🙂A single person spends $402 per month in Dhulikhel vs $1,232 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $663 per month in Dhulikhel vs $2,255 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $924 per month in Dhulikhel vs $3,279 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
$1.77NPR 269
$4.63฿151
-61.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.90NPR 2,862
$46.84฿1,523
-59.65%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.41NPR 970
$8.84฿287
-27.49%
Cappuccino
$1.54NPR 232
$3.00฿97.4
-48.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55NPR 82.6
$0.74฿24.11
-25.68%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.17NPR 25.14
$0.37฿11.88
-54.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.64NPR 399
$2.44฿79.3
8.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.54NPR 536
$3.61฿117
-1.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dhulikhel
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.80NPR 122
$2.26฿73.5
-64.60%
White Bread(500g)
$0.55NPR 83.9
$1.84฿59.8
-70.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.81NPR 123
$2.24฿73.0
-63.84%
Eggs
$1.67NPR 253
$2.32฿75.3
-28.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.61NPR 1,153
$19.67฿639
-61.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.22NPR 488
$3.65฿119
-11.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.29NPR 952
$13.10฿426
-51.98%
Apples(1kg)
$2.26NPR 343
$3.39฿110
-33.33%
Banana(1kg)
$1.10NPR 166
$1.64฿53.4
-32.93%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.24NPR 188
$2.41฿78.5
-48.55%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.70NPR 106
$2.03฿66.0
-65.52%
Potato(1kg)
$0.46NPR 69.3
$1.56฿50.6
-70.51%
Onion(1kg)
$0.68NPR 103
$1.50฿48.66
-54.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.53NPR 80.6
$1.02฿33.30
-48.04%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.27NPR 40.91
$0.49฿15.91
-44.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.97NPR 450
$4.45฿145
-33.26%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$18.88฿614
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.34NPR 354
$1.78฿57.7
31.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.32NPR 502
$2.75฿89.5
20.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Dhulikhel
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.20NPR 30.68
$1.40฿45.54
-85.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$11.48฿373
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.12NPR 321
$3.12฿101
-32.05%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81NPR 123
$1.00฿32.48
-19.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.74NPR 566
$14.09฿458
-73.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.24NPR 188
$1.35฿43.93
-8.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.4KNPR 4.8M
$27.2K฿883.7K
15.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.8KNPR 6.2M
$32.9K฿1.1M
23.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dhulikhel
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$26.75NPR 4,050
$125฿4,063
-78.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.84NPR 732
$13.57฿441
-64.33%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.48NPR 1,435
$18.52฿602
-48.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dhulikhel
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$17.92NPR 2,712
$61.5฿1,999
-70.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.84฿547
-
Cinema Ticket
$2.77NPR 419
$9.19฿299
-69.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dhulikhel
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$72.8NPR 11.0K
$698฿22.7K
-89.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,793NPR 422.8K
$15.6K฿506.9K
-82.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dhulikhel
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.27NPR 3,825
$57.8฿1,878
-56.25%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.13NPR 4,259
$35.24฿1,146
-20.18%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$46.06NPR 6,974
$113฿3,677
-59.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.13NPR 4,410
$86.4฿2,808
-66.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dhulikhel
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$103NPR 15.6K
$616฿20.0K
-83.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$63.9NPR 9,666
$446฿14.5K
-85.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$204NPR 30.8K
$2,048฿66.6K
-90.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$145NPR 21.9K
$1,492฿48.5K
-90.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,779฿122.8K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,649฿86.1K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dhulikhel
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$524฿17.0K
-
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: April 26, 2026
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $103 in Dhulikhel versus $616 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: $134 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 206%, 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 $1,847 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 118% 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 $1,232. 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.