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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $2,547 in Highland, CA, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,297 per month in Phuket vs $3,699 in Highland, CA, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,329 per month in Phuket vs $4,851 in Highland, CA, rent included.

Phuket is about 50% cheaper than Highland, CA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Phuket sits 6% below the global median, while Highland, CA is 90% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.70 ฿154

$17.93 $17.93

-73.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.37 ฿1,489

$78.7 $78.7

-42.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.43 ฿277

$11.90 $11.90

-29.16%

Cappuccino

$2.93 ฿96.1

$5.09 $5.09

-42.44%

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

$0.69 ฿22.50

$2.73 $2.73

-74.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿12.04

$2.04 $2.04

-81.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿79.0

$6.85 $6.85

-64.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿122

$7.18 $7.18

-48.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 ฿73.3

$1.07 $1.07

108.41%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 ฿60.1

$3.95 $3.95

-53.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ฿71.1

$4.23 $4.23

-48.70%

Eggs

$2.21 ฿72.6

$3.77 $3.77

-41.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.74 ฿648

$10.85 $10.85

81.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿119

$8.90 $8.90

-59.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.53 ฿444

$14.70 $14.70

-7.96%

Apples (1kg)

$3.28 ฿108

$3.48 $3.48

-5.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ฿52.9

$1.71 $1.71

-5.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿79.0

$4.05 $4.05

-40.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.4

$5.71 $5.71

-63.57%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.2

$3.27 $3.27

-53.21%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.58

$2.91 $2.91

-49.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ฿32.44

$1.44 $1.44

-31.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.74

$2.16 $2.16

-76.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 ฿145

$11.15 $11.15

-60.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.38 ฿636

$16.14 $16.14

20.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.4

$1.94 $1.94

-8.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ฿89.0

$3.43 $3.43

-20.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.37 ฿44.99

$2.02 $2.02

-32.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.39 ฿374

$29.68 $29.68

-61.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿99.1

$6.75 $6.75

-55.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 ฿32.63

$1.60 $1.60

-38.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.10 ฿463

$28.94 $28.94

-51.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 ฿44.71

$1.25 $1.25

8.80%

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

$28.2K ฿925.3K

$24.4K $24.4K

15.72%

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

$32.9K ฿1.1M

$24.4K $24.4K

34.72%

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

$122 ฿3,993

$158 $158

-23.15%

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

$13.57 ฿445

$45.67 $45.67

-70.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.31 ฿601

$60.3 $60.3

-69.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.2 ฿1,976

$43.35 $43.35

38.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 ฿562

Cinema Ticket

$8.69 ฿285

$13.93 $13.93

-37.62%

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

$693 ฿22.8K

$1,191 $1,191

-41.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K ฿514.7K

$23.1K $23.1K

-32.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,953

$47.71 $47.71

24.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.77 ฿1,141

$34.29 $34.29

1.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,760

$85.1 $85.1

34.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.3 ฿2,733

$84.1 $84.1

-0.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$613 ฿20.1K

$1,582 $1,582

-61.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$437 ฿14.3K

$1,340 $1,340

-67.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,094 ฿68.7K

$2,683 $2,683

-21.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,509 ฿49.5K

$2,238 $2,238

-32.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,749 ฿123.0K

$2,948 $2,948

27.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,616 ฿85.8K

$2,550 $2,550

2.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

6.58

-19.00%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Highland, CA: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $613 in Phuket versus $1,582 in Highland, CA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Phuket versus $79.0 in Highland, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $372 – making Phuket the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Highland, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,265 in Phuket, $2,547 in Highland, CA – roughly 101% apart. Highland, CA costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,898 per month in Phuket and $3,820 in Highland, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Phuket and $79.0 in Highland, CA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,265 in Phuket and $2,547 in Highland, CA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,265, than in Highland, CA at $2,547. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Highland, CA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,265 in Phuket to $2,547 in Highland, CA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Highland, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.