ðA single person spends $2,209 per month in Aberdeen vs $1,232 in Phuket, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $3,452 per month in Aberdeen vs $2,255 in Phuket, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $4,695 per month in Aberdeen vs $3,279 in Phuket, rent included.
ðAberdeen costs about 79% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðAberdeen sits 65% above the global median, while Phuket is 8% below â they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Aberdeen
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.45ÂĢ15.87
$4.63āļŋ151
363.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$82.2ÂĢ60.8
$46.84āļŋ1,523
75.53%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.03ÂĢ7.42
$8.84āļŋ287
13.46%
Cappuccino
$4.50ÂĢ3.33
$3.00āļŋ97.4
50.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04ÂĢ1.51
$0.74āļŋ24.11
175.68%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51ÂĢ1.12
$0.37āļŋ11.88
308.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.16ÂĢ4.56
$2.44āļŋ79.3
152.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.93ÂĢ5.13
$3.61āļŋ117
91.97%
ð Groceries & Markets
Aberdeen
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71ÂĢ1.27
$2.26āļŋ73.5
-24.34%
White Bread(500g)
$1.66ÂĢ1.23
$1.84āļŋ59.8
-9.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.85ÂĢ1.37
$2.24āļŋ73.0
-17.41%
Eggs
$4.16ÂĢ3.08
$2.32āļŋ75.3
79.31%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.76ÂĢ6.48
$19.67āļŋ639
-55.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.73ÂĢ8.68
$3.65āļŋ119
221.37%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.48ÂĢ9.97
$13.10āļŋ426
2.90%
Apples(1kg)
$3.04ÂĢ2.25
$3.39āļŋ110
-10.32%
Banana(1kg)
$1.67ÂĢ1.23
$1.64āļŋ53.4
1.83%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.82ÂĢ2.09
$2.41āļŋ78.5
17.01%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.17ÂĢ3.09
$2.03āļŋ66.0
105.42%
Potato(1kg)
$1.19ÂĢ0.88
$1.56āļŋ50.6
-23.72%
Onion(1kg)
$1.39ÂĢ1.03
$1.50āļŋ48.66
-7.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.20ÂĢ0.89
$1.02āļŋ33.30
17.65%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.41ÂĢ1.04
$0.49āļŋ15.91
187.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$19.13ÂĢ14.15
$4.45āļŋ145
329.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.35ÂĢ8.40
$18.88āļŋ614
-39.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.27ÂĢ1.68
$1.78āļŋ57.7
27.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36ÂĢ1.75
$2.75āļŋ89.5
-14.18%
ð Getting Around
Aberdeen
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$5.45ÂĢ4.03
$1.40āļŋ45.54
289.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$109ÂĢ80.7
$11.48āļŋ373
849.48%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.74ÂĢ3.51
$3.12āļŋ101
51.92%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.70ÂĢ1.26
$1.00āļŋ32.48
70.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.90ÂĢ25.83
$14.09āļŋ458
147.69%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.95ÂĢ1.44
$1.35āļŋ43.93
44.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.6KÂĢ28.6K
$27.2Kāļŋ883.7K
42.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.8KÂĢ30.2K
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
23.84%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aberdeen
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$407ÂĢ301
$125āļŋ4,063
225.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.46ÂĢ18.10
$13.57āļŋ441
80.25%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.90ÂĢ33.23
$18.52āļŋ602
142.44%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Aberdeen
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$63.8ÂĢ47.23
$61.5āļŋ1,999
3.81%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.58ÂĢ7.83
$16.84āļŋ547
-37.17%
Cinema Ticket
$9.02ÂĢ6.68
$9.19āļŋ299
-1.85%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Aberdeen
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,882ÂĢ1,393
$698āļŋ22.7K
169.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6KÂĢ11.6K
$15.6Kāļŋ506.9K
0.25%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Aberdeen
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$82.5ÂĢ61.1
$57.8āļŋ1,878
42.88%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.01ÂĢ30.35
$35.24āļŋ1,146
16.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.2ÂĢ70.4
$113āļŋ3,677
-15.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120ÂĢ88.9
$86.4āļŋ2,808
39.06%
ð Accommodation & Living
Aberdeen
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$883ÂĢ653
$616āļŋ20.0K
43.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$780ÂĢ577
$446āļŋ14.5K
74.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,662ÂĢ1,230
$2,048āļŋ66.6K
-18.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,594ÂĢ1,180
$1,492āļŋ48.5K
6.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,338ÂĢ1,730
$3,779āļŋ122.8K
-38.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,517ÂĢ2,602
$2,649āļŋ86.1K
32.77%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Aberdeen
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,680ÂĢ2,723
$524āļŋ17.0K
602.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.2
5.33
16.32%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Aberdeen: April 27, 2026
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $883 in Aberdeen versus $616 in Phuket. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
ð°Salaries run about 603% higher in Aberdeen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
ðA mid-range dinner for two costs $82.0 in Aberdeen versus $47.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $307 vs $292 â 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 vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Aberdeen or Phuket?
Aberdeen costs about 79% more than Phuket, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. 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 vs Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,313 per month in Aberdeen and $1,847 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Aberdeen 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 much does it cost to live in Aberdeen compared to Phuket?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,209 in Aberdeen and $1,232 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category â it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Aberdeen vs Phuket?
Public transport costs about 849% less in Phuket. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Aberdeen or Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,232, than in Aberdeen at $2,209. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Aberdeen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Aberdeen or Phuket?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,232 versus $2,209 in Aberdeen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Aberdeen 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 â central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Aberdeen or Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Aberdeen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.