CA

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,294 a month against $2,768 in Hermosa Beach, CA, rent and utilities included – about $17,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Phuket, Thailand
Hermosa Beach, CA, United States
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,294
/mo nomad
Hermosa Beach, CA
🇺🇸 United States
$2,768
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Hermosa Beach, CA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Phuket and in Hermosa Beach, CA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,294 per month in Phuket vs $2,768 in Hermosa Beach, CA, rent included.

  • Phuket $1,294
  • Hermosa Beach, CA $2,768

A couple spends around $2,204 per month in Phuket vs $4,202 in Hermosa Beach, CA, rent included.

  • Phuket $2,204
  • Hermosa Beach, CA $4,202

A family of three spends $3,115 per month in Phuket vs $5,636 in Hermosa Beach, CA, rent included.

  • Phuket $3,115
  • Hermosa Beach, CA $5,636

Phuket is about 53% cheaper than Hermosa Beach, CA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Phuket sits 4% below the global median, while Hermosa Beach, CA is 105% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Hermosa Beach, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.39 ฿147
$25.43 $25.43
-82.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.31 ฿1,085
$119 $119
-72.92%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.70 ฿292
$14.97 $14.97
-41.88%
Cappuccino
$2.72 ฿91.5
$5.79 $5.79
-53.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93 ฿31.25
$3.17 $3.17
-70.66%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50 ฿16.78
$2.42 $2.42
-79.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.53 ฿85.0
$8.66 $8.66
-70.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 ฿122
$9.92 $9.92
-63.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Hermosa Beach, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 ฿58.4
$1.35 $1.35
28.89%
White Bread (500g)
$1.45 ฿48.73
$4.81 $4.81
-69.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.5
$4.74 $4.74
-68.35%
Eggs
$2.17 ฿73.0
$5.61 $5.61
-61.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.09 ฿641
$11.08 $11.08
72.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.40 ฿114
$8.81 $8.81
-61.41%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.90 ฿366
$20.37 $20.37
-46.49%
Apples (1kg)
$2.94 ฿98.8
$4.67 $4.67
-37.04%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 ฿56.8
$2.30 $2.30
-26.52%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.19 ฿73.7
$4.02 $4.02
-45.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.12 ฿71.4
$5.63 $5.63
-62.34%
Potato (1kg)
$1.46 ฿48.99
$3.25 $3.25
-55.08%
Onion (1kg)
$1.37 ฿45.95
$2.78 $2.78
-50.72%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 ฿36.14
$1.99 $1.99
-45.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿18.32
$2.54 $2.54
-78.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.43 ฿149
$11.88 $11.88
-62.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.25 ฿613
$15.13 $15.13
20.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 ฿59.5
$2.41 $2.41
-26.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 ฿96.8
$2.72 $2.72
5.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Hermosa Beach, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.45 ฿48.62
$2.15 $2.15
-32.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.9 ฿1,844
$56.0 $56.0
-1.96%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.51 ฿50.8
$3.73 $3.73
-59.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.78 ฿26.06
$2.24 $2.24
-65.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.84 ฿129
$38.62 $38.62
-90.06%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 ฿49.96
$1.66 $1.66
-10.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.9K ฿902.9K
$28.8K $28.8K
-6.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K ฿884.9K
$26.1K $26.1K
0.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Hermosa Beach, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$97.8 ฿3,285
$221 $221
-55.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.29 ฿379
$80.4 $80.4
-85.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.19 ฿577
$74.8 $74.8
-77.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Hermosa Beach, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.3 ฿2,295
$39.34 $39.34
73.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.92 ฿367
$14.91 $14.91
-26.76%
Cinema Ticket
$7.43 ฿250
$18.59 $18.59
-60.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Hermosa Beach, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$530 ฿17.8K
$1,667 $1,667
-68.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.8K ฿630.9K
$12.9K $12.9K
45.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Hermosa Beach, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.7 ฿2,072
$61.6 $61.6
0.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.25 ฿949
$48.69 $48.69
-41.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.0 ฿3,225
$107 $107
-9.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.8 ฿2,916
$104 $104
-16.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Hermosa Beach, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$721 ฿24.2K
$1,578 $1,578
-54.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$509 ฿17.1K
$1,264 $1,264
-59.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,950 ฿65.5K
$2,538 $2,538
-23.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,397 ฿46.9K
$2,142 $2,142
-34.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,192 ฿140.8K
$2,716 $2,716
54.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,298 ฿110.8K
$2,634 $2,634
25.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Hermosa Beach, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$492 ฿16.5K
$7,065 $7,065
-93.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
6.31
-11.73%

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

Last update for Phuket: November 2, 2026

Last update for Hermosa Beach, CA: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$509
Hermosa Beach, CA
$1.3K 148% $755
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$267
Hermosa Beach, CA
$424 59% $157
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$126
Hermosa Beach, CA
$376 198% $250
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$123
Hermosa Beach, CA
$144 17.7% $22
Eating Out
Phuket
$120
Hermosa Beach, CA
$403 237% $284
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$83
Hermosa Beach, CA
$77 8% $6.7
Getting Around
Phuket
$66
Hermosa Beach, CA
$80 20.4% $13

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $721 in Phuket versus $1,578 in Hermosa Beach, CA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Hermosa Beach, CA are about 14 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32 in Phuket versus $119 in Hermosa Beach, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $267 vs $424 – making Phuket the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇺🇸 Hermosa Beach, CA
🕒 Local time
10:25 10:25 AM
19:25 7:25 PM
15 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
19,728
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 33.59 THB (100 THB = 2.98 USD). 1 EUR = 37.81 THB (100 THB = 2.64 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.13 USD (1 USD = 0.888 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Hermosa Beach, CA 13,970 km ≈ 18 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Hermosa Beach, CA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Hermosa Beach, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Hermosa Beach, CA?
Yes – Hermosa Beach, CA is pricier by about 114%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,940 per month in Phuket and $4,152 in Hermosa Beach, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $721 there versus $1,578 in Hermosa Beach, CA.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket and in Hermosa Beach, CA?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,294 in Phuket and $2,768 in Hermosa Beach, CA. That makes Phuket about 53% cheaper.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $530 per month in Phuket and $1,667 in Hermosa Beach, CA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Hermosa Beach, CA?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,294, than in Hermosa Beach, CA at $2,768. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hermosa Beach, CA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Phuket or Hermosa Beach, CA more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Phuket – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Hermosa Beach, CA?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hermosa Beach, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Phuket vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?