Cost of Living Comparison Between Dubasari and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Dubasari and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

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: Dubasari 49% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dubasari
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.91 MDL 155
$4.55 ฿153
95.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.19 MDL 630
$46.18 ฿1,554
-21.63%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.39 MDL 129
$8.84 ฿298
-16.40%
Cappuccino
$1.81 MDL 31.54
$3.06 ฿103
-40.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99 MDL 17.29
$0.73 ฿24.42
35.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 MDL 11.94
$0.40 ฿13.40
72.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.77 MDL 30.77
$2.43 ฿81.8
-27.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30 MDL 40.05
$3.78 ฿127
-39.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dubasari
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.28 MDL 22.37
$2.26 ฿76.0
-43.36%
White Bread (500g)
$0.53 MDL 9.16
$1.81 ฿60.9
-70.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.44 MDL 25.13
$2.25 ฿75.8
-36.00%
Eggs
$2.61 MDL 45.36
$2.25 ฿75.6
16.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.48 MDL 183
$19.51 ฿656
-46.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.50 MDL 95.7
$3.65 ฿123
50.68%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.83 MDL 154
$13.05 ฿439
-32.34%
Apples (1kg)
$0.85 MDL 14.84
$3.23 ฿109
-73.68%
Banana (1kg)
$1.83 MDL 31.90
$1.62 ฿54.4
12.96%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 MDL 29.70
$2.38 ฿80.2
-28.15%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.16 MDL 37.60
$2.03 ฿68.2
6.40%
Potato (1kg)
$0.76 MDL 13.30
$1.53 ฿51.6
-50.33%
Onion (1kg)
$0.55 MDL 9.66
$1.50 ฿50.5
-63.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.36 MDL 23.68
$0.98 ฿32.93
38.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 MDL 15.70
$0.52 ฿17.40
73.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.23 MDL 56.2
$4.44 ฿149
-27.25%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.59 MDL 79.9
$18.32 ฿616
-74.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.21 MDL 21.05
$1.86 ฿62.7
-34.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00 MDL 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)
$2.06 MDL 35.93
$3.11 ฿105
-33.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.27 MDL 4.72
$1.04 ฿35.08
-74.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.13 MDL 89.4
$14.11 ฿475
-63.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.41 MDL 24.60
$1.31 ฿44.13
7.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.6K MDL 568.3K
$27.8K ฿936.0K
17.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.5K MDL 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)
$171 MDL 2,971
$122 ฿4,120
39.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.57 MDL 132
$13.59 ฿457
-44.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.73 MDL 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
$7.73 MDL 135
$9.07 ฿305
-14.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dubasari
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$383 MDL 6,668
$706 ฿23.8K
-45.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,756 MDL 135.0K
$15.8K ฿531.8K
-50.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dubasari
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.0 MDL 1,167
$58.6 ฿1,970
14.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.5 MDL 931
$35.36 ฿1,190
51.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 MDL 1,936
$115 ฿3,885
-3.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 MDL 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.

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