Cost of Living Comparison Between Adama and PhuketCost of Living Comparison Between Adama and Phuket
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂A single person spends $1,078 per month in Adama vs $1,264 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,761 per month in Adama vs $2,256 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,443 per month in Adama vs $3,248 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂Adama is about 15% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both Adama and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Adama19% lower, Phuket5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Adama
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.02ETB 483
$4.48฿150
-32.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.39ETB 5,651
$45.59฿1,521
-22.37%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.97ETB 794
$8.76฿292
-43.26%
Cappuccino
$1.25ETB 199
$2.97฿99.0
-57.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64ETB 102
$0.69฿22.90
-7.25%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31ETB 50.2
$0.39฿13.04
-20.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.98ETB 157
$2.53฿84.4
-61.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94ETB 469
$3.75฿125
-21.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Adama
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38ETB 221
$2.15฿71.6
-35.81%
White Bread(500g)
$1.33ETB 213
$1.82฿60.6
-26.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.15ETB 343
$2.18฿72.9
-1.38%
Eggs
$2.50ETB 399
$2.25฿75.0
11.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.94ETB 1,109
$20.00฿667
-65.30%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.03ETB 2,241
$3.63฿121
286.50%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.32ETB 2,128
$13.56฿452
-1.77%
Apples(1kg)
$6.70ETB 1,070
$3.24฿108
106.79%
Banana(1kg)
$1.02ETB 163
$1.64฿54.6
-37.80%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25ETB 359
$2.33฿77.8
-3.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.97ETB 154
$2.07฿69.1
-53.14%
Potato(1kg)
$0.68ETB 108
$1.55฿51.6
-56.13%
Onion(1kg)
$1.84ETB 294
$1.46฿48.54
26.03%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.64ETB 102
$0.98฿32.86
-34.69%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.64ETB 102
$0.48฿16.09
33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.89ETB 622
$4.35฿145
-10.57%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.66ETB 903
$18.57฿620
-69.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.00ETB 160
$1.86฿61.9
-46.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82ETB 291
$2.65฿88.6
-31.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Adama
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$1.42฿47.28
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$11.57฿386
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.50ETB 240
$3.17฿106
-52.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.29ETB 46.69
$1.03฿34.41
-71.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.97ETB 315
$13.89฿463
-85.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.29ETB 206
$1.34฿44.84
-3.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$54.7KETB 8.7M
$27.8K฿927.1K
96.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$53.5KETB 8.5M
$33.4K฿1.1M
60.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Adama
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$158ETB 25.3K
$123฿4,105
28.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.11ETB 1,934
$13.77฿459
-12.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$132ETB 21.1K
$18.33฿611
620.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Adama
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$60.7฿2,025
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.16฿573
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.64ETB 900
$8.87฿296
-36.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Adama
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$81.5ETB 13.0K
$688฿22.9K
-88.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$40.5KETB 6.5M
$15.8K฿526.4K
156.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Adama
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.27ETB 7,549
$59.3฿1,978
-20.29%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$76.1ETB 12.2K
$34.69฿1,157
119.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.8ETB 14.8K
$115฿3,843
-19.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116ETB 18.6K
$83.8฿2,794
38.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Adama
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$494ETB 78.9K
$621฿20.7K
-20.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$304ETB 48.6K
$446฿14.9K
-31.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$988ETB 157.7K
$2,034฿67.8K
-51.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$794ETB 126.8K
$1,496฿49.9K
-46.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,455฿115.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,531฿84.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Adama
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$101ETB 16.2K
$494฿16.5K
-79.44%
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $494 in Adama versus $621 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 386% 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 $35.00 in Adama versus $46.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $266 vs $291 – 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 in Phuket compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,078 in Adama, $1,264 in Phuket – roughly 17% 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 $1,617 per month in Adama and $1,896 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 $35.00 in Adama and $46.00 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 $1,078, than in Phuket at $1,264. 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 $1,078 in Adama to $1,264 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.