🙂A single person spends $402 per month in Dhulikhel vs $1,223 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $658 per month in Dhulikhel vs $2,237 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $914 per month in Dhulikhel vs $3,251 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂Dhulikhel is about 67% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Dhulikhel and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Dhulikhel70% lower, Phuket8% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dhulikhel
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.84NPR 278
$4.51฿147
-59.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.95NPR 2,867
$46.62฿1,515
-59.35%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.69NPR 1,012
$8.49฿276
-21.20%
Cappuccino
$1.50NPR 226
$3.08฿100
-51.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54NPR 81.0
$0.68฿22.07
-20.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.16NPR 24.15
$0.36฿11.75
-55.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.62NPR 397
$2.43฿78.8
7.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.57NPR 541
$3.63฿118
-1.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dhulikhel
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.73NPR 111
$2.19฿71.1
-66.67%
White Bread(500g)
$0.56NPR 84.3
$1.81฿59.0
-69.06%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.75NPR 114
$2.23฿72.5
-66.37%
Eggs
$1.70NPR 258
$2.24฿72.7
-24.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.23NPR 1,095
$19.60฿637
-63.11%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.13NPR 473
$3.72฿121
-15.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.08NPR 920
$13.47฿438
-54.86%
Apples(1kg)
$2.25NPR 340
$3.36฿109
-33.04%
Banana(1kg)
$1.05NPR 159
$1.62฿52.5
-35.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.25NPR 189
$2.41฿78.3
-48.13%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.68NPR 104
$1.99฿64.6
-65.83%
Potato(1kg)
$0.48NPR 73.1
$1.53฿49.76
-68.63%
Onion(1kg)
$0.68NPR 102
$1.45฿47.19
-53.10%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.49NPR 73.6
$1.01฿32.96
-51.49%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.25NPR 37.61
$0.48฿15.73
-47.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.83NPR 428
$4.27฿139
-33.72%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$19.12฿621
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.25NPR 340
$1.84฿59.7
22.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24NPR 491
$2.74฿89.1
18.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Dhulikhel
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.19NPR 28.39
$1.42฿46.06
-86.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$11.72฿381
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.22NPR 336
$3.00฿97.6
-26.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.78NPR 117
$1.05฿34.00
-25.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.62NPR 548
$13.90฿452
-73.96%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.22NPR 185
$1.29฿41.94
-5.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.6KNPR 4.9M
$28.0K฿911.1K
16.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.3KNPR 6.2M
$33.5K฿1.1M
23.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dhulikhel
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$26.92NPR 4,073
$122฿3,964
-77.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.89NPR 741
$13.93฿453
-64.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.79NPR 1,482
$18.87฿613
-48.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dhulikhel
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$18.40NPR 2,785
$61.3฿1,992
-69.97%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.84฿547
-
Cinema Ticket
$2.81NPR 425
$8.89฿289
-68.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dhulikhel
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$73.4NPR 11.1K
$691฿22.5K
-89.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,764NPR 418.3K
$16.2K฿525.2K
-82.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dhulikhel
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.91NPR 3,769
$57.8฿1,878
-56.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.33NPR 4,135
$35.39฿1,150
-22.77%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$44.78NPR 6,776
$113฿3,685
-60.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$28.99NPR 4,386
$83.0฿2,698
-65.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dhulikhel
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$103NPR 15.6K
$607฿19.7K
-82.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$64.8NPR 9,797
$448฿14.6K
-85.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$210NPR 31.8K
$2,029฿66.0K
-89.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$143NPR 21.6K
$1,493฿48.5K
-90.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,585฿116.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,585฿84.0K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dhulikhel
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$505฿16.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.08
5.33
126.64%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Dhulikhel: June 15, 2026
Last update for Phuket: June 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $103 in Dhulikhel versus $607 in Phuket. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Dhulikhel versus $47.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $130 vs $292 – making Dhulikhel the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Dhulikhel vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Dhulikhel?
Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 204%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $603 per month in Dhulikhel and $1,835 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Dhulikhel, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Dhulikhel or Phuket?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Dhulikhel and $47.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Dhulikhel and Phuket?
Groceries cost about 125% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Dhulikhel or Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Dhulikhel, where all-in costs run around $402, than in Phuket at $1,223. In Dhulikhel it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Dhulikhel or Phuket more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Dhulikhel – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Dhulikhel or 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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Dhulikhel. 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.