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

🙂 Solo nomad: Phuket is 45.9% cheaper than Santa Monica, CA without rent, and 72.3% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Phuket is 44.1% cheaper than Santa Monica, CA without rent, and 66.2% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Santa Monica, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.68 ฿151
$25.29 $25.29
-81.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.4 ฿1,502
$99.5 $99.5
-53.36%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.65 ฿280
$12.3 $12.3
-29.67%
Cappuccino
$3.09 ฿100
$5.68 $5.68
-45.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 ฿23.53
$2.88 $2.88
-74.65%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿11.95
$2.3 $2.3
-83.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.39 ฿77.4
$8.59 $8.59
-72.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.62 ฿117
$9.32 $9.32
-61.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Santa Monica, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.24 ฿72.5
$1.18 $1.18
89.83%
White Bread (500g)
$1.8 ฿58.2
$4.45 $4.45
-59.55%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.24 ฿72.3
$4.49 $4.49
-50.11%
Eggs
$2.23 ฿72.1
$7.19 $7.19
-68.98%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.31 ฿625
$12.47 $12.47
54.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.77 ฿122
$13.7 $13.7
-72.48%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.05 ฿422
$14.46 $14.46
-9.75%
Apples (1kg)
$3.28 ฿106
$5.37 $5.37
-38.92%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 ฿52.6
$1.95 $1.95
-16.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.4 ฿77.7
$3.97 $3.97
-39.55%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.99 ฿64.3
$5.73 $5.73
-65.27%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿49.62
$2.98 $2.98
-48.66%
Onion (1kg)
$1.49 ฿48.11
$2.45 $2.45
-39.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 ฿32.87
$1.82 $1.82
-43.96%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48 ฿15.61
$2.12 $2.12
-77.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.32 ฿140
$10.83 $10.83
-60.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.68 ฿702
$15.28 $15.28
41.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 ฿57.3
$2.53 $2.53
-30.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79 ฿90.4
$5.34 $5.34
-47.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Santa Monica, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.35 ฿43.74
$2.08 $2.08
-35.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.76 ฿380
$81.5 $81.5
-85.58%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.15 ฿102
$3.15 $3.15
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1 ฿32.3
$1.71 $1.71
-41.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.64 ฿442
$29.08 $29.08
-53.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.3 ฿42.2
$1.24 $1.24
4.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.4K ฿885.2K
$23.8K $23.8K
14.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9K ฿1.1M
$25.5K $25.5K
33.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Santa Monica, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$123 ฿3,970
$190 $190
-35.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.93 ฿451
$58.4 $58.4
-76.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.24 ฿590
$67 $67
-72.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Santa Monica, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.8 ฿1,966
$122 $122
-50.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.11 ฿554
$44.73 $44.73
-61.75%
Cinema Ticket
$9.07 ฿294
$18.03 $18.03
-49.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Santa Monica, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$694 ฿22.5K
$1,791 $1,791
-61.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.9K ฿514.4K
$14.7K $14.7K
7.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Santa Monica, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.5 ฿1,861
$62.8 $62.8
-8.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.51 ฿1,117
$34.08 $34.08
1.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,727
$102 $102
12.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.8 ฿2,743
$153 $153
-44.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Santa Monica, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$611 ฿19.8K
$3,279 $3,279
-81.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$442 ฿14.3K
$2,892 $2,892
-84.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,014 ฿65.2K
$6,850 $6,850
-70.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,460 ฿47.2K
$5,897 $5,897
-75.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,244 ฿137.3K
$10.8K $10.8K
-60.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,886 ฿93.4K
$8,171 $8,171
-64.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Santa Monica, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$697 ฿22.5K
$7,229 $7,229
-90.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
6.49
-17.87%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 29, 2025

Last update for Santa Monica, CA: October 27, 2025

Similar cities

Join the CityCost newsletter – low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.