😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,866 in Dubendorf versus $1,250 in Phuket.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,884 in Dubendorf versus $2,284 in Phuket.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,901 in Dubendorf versus $3,317 in Phuket.
🌍Living in Dubendorf is roughly 209% more expensive than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Dubendorf is 189% above, Phuket is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dubendorf
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$31.26CHF 25.27
$4.55฿153
587.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$145CHF 117
$46.18฿1,554
214.01%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$18.61CHF 15.04
$8.84฿298
110.52%
Cappuccino
$6.17CHF 4.99
$3.06฿103
101.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.79CHF 4.68
$0.73฿24.42
693.15%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.18CHF 4.19
$0.40฿13.40
1195.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.44CHF 6.01
$2.43฿81.8
206.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.17CHF 5.79
$3.78฿127
89.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dubendorf
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26CHF 1.83
$2.26฿76.0
-
White Bread(500g)
$3.27CHF 2.65
$1.81฿60.9
80.66%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.12CHF 3.33
$2.25฿75.8
83.11%
Eggs
$7.49CHF 6.05
$2.25฿75.6
232.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$29.48CHF 23.84
$19.51฿656
51.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$31.92CHF 25.81
$3.65฿123
774.52%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$50.4CHF 40.73
$13.05฿439
286.05%
Apples(1kg)
$3.22CHF 2.60
$3.23฿109
-0.31%
Banana(1kg)
$2.82CHF 2.28
$1.62฿54.4
74.07%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.14CHF 2.54
$2.38฿80.2
31.93%
Tomato(1kg)
$7.28CHF 5.88
$2.03฿68.2
258.62%
Potato(1kg)
$2.75CHF 2.22
$1.53฿51.6
79.74%
Onion(1kg)
$2.33CHF 1.88
$1.50฿50.5
55.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.55CHF 2.06
$0.98฿32.93
160.20%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.71CHF 1.38
$0.52฿17.40
228.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.22CHF 9.07
$4.44฿149
152.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.26CHF 10.72
$18.32฿616
-27.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.23CHF 1.81
$1.86฿62.7
19.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98CHF 2.41
$2.68฿90.2
11.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Dubendorf
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$7.76CHF 6.27
$1.41฿47.49
450.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$124CHF 100
$11.70฿394
960.85%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.58CHF 5.32
$3.11฿105
111.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$4.24CHF 3.43
$1.04฿35.08
307.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$79.3CHF 64.1
$14.11฿475
462.08%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.27CHF 1.83
$1.31฿44.13
73.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.2KCHF 33.3K
$27.8K฿936.0K
48.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.0KCHF 32.4K
$33.2K฿1.1M
20.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dubendorf
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$260CHF 210
$122฿4,120
112.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.31CHF 28.55
$13.59฿457
159.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.2CHF 42.19
$18.70฿629
179.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dubendorf
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$86.9CHF 70.3
$60.5฿2,035
43.73%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$55.7CHF 45.04
$16.98฿572
228.09%
Cinema Ticket
$24.42CHF 19.74
$9.07฿305
169.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dubendorf
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,732CHF 2,209
$706฿23.8K
286.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$38.8KCHF 31.3K
$15.8K฿531.8K
145.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dubendorf
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$146CHF 118
$58.6฿1,970
148.66%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$66.0CHF 53.3
$35.36฿1,190
86.60%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$146CHF 118
$115฿3,885
26.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$198CHF 160
$83.7฿2,818
136.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dubendorf
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,882CHF 1,521
$626฿21.1K
200.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,830CHF 1,479
$445฿15.0K
311.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,683CHF 2,169
$2,040฿68.7K
31.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,936CHF 2,373
$1,492฿50.2K
96.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$15.8KCHF 12.7K
$3,483฿117.2K
352.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$12.6KCHF 10.2K
$2,577฿86.7K
390.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dubendorf
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,977CHF 3,215
$500฿16.8K
695.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.5
5.33
-53.10%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Dubendorf: July 13, 2026
Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,882 in Dubendorf and $626 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Dubendorf pays 696% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $145 in Dubendorf vs $46.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $670 vs $289 per month, with Phuket 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
Dubendorf vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Dubendorf and in Phuket?
Dubendorf and Phuket differ by about 209% in total monthly costs ($3,866 vs $1,250 including rent). Phuket is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Dubendorf or Phuket?
Average pay runs 696% higher in Dubendorf, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Dubendorf and in Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,882 in Dubendorf versus $626 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Dubendorf or Phuket?
All in, you'll spend $3,866 per month in Dubendorf versus $1,250 in Phuket – a 209% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Dubendorf and in Phuket?
A monthly transit pass in Phuket runs roughly 961% less than in Dubendorf. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,250 in Phuket versus $3,866 in Dubendorf, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Dubendorf. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Dubendorf and Phuket?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Dubendorf or Phuket safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Dubendorf 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.
Where should expats move: Dubendorf or Phuket?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 209% less than in Dubendorf. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.