Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Mission Viejo, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Mission Viejo, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,223 in Phuket versus $2,585 in Mission Viejo, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,237 in Phuket versus $4,034 in Mission Viejo, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,251 in Phuket versus $5,484 in Mission Viejo, CA.

Living in Phuket costs roughly 53% less than in Mission Viejo, CA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 8% below, Mission Viejo, CA is 94% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.51 ฿147

$18.97 $18.97

-76.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.62 ฿1,515

$58.6 $58.6

-20.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.49 ฿276

$10.97 $10.97

-22.61%

Cappuccino

$3.08 ฿100

$5.22 $5.22

-41.00%

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

$0.68 ฿22.07

$2.49 $2.49

-72.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.75

$1.94 $1.94

-81.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 ฿78.8

$5.97 $5.97

-59.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿118

$6.93 $6.93

-47.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.19 ฿71.1

$1.01 $1.01

116.83%

White Bread (500g)

$1.81 ฿59.0

$3.54 $3.54

-48.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.23 ฿72.5

$4.31 $4.31

-48.26%

Eggs

$2.24 ฿72.7

$4.28 $4.28

-47.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.60 ฿637

$12.17 $12.17

61.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.72 ฿121

$11.56 $11.56

-67.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.47 ฿438

$15.68 $15.68

-14.09%

Apples (1kg)

$3.36 ฿109

$4.79 $4.79

-29.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ฿52.5

$1.56 $1.56

3.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.3

$4.14 $4.14

-41.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.99 ฿64.6

$4.63 $4.63

-57.02%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.76

$2.87 $2.87

-46.69%

Onion (1kg)

$1.45 ฿47.19

$2.88 $2.88

-49.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 ฿32.96

$2.04 $2.04

-50.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿15.73

$2.13 $2.13

-77.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿139

$9.46 $9.46

-54.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.12 ฿621

$15.19 $15.19

25.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 ฿59.7

$1.78 $1.78

3.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 ฿89.1

$3.40 $3.40

-19.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.42 ฿46.06

$1.97 $1.97

-27.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.72 ฿381

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.00 ฿97.6

$3.47 $3.47

-13.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.05 ฿34.00

$1.65 $1.65

-36.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.90 ฿452

$28.70 $28.70

-51.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 ฿41.94

$1.38 $1.38

-6.52%

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

$28.0K ฿911.1K

$29.5K $29.5K

-4.82%

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

$33.5K ฿1.1M

$25.6K $25.6K

30.73%

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

$122 ฿3,964

$190 $190

-35.71%

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

$13.93 ฿453

$52.2 $52.2

-73.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.87 ฿613

$67.7 $67.7

-72.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.3 ฿1,992

$43.63 $43.63

40.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.84 ฿547

Cinema Ticket

$8.89 ฿289

$13.68 $13.68

-35.01%

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

$691 ฿22.5K

$1,281 $1,281

-46.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.2K ฿525.2K

$23.2K $23.2K

-30.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.8 ฿1,878

$50.6 $50.6

14.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.39 ฿1,150

$40.30 $40.30

-12.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 ฿3,685

$86.7 $86.7

30.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.0 ฿2,698

$112 $112

-25.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$607 ฿19.7K

$2,680 $2,680

-77.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$448 ฿14.6K

$1,368 $1,368

-67.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,029 ฿66.0K

$2,598 $2,598

-21.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,493 ฿48.5K

$2,892 $2,892

-48.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,585 ฿116.5K

$2,708 $2,708

32.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,585 ฿84.0K

$2,339 $2,339

10.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$505 ฿16.4K

$5,576 $5,576

-90.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

6.51

-18.13%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 13, 2026

Last update for Mission Viejo, CA: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $607 in Phuket and $2,680 in Mission Viejo, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mission Viejo, CA pays 1005% 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: $47.00 in Phuket vs $59.0 in Mission Viejo, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $388 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 Mission Viejo, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Phuket and Mission Viejo, CA differ by about 111% in total monthly costs ($1,223 vs $2,585 including rent). Phuket is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Mission Viejo, CA earns 1005% 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: $607 in Phuket versus $2,680 in Mission Viejo, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $691 in Phuket versus $1,281 in Mission Viejo, CA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Phuket – a meal for two runs $47.00 versus $59.0 in Mission Viejo, CA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,223 in Phuket versus $2,585 in Mission Viejo, CA, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Mission Viejo, CA. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Phuket and Mission Viejo, 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 111% less than in Mission Viejo, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.