Cost of Living Comparison Between San Diego, CA and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between San Diego, CA and Phuket

😐 Solo nomad: San Diego, CA is 93.5% more expensive than Phuket without rent, and 216.7% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: San Diego, CA is 85.6% more expensive than Phuket without rent, and 128.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Diego, CA
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.65 $22.65
$4.59 ฿147
393.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$99.9 $99.9
$46.83 ฿1,498
113.26%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.77 $14.77
$8.70 ฿278
69.77%
Cappuccino
$5.84 $5.84
$2.92 ฿93.5
100.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96 $2.96
$0.68 ฿21.86
335.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57 $2.57
$0.40 ฿12.67
542.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.99 $7.99
$2.51 ฿80.2
218.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.89 $8.89
$3.80 ฿122
133.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Diego, CA
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.27 $1.27
$2.16 ฿69.1
-41.20%
White Bread (500g)
$4.43 $4.43
$1.88 ฿60.2
135.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.43 $4.43
$2.16 ฿69.0
105.09%
Eggs
$5.27 $5.27
$2.22 ฿71.0
137.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.29 $13.29
$19.57 ฿626
-32.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.71 $12.71
$3.80 ฿122
234.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.17 $18.17
$13.41 ฿429
35.50%
Apples (1kg)
$4.71 $4.71
$3.26 ฿104
44.48%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.61 ฿51.5
6.21%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.89 $3.89
$2.31 ฿73.8
68.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.84 $4.84
$2.06 ฿65.8
134.95%
Potato (1kg)
$2.97 $2.97
$1.61 ฿51.3
84.47%
Onion (1kg)
$2.47 $2.47
$1.44 ฿46.15
71.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.21 $2.21
$1.03 ฿32.92
114.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.46 $2.46
$0.48 ฿15.35
412.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.79 $11.79
$4.50 ฿144
162.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.77 $14.77
$19.18 ฿613
-22.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83 $1.83
$1.82 ฿58.3
0.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.69 ฿86.0
-5.95%
🚌 Getting Around
San Diego, CA
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.52 $2.52
$1.38 ฿44.05
82.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$70.9 $70.9
$11.76 ฿376
502.89%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.94 $2.94
$3.11 ฿99.3
-5.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.06 $2.06
$1.00 ฿32.10
106.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$27.72 $27.72
$13.74 ฿439
101.75%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.29 $1.29
$1.30 ฿41.50
-0.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.5K $30.5K
$27.4K ฿874.8K
11.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2K $27.2K
$33.0K ฿1.1M
-17.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Diego, CA
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$267 $267
$125 ฿3,994
114.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$68.1 $68.1
$13.74 ฿439
395.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$78.8 $78.8
$18.61 ฿595
323.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Diego, CA
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.1 $67.1
$60.6 ฿1,936
10.87%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.91 $24.91
$17.15 ฿548
45.25%
Cinema Ticket
$16.17 $16.17
$9.01 ฿288
79.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Diego, CA
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,604 $1,604
$698 ฿22.3K
129.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$28.5K $28.5K
$16.1K ฿515.3K
76.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Diego, CA
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.3 $58.3
$59.2 ฿1,894
-1.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.8 $58.8
$34.86 ฿1,115
68.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.8 $98.8
$114 ฿3,653
-13.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 $114
$85.8 ฿2,744
32.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Diego, CA
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,800 $2,800
$619 ฿19.8K
352.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,356 $2,356
$437 ฿14.0K
439.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,939 $4,939
$2,075 ฿66.4K
137.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$4,104 $4,104
$1,509 ฿48.3K
171.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,775 $8,775
$3,764 ฿120.4K
133.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,708 $6,708
$2,694 ฿86.1K
149.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Diego, CA
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,347 $5,347
$528 ฿16.9K
911.88%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.39
5.33
19.89%

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

Last update for San Diego, CA: April 14, 2026

Last update for Phuket: April 13, 2026

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

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