🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $682 in Dubasari versus $1,250 in Phuket.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,077 in Dubasari versus $2,284 in Phuket.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,471 in Dubasari versus $3,317 in Phuket.
🌍Living in Dubasari costs roughly 45% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Dubasari49% lower, Phuket6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dubasari
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.91MDL 155
$4.55฿153
95.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.19MDL 630
$46.18฿1,554
-21.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.39MDL 129
$8.84฿298
-16.40%
Cappuccino
$1.81MDL 31.54
$3.06฿103
-40.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99MDL 17.29
$0.73฿24.42
35.62%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69MDL 11.94
$0.40฿13.40
72.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.77MDL 30.77
$2.43฿81.8
-27.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30MDL 40.05
$3.78฿127
-39.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dubasari
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28MDL 22.37
$2.26฿76.0
-43.36%
White Bread(500g)
$0.53MDL 9.16
$1.81฿60.9
-70.72%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.44MDL 25.13
$2.25฿75.8
-36.00%
Eggs
$2.61MDL 45.36
$2.25฿75.6
16.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.48MDL 183
$19.51฿656
-46.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.50MDL 95.7
$3.65฿123
50.68%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.83MDL 154
$13.05฿439
-32.34%
Apples(1kg)
$0.85MDL 14.84
$3.23฿109
-73.68%
Banana(1kg)
$1.83MDL 31.90
$1.62฿54.4
12.96%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.71MDL 29.70
$2.38฿80.2
-28.15%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.16MDL 37.60
$2.03฿68.2
6.40%
Potato(1kg)
$0.76MDL 13.30
$1.53฿51.6
-50.33%
Onion(1kg)
$0.55MDL 9.66
$1.50฿50.5
-63.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.36MDL 23.68
$0.98฿32.93
38.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90MDL 15.70
$0.52฿17.40
73.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.23MDL 56.2
$4.44฿149
-27.25%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.59MDL 79.9
$18.32฿616
-74.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.21MDL 21.05
$1.86฿62.7
-34.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00MDL 34.89
$2.68฿90.2
-25.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Dubasari
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$1.41฿47.49
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$11.70฿394
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.06MDL 35.93
$3.11฿105
-33.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.27MDL 4.72
$1.04฿35.08
-74.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.13MDL 89.4
$14.11฿475
-63.64%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.41MDL 24.60
$1.31฿44.13
7.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.6KMDL 568.3K
$27.8K฿936.0K
17.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.5KMDL 531.6K
$33.2K฿1.1M
-8.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dubasari
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$171MDL 2,971
$122฿4,120
39.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.57MDL 132
$13.59฿457
-44.30%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.73MDL 187
$18.70฿629
-42.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dubasari
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$60.5฿2,035
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.98฿572
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.73MDL 135
$9.07฿305
-14.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dubasari
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$383MDL 6,668
$706฿23.8K
-45.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,756MDL 135.0K
$15.8K฿531.8K
-50.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dubasari
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.0MDL 1,167
$58.6฿1,970
14.48%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.5MDL 931
$35.36฿1,190
51.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111MDL 1,936
$115฿3,885
-3.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122MDL 2,129
$83.7฿2,818
46.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dubasari
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$626฿21.1K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$445฿15.0K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,040฿68.7K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,492฿50.2K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,483฿117.2K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,577฿86.7K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dubasari
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$500฿16.8K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.24
5.33
73.36%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Dubasari: July 12, 2026
Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $36.00 in Dubasari vs $46.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $191 vs $289 per month, with Dubasari cheaper across the board.
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
Dubasari vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Dubasari?
Dubasari is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 83% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,023 in Dubasari and $1,875 in Phuket to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do food prices compare in Dubasari and in Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 51% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Dubasari and in Phuket?
All in, you'll spend $682 per month in Dubasari versus $1,250 in Phuket – a 83% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Dubasari or in Phuket?
At $682 in Dubasari versus $1,250 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Dubasari but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Dubasari the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Dubasari or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Dubasari is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Dubasari or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Dubasari and Phuket are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Dubasari gentler on the wallet – expenses run 83% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.