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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,006 per month in Adama vs $1,232 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,693 per month in Adama vs $2,054 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,380 per month in Adama vs $2,876 in Phuket, rent included.

Adama is about 18% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Adama and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Adama 26% lower, Phuket 10% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Adama
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.06 ETB 491
$4.41 ฿147
-30.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.54 ETB 6,834
$32.26 ฿1,077
31.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.07 ETB 815
$8.93 ฿298
-43.23%
Cappuccino
$0.90 ETB 144
$2.90 ฿96.6
-68.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60 ETB 96.3
$0.88 ฿29.38
-31.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ETB 49.92
$0.48 ฿16.06
-35.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.77 ETB 124
$2.35 ฿78.5
-67.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23 ETB 357
$3.72 ฿124
-40.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Adama
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.84 ETB 135
$1.87 ฿62.3
-55.08%
White Bread (500g)
$1.18 ETB 190
$1.47 ฿48.94
-19.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.12 ETB 341
$1.55 ฿51.8
36.77%
Eggs
$1.75 ETB 281
$2.10 ฿70.1
-16.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.55 ETB 1,213
$19.59 ฿654
-61.46%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.28 ETB 1,652
$3.42 ฿114
200.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.35 ETB 1,502
$11.38 ฿380
-17.84%
Apples (1kg)
$5.29 ETB 850
$2.98 ฿99.6
77.52%
Banana (1kg)
$0.65 ETB 104
$1.68 ฿56.2
-61.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.13 ETB 343
$2.21 ฿73.7
-3.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.65 ETB 105
$2.16 ฿72.1
-69.91%
Potato (1kg)
$0.46 ETB 73.6
$1.52 ฿50.9
-69.74%
Onion (1kg)
$1.05 ETB 169
$1.34 ฿44.67
-21.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.65 ETB 104
$1.13 ฿37.67
-42.48%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61 ETB 97.3
$0.55 ฿18.24
10.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.18 ETB 1,313
$4.26 ฿142
92.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.54 ETB 889
$19.09 ฿637
-70.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.71 ETB 114
$1.78 ฿59.4
-60.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28 ETB 206
$2.78 ฿92.9
-53.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Adama
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$2.23 ฿74.4
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$22.74 ฿759
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.29 ETB 207
$3.03 ฿101
-57.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.29 ETB 46.93
$1.02 ฿34.15
-71.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.96 ETB 315
$3.89 ฿130
-49.61%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.97 ETB 156
$1.49 ฿49.77
-34.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$54.6K ETB 8.8M
$26.6K ฿887.3K
105.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$56.0K ETB 9.0M
$27.0K ฿902.2K
107.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Adama
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$204 ETB 32.7K
$102 ฿3,420
98.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.22 ETB 1,160
$11.33 ฿378
-36.28%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$212 ETB 34.1K
$17.40 ฿581
1121.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Adama
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$52.1 ฿1,738
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$11.07 ฿370
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.64 ETB 585
$7.69 ฿257
-52.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Adama
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$138 ETB 22.2K
$561 ฿18.7K
-75.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$30.7K ETB 4.9M
$11.5K ฿384.1K
166.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Adama
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$33.59 ETB 5,396
$63.0 ฿2,104
-46.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$70.8 ETB 11.4K
$29.52 ฿986
139.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.8 ETB 12.5K
$98.0 ฿3,272
-20.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.7 ETB 13.1K
$88.5 ฿2,954
-7.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Adama
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$347 ETB 55.7K
$738 ฿24.6K
-53.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$198 ETB 31.8K
$482 ฿16.1K
-58.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$982 ETB 157.7K
$2,107 ฿70.3K
-53.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$816 ETB 131.1K
$1,226 ฿40.9K
-33.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,617 ฿120.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,603 ฿86.9K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Adama
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$102 ETB 16.3K
$494 ฿16.5K
-79.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
18.5
5.57
232.14%

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

Last update for Adama: September 14, 2026

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $347 in Adama versus $738 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 $43.00 in Adama versus $32.00 in Phuket. Groceries tell a different story – $210 in Adama vs $274 in Phuket – so Adama wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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: $1,006 in Adama, $1,232 in Phuket – roughly 22% 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 $1,509 per month in Adama and $1,847 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 $43.00 in Adama and $32.00 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 30% 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 $1,006, than in Phuket at $1,232. 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 $1,006 in Adama to $1,232 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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