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

😐 Solo nomad: Santa Maria, CA is 46.7% more expensive than Phuket without rent, and 157.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Santa Maria, CA is 37.8% more expensive than Phuket without rent, and 72.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santa Maria, CA
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.33 $20.33
$4.59 ฿147
342.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$71.4 $71.4
$46.83 ฿1,497
52.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.29 $11.29
$8.70 ฿278
29.77%
Cappuccino
$4.76 $4.76
$2.92 ฿93.5
63.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 $2.49
$0.68 ฿21.86
266.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 $2.03
$0.40 ฿12.66
407.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.93 $5.93
$2.51 ฿80.2
136.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.82 $7.82
$3.80 ฿122
105.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Santa Maria, CA
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.99 $0.99
$2.16 ฿69.1
-54.17%
White Bread (500g)
$2.81 $2.81
$1.88 ฿60.1
49.47%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.81 $4.81
$2.16 ฿69.0
122.69%
Eggs
$3.42 $3.42
$2.22 ฿71.0
54.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.17 $10.17
$19.57 ฿626
-48.03%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.42 $8.42
$3.80 ฿122
121.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.26 $17.26
$13.41 ฿429
28.71%
Apples (1kg)
$3.85 $3.85
$3.26 ฿104
18.10%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 $1.73
$1.61 ฿51.5
7.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.52 $3.52
$2.31 ฿73.8
52.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.26 $3.26
$2.06 ฿65.8
58.25%
Potato (1kg)
$2.93 $2.93
$1.61 ฿51.3
81.99%
Onion (1kg)
$2.04 $2.04
$1.44 ฿46.13
41.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.03 ฿32.91
66.02%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.30 $1.30
$0.48 ฿15.34
170.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.14 $11.14
$4.50 ฿144
147.56%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.86 $14.86
$19.18 ฿613
-22.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 $1.76
$1.82 ฿58.3
-3.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44 $3.44
$2.69 ฿86.0
27.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Santa Maria, CA
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.04 $2.04
$1.38 ฿44.04
47.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$11.76 ฿376
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.36 $3.36
$3.11 ฿99.3
8.04%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.88 $1.88
$1.00 ฿32.09
88.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.92 $24.92
$13.74 ฿439
81.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 $1.27
$1.30 ฿41.49
-2.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.2K $36.2K
$27.4K ฿874.5K
32.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.6K $29.6K
$33.0K ฿1.1M
-10.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santa Maria, CA
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$165 $165
$125 ฿3,993
32.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$50.5 $50.5
$13.74 ฿439
267.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$85.1 $85.1
$18.61 ฿595
357.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Santa Maria, CA
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.69 $43.69
$60.6 ฿1,936
-27.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.15 ฿548
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.63 $14.63
$9.01 ฿288
62.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santa Maria, CA
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$978 $978
$698 ฿22.3K
40.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.0K $13.0K
$16.1K ฿515.1K
-19.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Santa Maria, CA
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.2 $55.2
$59.2 ฿1,893
-6.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.66 $40.66
$34.86 ฿1,115
16.64%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.9 $71.9
$114 ฿3,651
-37.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.7 $78.7
$85.8 ฿2,743
-8.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santa Maria, CA
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,282 $2,282
$619 ฿19.8K
268.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,084 $2,084
$437 ฿14.0K
377.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,337 $3,337
$2,075 ฿66.3K
60.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,063 $3,063
$1,509 ฿48.2K
102.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,566 $8,566
$3,764 ฿120.3K
127.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$8,478 $8,478
$2,694 ฿86.1K
214.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Santa Maria, CA
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,225 $4,225
$528 ฿16.9K
699.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
5.33
22.14%

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

Last update for Santa Maria, CA: April 12, 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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