๐A single person spends $2,528 per month in Aberdeen, SD vs $1,270 in Phuket, rent included.
๐A couple spends around $3,632 per month in Aberdeen, SD vs $2,304 in Phuket, rent included.
๐A family of three spends $4,735 per month in Aberdeen, SD vs $3,339 in Phuket, rent included.
๐Aberdeen, SD costs about 99% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐Aberdeen, SD sits 89% above the global median, while Phuket is 5% below โ they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Aberdeen, SD
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.94$9.94
$4.66เธฟ150
113.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.5$64.5
$46.44เธฟ1,496
38.82%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.96$9.96
$8.68เธฟ280
14.75%
Cappuccino
$3.95$3.95
$2.95เธฟ95.0
33.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78$2.78
$0.70เธฟ22.52
297.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48$1.48
$0.39เธฟ12.70
279.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.90$3.90
$2.53เธฟ81.6
54.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.13$7.13
$3.78เธฟ122
88.62%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Aberdeen, SD
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.95$0.95
$2.22เธฟ71.5
-57.21%
White Bread(500g)
$2.67$2.67
$1.80เธฟ57.8
48.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.28$5.28
$2.19เธฟ70.4
141.10%
Eggs
$5.86$5.86
$2.31เธฟ74.5
153.68%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.95$9.95
$19.34เธฟ623
-48.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.89$9.89
$3.77เธฟ121
162.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.05$18.05
$13.22เธฟ426
36.54%
Apples(1kg)
$4.13$4.13
$3.33เธฟ107
24.02%
Banana(1kg)
$2.46$2.46
$1.65เธฟ53.1
49.09%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.49$3.49
$2.29เธฟ73.7
52.40%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.89$3.89
$1.99เธฟ64.1
95.48%
Potato(1kg)
$5.21$5.21
$1.53เธฟ49.24
240.52%
Onion(1kg)
$2.67$2.67
$1.51เธฟ48.77
76.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.96$2.96
$1.03เธฟ33.12
187.38%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$4.91$4.91
$0.51เธฟ16.57
862.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.64$9.64
$4.41เธฟ142
118.59%
Wine(Bottle)
$30.26$30.26
$19.41เธฟ625
55.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.85$1.85
$1.80เธฟ58.0
2.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43$3.43
$2.68เธฟ86.4
27.99%
๐ Getting Around
Aberdeen, SD
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.96$1.96
$1.43เธฟ46.11
37.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$11.70เธฟ377
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.58$3.58
$3.04เธฟ97.9
17.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.66$1.66
$1.04เธฟ33.37
59.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.03$29.03
$13.68เธฟ441
112.21%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.77$0.77
$1.30เธฟ41.85
-40.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.9K$29.9K
$27.9Kเธฟ898.9K
7.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K$25.7K
$33.0Kเธฟ1.1M
-22.29%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aberdeen, SD
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$191$191
$123เธฟ3,962
55.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.0$52.0
$13.82เธฟ445
276.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.20$25.20
$18.86เธฟ608
33.62%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Aberdeen, SD
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.44$42.44
$61.2เธฟ1,970
-30.60%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.81เธฟ541
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.59$13.59
$8.87เธฟ286
53.21%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Aberdeen, SD
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,292$1,292
$696เธฟ22.4K
85.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.7K$23.7K
$16.1Kเธฟ517.4K
47.61%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Aberdeen, SD
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.64$44.64
$59.3เธฟ1,910
-24.70%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.55$24.55
$34.85เธฟ1,123
-29.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$73.6$73.6
$113เธฟ3,646
-34.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113$113
$85.1เธฟ2,740
32.86%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Aberdeen, SD
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,587$1,587
$615เธฟ19.8K
157.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,356$1,356
$448เธฟ14.4K
202.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,673$2,673
$2,085เธฟ67.2K
28.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,180$2,180
$1,496เธฟ48.2K
45.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,342$1,342
$3,734เธฟ120.3K
-64.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,342$1,342
$2,662เธฟ85.8K
-49.59%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Aberdeen, SD
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,149$5,149
$534เธฟ17.2K
865.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.7
5.33
25.70%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Aberdeen, SD: April 22, 2026
Last update for Phuket: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A central one-bedroom costs $1,587 in Aberdeen, SD versus $615 in Phuket. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
๐ฐSalaries run about 865% higher in Aberdeen, SD, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
๐A mid-range dinner for two costs $64 in Aberdeen, SD versus $46 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $451 vs $291 โ making Phuket the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Aberdeen, SD vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Aberdeen, SD or Phuket?
Aberdeen, SD costs about 99% more than Phuket, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Aberdeen, SD vs Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,792 per month in Aberdeen, SD and $1,904 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Aberdeen, SD or Phuket?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Aberdeen, SD vs Phuket?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $64.0 in Aberdeen, SD and $46.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafรฉ pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Aberdeen, SD or Phuket?
Groceries cost about 55% more in Aberdeen, SD, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Aberdeen, SD or Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,270, than in Aberdeen, SD at $2,528. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Aberdeen, SD it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Aberdeen, SD or Phuket?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,270 versus $2,528 in Aberdeen, SD. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Aberdeen, SD compared to Phuket?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison โ central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Aberdeen, SD or Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Aberdeen, SD makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Aberdeen, SD vs other spots: cost of living compared