🙂A single person spends $372 per month in Bahir Dar vs $1,265 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $560 per month in Bahir Dar vs $2,297 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $748 per month in Bahir Dar vs $3,329 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂Bahir Dar is about 71% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Bahir Dar and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Bahir Dar72% lower, Phuket6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bahir Dar
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.60ETB 567
$4.70฿153
-23.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$45.37฿1,482
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$8.43฿275
-
Cappuccino
$1.02ETB 161
$2.93฿95.6
-65.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42ETB 65.9
$0.69฿22.40
-39.13%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48ETB 76.3
$0.37฿11.99
29.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.78ETB 123
$2.41฿78.6
-67.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99ETB 313
$3.72฿122
-46.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bahir Dar
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.01ETB 160
$2.23฿72.9
-54.71%
White Bread(500g)
$1.01ETB 160
$1.83฿59.8
-44.81%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.99ETB 156
$2.17฿70.8
-54.38%
Eggs
$1.76ETB 277
$2.21฿72.3
-20.36%
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$19.74฿645
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
-
$3.63฿119
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.96ETB 1,569
$13.53฿442
-26.39%
Apples(1kg)
$2.94ETB 463
$3.28฿107
-10.37%
Banana(1kg)
$1.02ETB 160
$1.61฿52.6
-36.65%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.97ETB 310
$2.41฿78.6
-18.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.77ETB 122
$2.08฿68.1
-62.98%
Potato(1kg)
$0.67ETB 105
$1.53฿49.93
-56.21%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17ETB 185
$1.48฿48.36
-20.95%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98ETB 155
$0.99฿32.29
-1.01%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52ETB 81.6
$0.51฿16.67
1.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.41฿144
-
Wine(Bottle)
$4.03ETB 636
$19.38฿633
-79.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.77ETB 121
$1.78฿58.1
-56.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98ETB 313
$2.71฿88.6
-26.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Bahir Dar
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$1.37฿44.79
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$11.39฿372
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$3.02฿98.6
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.52ETB 81.2
$0.99฿32.48
-47.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.98ETB 312
$14.10฿461
-85.96%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.02ETB 160
$1.36฿44.51
-25.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$28.2K฿921.1K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$32.9K฿1.1M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bahir Dar
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$100ETB 15.8K
$122฿3,975
-17.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.90ETB 1,560
$13.57฿443
-27.04%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$18.31฿598
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bahir Dar
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$50.5ETB 7,963
$60.2฿1,967
-16.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$59.1ETB 9,311
$17.14฿560
244.69%
Cinema Ticket
$5.97ETB 941
$8.69฿284
-31.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bahir Dar
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$50.3ETB 7,927
$693฿22.6K
-92.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$15.7K฿512.3K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bahir Dar
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.9ETB 8,024
$59.5฿1,944
-14.48%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$34.77฿1,136
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$115฿3,743
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$83.3฿2,720
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bahir Dar
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$613฿20.0K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$437฿14.3K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,094฿68.4K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,509฿49.3K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,032ETB 320.3K
$3,749฿122.5K
-45.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,514ETB 238.6K
$2,616฿85.4K
-42.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bahir Dar
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$198ETB 31.2K
$508฿16.6K
-60.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
5.33
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bahir Dar: June 1, 2026
Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Salaries run about 156% higher in Phuket, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
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
Bahir Dar vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bahir Dar or Phuket?
Phuket costs about 240% more than Bahir Dar, 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 Bahir Dar vs Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $557 per month in Bahir Dar and $1,898 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How much does it cost to live in Bahir Dar compared to Phuket?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $372 in Bahir Dar and $1,265 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Are groceries more expensive in Bahir Dar or Phuket?
Groceries cost about 136% more in Phuket, 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 $1,000/month in Bahir Dar or Phuket?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Bahir Dar, where all-in costs run around $372, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Bahir Dar it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Bahir Dar or Phuket?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bahir Dar costs $372 versus $1,265 in Phuket. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Bahir Dar 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 – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Bahir Dar or Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Bahir Dar. 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.