Cost of Living Comparison Between Bahir Dar and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Bahir Dar and Phuket

Name: Phuket
Address: Phuket, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $373 per month in Bahir Dar vs $1,253 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $573 per month in Bahir Dar vs $2,043 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $772 per month in Bahir Dar vs $2,833 in Phuket, rent included.

Bahir Dar is about 70% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Bahir Dar and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Bahir Dar 73% lower, Phuket 9% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.40 ETB 546

$4.56 ฿150

-25.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.62 ฿1,073

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.90 ฿293

Cappuccino

$1.01 ETB 163

$2.80 ฿92.2

-63.93%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 ETB 66.3

$0.88 ฿28.94

-53.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 ETB 82.3

$0.49 ฿16.08

4.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.74 ETB 119

$2.39 ฿78.5

-69.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 ETB 313

$3.71 ฿122

-47.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 ETB 157

$1.79 ฿58.8

-45.25%

White Bread (500g)

$0.97 ETB 156

$1.44 ฿47.40

-32.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.02 ETB 164

$1.58 ฿52.1

-35.44%

Eggs

$1.71 ETB 275

$2.13 ฿69.9

-19.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.92 ฿655

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.43 ฿113

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.83 ETB 1,579

$11.33 ฿372

-13.24%

Apples (1kg)

$3.08 ETB 495

$2.95 ฿97.0

4.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.01 ETB 163

$1.72 ฿56.6

-41.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.03 ETB 326

$2.32 ฿76.5

-12.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.78 ETB 125

$2.08 ฿68.4

-62.50%

Potato (1kg)

$0.64 ETB 103

$1.47 ฿48.34

-56.46%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ETB 187

$1.36 ฿44.65

-14.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 ETB 165

$1.10 ฿36.13

-6.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ETB 83.7

$0.57 ฿18.89

-8.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿140

Wine (Bottle)

$3.96 ETB 636

$18.42 ฿606

-78.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 ETB 125

$1.87 ฿61.5

-58.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 ETB 312

$2.92 ฿96.1

-33.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.22 ฿73.0

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.90 ฿753

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 ฿99.6

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 ETB 78.3

$1.07 ฿35.32

-54.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.05 ETB 329

$3.93 ฿129

-47.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 ETB 159

$1.49 ฿49.06

-33.56%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$27.1K ฿892.0K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.5K ฿902.6K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$100 ETB 16.1K

$103 ฿3,380

-2.57%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.81 ETB 1,575

$10.99 ฿361

-10.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.51 ฿576

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.32 ETB 7,920

$53.5 ฿1,760

-7.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$59.3 ETB 9,523

$11.20 ฿368

429.46%

Cinema Ticket

$5.85 ETB 940

$7.48 ฿246

-21.79%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$49.73 ETB 7,986

$557 ฿18.3K

-91.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.9K ฿389.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.08 ETB 7,883

$64.1 ฿2,107

-23.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.07 ฿956

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.0 ฿3,155

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.3 ฿2,970

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$730 ฿24.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$500 ฿16.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,090 ฿68.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,209 ฿39.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,995 ETB 320.4K

$3,596 ฿118.2K

-44.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,505 ETB 241.8K

$2,512 ฿82.6K

-40.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$202 ETB 32.5K

$503 ฿16.6K

-59.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Bahir Dar: August 30, 2026

Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 149% 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

Phuket costs about 236% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $560 per month in Bahir Dar and $1,880 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $373 in Bahir Dar and $1,253 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 121% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Bahir Dar, where all-in costs run around $373, than in Phuket at $1,253. In Bahir Dar it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bahir Dar costs $373 versus $1,253 in Phuket. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

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.