Cost of Living Comparison Between Da Lat and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Da Lat and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $726 in Da Lat versus $1,265 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,122 in Da Lat versus $2,297 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,517 in Da Lat versus $3,329 in Phuket.

Living in Da Lat costs roughly 43% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Da Lat 46% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.22 ₫58.3K

$4.70 ฿153

-52.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.53 ₫592.0K

$45.37 ฿1,482

-50.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.29 ₫165.3K

$8.43 ฿275

-25.39%

Cappuccino

$1.58 ₫41.5K

$2.93 ฿95.6

-46.08%

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

$0.95 ₫24.9K

$0.69 ฿22.40

37.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 ₫10.7K

$0.37 ฿11.99

10.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.76 ₫46.4K

$2.41 ฿78.6

-26.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.45 ₫64.3K

$3.72 ฿122

-34.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.49 ₫39.1K

$2.23 ฿72.9

-33.18%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 ₫32.8K

$1.83 ฿59.8

-31.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ₫29.8K

$2.17 ฿70.8

-47.47%

Eggs

$1.63 ₫42.8K

$2.21 ฿72.3

-26.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.46 ₫196.0K

$19.74 ฿645

-62.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.13 ₫108.5K

$3.63 ฿119

13.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.51 ₫118.6K

$13.53 ฿442

-66.67%

Apples (1kg)

$4.17 ₫109.5K

$3.28 ฿107

27.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 ₫48.2K

$1.61 ฿52.6

13.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.16 ₫83.1K

$2.41 ฿78.6

31.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.57 ₫41.2K

$2.08 ฿68.1

-24.52%

Potato (1kg)

$1.79 ₫47.1K

$1.53 ฿49.93

16.99%

Onion (1kg)

$1.60 ₫42.1K

$1.48 ฿48.36

8.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 ₫20.0K

$0.99 ฿32.29

-23.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 ₫16.3K

$0.51 ฿16.67

21.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.76 ₫46.2K

$4.41 ฿144

-60.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.67 ₫201.5K

$19.38 ฿633

-60.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 ₫19.5K

$1.78 ฿58.1

-58.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 ₫54.8K

$2.71 ฿88.6

-22.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₫9,460

$1.37 ฿44.79

-73.72%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.63 ₫174.2K

$11.39 ฿372

-41.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.56 ₫14.6K

$3.02 ฿98.6

-81.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 ₫18.1K

$0.99 ฿32.48

-30.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.80 ₫73.5K

$14.10 ฿461

-80.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 ₫25.5K

$1.36 ฿44.51

-28.68%

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

$35.8K ₫939.9M

$28.2K ฿921.1K

26.84%

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

$32.0K ₫841.8M

$32.9K ฿1.1M

-2.63%

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

$39.41 ₫1.0M

$122 ฿3,975

-67.62%

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

$4.36 ₫114.5K

$13.57 ฿443

-67.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.13 ₫397.6K

$18.31 ฿598

-17.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.72 ₫570.7K

$60.2 ฿1,967

-63.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.76 ₫203.9K

$17.14 ฿560

-54.73%

Cinema Ticket

$1.95 ₫51.4K

$8.69 ฿284

-77.56%

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

$268 ₫7.0M

$693 ฿22.6K

-61.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.7K ₫307.7M

$15.7K ฿512.3K

-25.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.27 ₫1.1M

$59.5 ฿1,944

-30.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.12 ₫607.4K

$34.77 ฿1,136

-33.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.8 ₫2.3M

$115 ฿3,743

-23.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.7 ₫1.9M

$83.3 ฿2,720

-11.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$279 ₫7.3M

$613 ฿20.0K

-54.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$253 ₫6.7M

$437 ฿14.3K

-42.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$627 ₫16.5M

$2,094 ฿68.4K

-70.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$472 ₫12.4M

$1,509 ฿49.3K

-68.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,749 ฿122.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,616 ฿85.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$418 ₫11.0M

$508 ฿16.6K

-17.69%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.1

5.33

70.73%

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

Last update for Da Lat: May 31, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $279 in Da Lat and $613 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Phuket pays 21% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $23.00 in Da Lat vs $45.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $293 per month, with Da Lat cheaper across the board.

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

Da Lat vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Da Lat and Phuket differ by about 74% in total monthly costs ($726 vs $1,265 including rent). Da Lat is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Phuket earns 21% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $279 in Da Lat versus $613 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Da Lat – a meal for two runs $23.00 versus $45.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $726 per month in Da Lat versus $1,265 in Phuket – a 74% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $726 in Da Lat versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Da Lat but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Da Lat the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Da Lat and Phuket are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Da Lat gentler on the wallet – expenses run 74% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.