Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Dharan and Phuket

For one person, living is cheaper in Dharan: $58.8 a month against $1,278 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $14,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Dharan, Nepal
Phuket, Thailand
Dharan
🇳🇵 Nepal
$58.8
/mo nomad
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,278
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Dharan and in Phuket

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Dharan and in Phuket actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $59 per month in Dharan vs $1,278 in Phuket, rent included.

  • Dharan $59
  • Phuket $1,278

A couple spends around $93 per month in Dharan vs $2,216 in Phuket, rent included.

  • Dharan $93
  • Phuket $2,216

A family of three spends $127 per month in Dharan vs $3,154 in Phuket, rent included.

  • Dharan $127
  • Phuket $3,154

Dharan is about 95% cheaper than Phuket, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Dharan and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Dharan 96% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dharan
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.01 NPR 304
$4.47 ฿151
-55.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$32.41 ฿1,094
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
-
$8.81 ฿297
-
Cappuccino
$1.65 NPR 251
$2.83 ฿95.4
-41.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 NPR 56.7
$0.87 ฿29.42
-57.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.14 NPR 20.90
$0.49 ฿16.66
-71.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.56 ฿86.3
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.68 ฿124
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dharan
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
-
$1.66 ฿56.0
-
White Bread (500g)
$0.42 NPR 63.5
$1.46 ฿49.32
-71.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
-
$1.50 ฿50.5
-
Eggs
-
$2.09 ฿70.5
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
-
$19.07 ฿643
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.58 NPR 391
$3.30 ฿111
-21.82%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$10.91 ฿368
-
Apples (1kg)
-
$2.93 ฿98.9
-
Banana (1kg)
-
$1.69 ฿57.0
-
Oranges (1kg)
-
$2.25 ฿75.8
-
Tomato (1kg)
-
$2.08 ฿70.1
-
Potato (1kg)
-
$1.51 ฿51.0
-
Onion (1kg)
-
$1.38 ฿46.54
-
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$1.07 ฿35.97
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.52 ฿17.51
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.20 ฿142
-
Wine (Bottle)
-
$18.79 ฿634
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.82 ฿61.5
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.84 ฿95.9
-
🚌 Getting Around
Dharan
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.45 ฿49.00
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$56.7 ฿1,912
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$3.02 ฿102
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.02 ฿34.34
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$3.69 ฿125
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 NPR 173
$1.47 ฿49.78
-22.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$26.8K ฿903.7K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$26.7K ฿900.8K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dharan
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$96.4 ฿3,252
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$11.26 ฿380
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$16.85 ฿569
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dharan
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$67.2 ฿2,269
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$10.73 ฿362
-
Cinema Ticket
$1.93 NPR 293
$7.50 ฿253
-74.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dharan
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$476 ฿16.1K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$11.3K ฿380.1K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dharan
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$62.4 ฿2,105
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$28.41 ฿959
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$94.3 ฿3,182
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$85.8 ฿2,896
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dharan
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$716 ฿24.2K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$491 ฿16.6K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,927 ฿65.0K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,431 ฿48.3K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$4,175 ฿140.9K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$3,045 ฿102.8K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dharan
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$502 ฿17.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
5.57
-

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

Last update for Dharan: October 25, 2026

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Dharan
–
Phuket
$491
Groceries & Markets
Dharan
–
Phuket
$266
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dharan
–
Phuket
$124
Clothing & Footwear
Dharan
–
Phuket
$122
Eating Out
Dharan
–
Phuket
$122
Sport & Entertainment
Dharan
–
Phuket
$82
Getting Around
Dharan
–
Phuket
$71
Good to know
🇳🇵 Dharan
🇹🇭 Phuket
🕒 Local time
13:45 1:45 PM
15:00 3:00 PM
1 h 15 min ahead of Dharan
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
173,096
79,308
💱 Currency
Nepalese Rupee NPR रु
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to NPR – Nepalese Rupee Converter

Nepalese Rupee exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 152 NPR (1,000 NPR = 6.59 USD). 1 EUR = 169 NPR (1,000 NPR = 5.9 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.75 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.66 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Dharan Phuket 2,410 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Dharan
  • Phuket

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Dharan vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Dharan or Phuket?
Phuket costs about 2072% more than Dharan, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. 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 Dharan and in Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $88 per month in Dharan and $1,917 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 Dharan compared to Phuket?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $59 in Dharan and $1,278 in Phuket. That makes Dharan about 95% cheaper.
Are groceries more expensive in Dharan or in Phuket?
Groceries cost about 1461% more in Phuket, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $800/month in Dharan or in Phuket?
A $800 monthly budget goes further in Dharan, where all-in costs run around $59, than in Phuket at $1,278. In Dharan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Dharan or Phuket?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $59 in Dharan to $1,278 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How safe is Dharan compared to Phuket?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

Dharan vs other spots: cost of living compared

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