🙂A single person spends $396 per month in Dhulikhel vs $1,264 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $668 per month in Dhulikhel vs $2,256 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $941 per month in Dhulikhel vs $3,248 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂Dhulikhel is about 69% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Dhulikhel and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Dhulikhel70% lower, Phuket5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dhulikhel
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.84NPR 281
$4.48฿150
-58.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.57NPR 2,834
$45.59฿1,521
-59.27%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.73NPR 1,027
$8.76฿292
-23.17%
Cappuccino
$1.48NPR 225
$2.97฿99.0
-50.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54NPR 82.0
$0.69฿22.90
-21.74%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.17NPR 26.14
$0.39฿13.04
-56.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.67NPR 407
$2.53฿84.4
5.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69NPR 562
$3.75฿125
-1.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dhulikhel
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.74NPR 112
$2.15฿71.6
-65.58%
White Bread(500g)
$0.55NPR 83.6
$1.82฿60.6
-69.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.77NPR 117
$2.18฿72.9
-64.68%
Eggs
$1.71NPR 260
$2.25฿75.0
-24.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.24NPR 1,106
$20.00฿667
-63.80%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.20NPR 488
$3.63฿121
-11.85%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.15NPR 938
$13.56฿452
-54.65%
Apples(1kg)
$2.21NPR 338
$3.24฿108
-31.79%
Banana(1kg)
$1.09NPR 167
$1.64฿54.6
-33.54%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.24NPR 190
$2.33฿77.8
-46.78%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.69NPR 105
$2.07฿69.1
-66.67%
Potato(1kg)
$0.48NPR 73.6
$1.55฿51.6
-69.03%
Onion(1kg)
$0.64NPR 97.1
$1.46฿48.54
-56.16%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.49NPR 74.4
$0.98฿32.86
-50.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.27NPR 41.28
$0.48฿16.09
-43.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.82NPR 431
$4.35฿145
-35.17%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$18.57฿620
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.34NPR 357
$1.86฿61.9
25.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.22NPR 492
$2.65฿88.6
21.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Dhulikhel
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.20NPR 29.80
$1.42฿47.28
-85.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$11.57฿386
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.23NPR 340
$3.17฿106
-29.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.75NPR 115
$1.03฿34.41
-27.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.71NPR 566
$13.89฿463
-73.29%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28NPR 195
$1.34฿44.84
-4.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4KNPR 4.9M
$27.8K฿927.1K
16.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.9KNPR 6.1M
$33.4K฿1.1M
19.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dhulikhel
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$26.77NPR 4,086
$123฿4,105
-78.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.81NPR 734
$13.77฿459
-65.07%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.48NPR 1,447
$18.33฿611
-48.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dhulikhel
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$18.46NPR 2,818
$60.7฿2,025
-69.58%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.16฿573
-
Cinema Ticket
$2.66NPR 406
$8.87฿296
-70.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dhulikhel
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$73.9NPR 11.3K
$688฿22.9K
-89.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,773NPR 423.3K
$15.8K฿526.4K
-82.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dhulikhel
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.31NPR 3,863
$59.3฿1,978
-57.32%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.28NPR 4,163
$34.69฿1,157
-21.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$45.07NPR 6,879
$115฿3,843
-60.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.33NPR 4,476
$83.8฿2,794
-64.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dhulikhel
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$106NPR 16.2K
$621฿20.7K
-82.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$64.1NPR 9,788
$446฿14.9K
-85.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$205NPR 31.3K
$2,034฿67.8K
-89.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$143NPR 21.8K
$1,496฿49.9K
-90.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,455฿115.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,531฿84.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dhulikhel
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$494฿16.5K
-
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: July 28, 2026
Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $106 in Dhulikhel versus $621 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 $46.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $131 vs $291 – 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 219%, 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 $593 per month in Dhulikhel and $1,896 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 in Phuket?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Dhulikhel and $46.00 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 in Phuket?
Groceries cost about 122% 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 living in Dhulikhel or in Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Dhulikhel, where all-in costs run around $396, than in Phuket at $1,264. 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.