Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Santa Barbara, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Santa Barbara, CA

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Phuket is 46.6% cheaper than Santa Barbara, CA without rent, and 66.9% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Phuket is 37.8% cheaper than Santa Barbara, CA without rent, and 58.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Santa Barbara, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.68 ΰΈΏ151
$24.82 $24.82
-81.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.4 ΰΈΏ1,502
$100 $100
-53.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.65 ΰΈΏ280
$10.17 $10.17
-14.95%
Cappuccino
$3.09 ΰΈΏ100
$5.62 $5.62
-45.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 ΰΈΏ23.53
$2.73 $2.73
-73.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ΰΈΏ11.95
$2.1 $2.1
-82.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.39 ΰΈΏ77.4
$8.16 $8.16
-70.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.62 ΰΈΏ117
$9.1 $9.1
-60.22%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Santa Barbara, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.24 ΰΈΏ72.5
$1.3 $1.3
72.31%
White Bread (500g)
$1.8 ΰΈΏ58.2
$4.89 $4.89
-63.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.24 ΰΈΏ72.3
$4.83 $4.83
-53.62%
Eggs
$2.23 ΰΈΏ72.1
$5.43 $5.43
-58.93%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.31 ΰΈΏ625
$12.51 $12.51
54.36%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.77 ΰΈΏ122
$11.62 $11.62
-67.56%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.05 ΰΈΏ422
$14.26 $14.26
-8.49%
Apples (1kg)
$3.28 ΰΈΏ106
$6.24 $6.24
-47.44%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 ΰΈΏ52.6
$1.91 $1.91
-14.66%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.4 ΰΈΏ77.7
$3.84 $3.84
-37.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.99 ΰΈΏ64.3
$5.35 $5.35
-62.80%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ΰΈΏ49.62
$3.31 $3.31
-53.78%
Onion (1kg)
$1.49 ΰΈΏ48.11
$3.04 $3.04
-50.99%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 ΰΈΏ32.87
$2.18 $2.18
-53.21%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48 ΰΈΏ15.61
$2.02 $2.02
-76.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.32 ΰΈΏ140
$13.02 $13.02
-66.82%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.68 ΰΈΏ702
$15.26 $15.26
42.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 ΰΈΏ57.3
$1.76 $1.76
0.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79 ΰΈΏ90.4
$4.07 $4.07
-31.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Santa Barbara, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.35 ΰΈΏ43.74
$1.8 $1.8
-25.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.76 ΰΈΏ380
$65.2 $65.2
-81.96%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.15 ΰΈΏ102
$5.82 $5.82
-45.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1 ΰΈΏ32.3
$2 $2
-50.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.64 ΰΈΏ442
$50.9 $50.9
-73.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.3 ΰΈΏ42.2
$1.22 $1.22
6.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.4K ΰΈΏ885.2K
$28.5K $28.5K
-3.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9K ΰΈΏ1.1M
$25.5K $25.5K
32.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Santa Barbara, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$123 ΰΈΏ3,970
$201 $201
-38.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.93 ΰΈΏ451
$54.1 $54.1
-74.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.24 ΰΈΏ590
$72.4 $72.4
-74.79%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Santa Barbara, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.8 ΰΈΏ1,966
$66.1 $66.1
-8.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.11 ΰΈΏ554
$18.29 $18.29
-6.45%
Cinema Ticket
$9.07 ΰΈΏ294
$12.64 $12.64
-28.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Santa Barbara, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$694 ΰΈΏ22.5K
$1,445 $1,445
-51.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.9K ΰΈΏ514.4K
$37.3K $37.3K
-57.40%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Santa Barbara, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.5 ΰΈΏ1,861
$68.4 $68.4
-15.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.51 ΰΈΏ1,117
$41.33 $41.33
-16.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ΰΈΏ3,727
$77.7 $77.7
48.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.8 ΰΈΏ2,743
$146 $146
-41.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Santa Barbara, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$611 ΰΈΏ19.8K
$2,643 $2,643
-76.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$442 ΰΈΏ14.3K
$2,296 $2,296
-80.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,014 ΰΈΏ65.2K
$5,146 $5,146
-60.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,460 ΰΈΏ47.2K
$4,439 $4,439
-67.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,244 ΰΈΏ137.3K
$10.4K $10.4K
-59.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,886 ΰΈΏ93.4K
$9,888 $9,888
-70.81%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Santa Barbara, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$697 ΰΈΏ22.5K
$5,242 $5,242
-86.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
6.68
-20.21%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 29, 2025

Last update for Santa Barbara, CA: October 29, 2025

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