Cost of Living Comparison Between Adama and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Adama and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,113 per month in Adama vs $1,261 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,782 per month in Adama vs $2,286 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,451 per month in Adama vs $3,310 in Phuket, rent included.

Adama is about 12% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Adama and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Adama 17% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Adama
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.03 ETB 480
$4.56 ฿149
-33.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.50 ETB 5,468
$46.63 ฿1,519
-26.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.10 ETB 808
$8.47 ฿276
-39.79%
Cappuccino
$1.27 ETB 202
$3.03 ฿98.6
-58.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ETB 109
$0.69 ฿22.45
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ETB 49.29
$0.37 ฿11.92
-16.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.99 ETB 156
$2.49 ฿81.0
-60.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02 ETB 478
$3.66 ฿119
-17.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Adama
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.45 ETB 231
$2.18 ฿71.0
-33.49%
White Bread (500g)
$1.35 ETB 214
$1.90 ฿62.0
-28.95%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.12 ETB 336
$2.20 ฿71.6
-3.64%
Eggs
$2.41 ETB 382
$2.22 ฿72.4
8.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.22 ETB 1,145
$19.99 ฿651
-63.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.10 ETB 2,235
$3.66 ฿119
285.25%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.43 ETB 2,129
$13.25 ฿432
1.36%
Apples (1kg)
$6.75 ETB 1,070
$3.23 ฿105
108.98%
Banana (1kg)
$0.96 ETB 152
$1.70 ฿55.3
-43.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.19 ETB 347
$2.39 ฿78.0
-8.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.98 ETB 156
$2.08 ฿67.7
-52.88%
Potato (1kg)
$0.67 ETB 107
$1.59 ฿51.8
-57.86%
Onion (1kg)
$1.89 ETB 300
$1.48 ฿48.31
27.70%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.69 ETB 109
$1.03 ฿33.54
-33.01%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63 ETB 99.8
$0.52 ฿16.83
21.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.93 ETB 623
$4.25 ฿138
-7.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.53 ETB 876
$18.79 ฿612
-70.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.04 ETB 165
$1.76 ฿57.2
-40.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89 ETB 300
$2.76 ฿89.8
-31.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Adama
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.36 ฿44.32
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$11.36 ฿370
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.44 ETB 228
$3.14 ฿102
-54.14%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.29 ETB 46.09
$1.04 ฿33.74
-72.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.05 ETB 324
$13.77 ฿448
-85.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.29 ETB 205
$1.34 ฿43.79
-3.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$54.7K ETB 8.7M
$27.7K ฿901.4K
97.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$54.7K ETB 8.7M
$33.9K ฿1.1M
61.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Adama
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$162 ETB 25.6K
$124 ฿4,025
30.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.84 ETB 1,877
$13.52 ฿440
-12.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$129 ETB 20.4K
$18.69 ฿609
588.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Adama
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$61.8 ฿2,013
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.25 ฿562
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.63 ETB 893
$9.14 ฿298
-38.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Adama
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$80.5 ETB 12.8K
$703 ฿22.9K
-88.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$40.5K ETB 6.4M
$15.9K ฿517.0K
155.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Adama
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.44 ETB 7,361
$59.5 ฿1,937
-21.90%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$75.1 ETB 11.9K
$35.07 ฿1,142
114.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.3 ETB 14.6K
$115 ฿3,754
-19.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112 ETB 17.8K
$84.1 ฿2,737
33.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Adama
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$509 ETB 80.6K
$619 ฿20.1K
-17.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$302 ETB 47.9K
$433 ฿14.1K
-30.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,005 ETB 159.3K
$2,062 ฿67.2K
-51.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$791 ETB 125.4K
$1,511 ฿49.2K
-47.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,646 ฿118.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,626 ฿85.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Adama
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$101 ETB 15.9K
$507 ฿16.5K
-80.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
17
5.33
218.95%

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

Last update for Adama: June 8, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $509 in Adama versus $619 in Phuket. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 404% higher in Phuket, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Adama versus $47.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $268 vs $293 – making Adama 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
Adama vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Adama and Phuket compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,113 in Adama, $1,261 in Phuket – roughly 13% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Adama compared to Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,670 per month in Adama and $1,892 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Adama and Phuket?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Adama, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Adama and $47.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 9% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Adama, where all-in costs run around $1,113, than in Phuket at $1,261. In Adama it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Adama and Phuket?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,113 in Adama to $1,261 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Adama or Phuket safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Adama and Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Adama. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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