Cost of Living Comparison Between Dili and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Dili and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,594 per month in Dili vs $1,261 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,475 per month in Dili vs $2,078 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,357 per month in Dili vs $2,896 in Phuket, rent included.

Dili costs about 26% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Dili sits 16% above the global median, while Phuket is 8% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.14 $5.14

$4.43 ฿145

16.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.27 $42.27

$35.07 ฿1,151

20.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.10 $8.10

$8.96 ฿294

-9.60%

Cappuccino

$4.08 $4.08

$3.00 ฿98.4

36.00%

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

$1.70 $1.70

$0.77 ฿25.33

120.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$0.47 ฿15.44

387.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.51 $2.51

$2.40 ฿78.6

4.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.43 $4.43

$3.75 ฿123

18.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.82 ฿59.8

47.80%

White Bread (500g)

$2.86 $2.86

$1.42 ฿46.65

101.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 $1.62

$1.55 ฿50.8

4.52%

Eggs

$2.72 $2.72

$2.13 ฿69.9

27.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.06 $2.06

$19.76 ฿648

-89.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.36 $9.36

$3.48 ฿114

168.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.02 $16.02

$11.09 ฿364

44.45%

Apples (1kg)

$3.48 $3.48

$2.91 ฿95.5

19.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.66 ฿54.6

10.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 $1.53

$2.27 ฿74.5

-32.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.09 $2.09

$2.10 ฿68.8

-0.48%

Potato (1kg)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.47 ฿48.24

-6.80%

Onion (1kg)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.41 ฿46.29

-10.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.86 $0.86

$1.09 ฿35.78

-21.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 $0.98

$0.54 ฿17.58

81.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.07 $3.07

$4.48 ฿147

-31.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.93 $11.93

$18.72 ฿614

-36.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 $2.22

$1.84 ฿60.4

20.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 $2.86

$2.95 ฿96.7

-3.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 $0.24

$2.26 ฿74.1

-89.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.54 $30.54

$23.07 ฿757

32.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.57 $3.57

$3.04 ฿99.9

17.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.60 $3.60

$1.09 ฿35.82

230.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.37 $20.37

$3.82 ฿125

433.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 $1.45

$1.49 ฿48.79

-2.68%

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

$17.7K $17.7K

$27.4K ฿900.3K

-35.60%

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

$17.2K $17.2K

$27.5K ฿902.7K

-37.31%

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

$151 $151

$102 ฿3,340

48.55%

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

$29.90 $29.90

$11.28 ฿370

165.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.75 ฿582

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.15 $49.15

$54.2 ฿1,777

-9.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.96 ฿360

Cinema Ticket

$5.41 $5.41

$7.85 ฿258

-31.08%

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

$577 ฿18.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K $15.8K

$11.6K ฿381.6K

36.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.9 $59.9

$65.4 ฿2,144

-8.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.55 $29.55

$28.89 ฿948

2.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.5 $79.5

$99.1 ฿3,250

-19.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$59.3 $59.3

$90.3 ฿2,961

-34.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$863 $863

$756 ฿24.8K

14.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$770 $770

$487 ฿16.0K

57.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,750 $2,750

$2,085 ฿68.4K

31.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,527 $1,527

$1,207 ฿39.6K

26.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,591 ฿117.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,610 ฿85.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,531 $3,531

$502 ฿16.5K

603.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.37

5.57

-3.59%

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

Last update for Dili: August 16, 2026

Last update for Phuket: August 18, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $863 in Dili versus $756 in Phuket. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 603% higher in Dili, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Dili versus $35.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $282 vs $272 – making Phuket 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

Dili vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Dili is pricier by about 26%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,390 per month in Dili and $1,891 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 32% less in Phuket. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 4% more in Dili, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,261, than in Dili at $1,594. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Dili it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Phuket – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Dili makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.