😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,974 in Dubendorf versus $1,265 in Phuket.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,958 in Dubendorf versus $2,297 in Phuket.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,942 in Dubendorf versus $3,329 in Phuket.
😐Living in Dubendorf is roughly 214% more expensive than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Dubendorf is 197% above, Phuket is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dubendorf
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$30.79CHF 24.27
$4.70฿153
555.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$150CHF 119
$45.37฿1,482
231.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$18.42CHF 14.52
$8.43฿275
118.51%
Cappuccino
$6.38CHF 5.03
$2.93฿95.6
117.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.85CHF 4.61
$0.69฿22.40
747.83%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.40CHF 4.25
$0.37฿11.99
1359.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.41CHF 5.85
$2.41฿78.6
207.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.99CHF 5.51
$3.72฿122
87.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dubendorf
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.15CHF 1.69
$2.23฿72.9
-3.59%
White Bread(500g)
$3.26CHF 2.57
$1.83฿59.8
78.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.08CHF 3.22
$2.17฿70.8
88.02%
Eggs
$7.26CHF 5.72
$2.21฿72.3
228.51%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$29.29CHF 23.09
$19.74฿645
48.38%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$31.91CHF 25.16
$3.63฿119
779.06%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$49.09CHF 38.70
$13.53฿442
262.82%
Apples(1kg)
$3.18CHF 2.50
$3.28฿107
-3.05%
Banana(1kg)
$2.81CHF 2.21
$1.61฿52.6
74.53%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.09CHF 2.43
$2.41฿78.6
28.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$7.09CHF 5.59
$2.08฿68.1
240.87%
Potato(1kg)
$2.78CHF 2.19
$1.53฿49.93
81.70%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27CHF 1.79
$1.48฿48.36
53.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.55CHF 2.01
$0.99฿32.29
157.58%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.73CHF 1.37
$0.51฿16.67
239.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.01CHF 8.68
$4.41฿144
149.66%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.50CHF 12.22
$19.38฿633
-20.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.24CHF 1.76
$1.78฿58.1
25.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95CHF 2.32
$2.71฿88.6
8.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Dubendorf
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$7.71CHF 6.08
$1.37฿44.79
462.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$123CHF 97.1
$11.39฿372
981.74%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.87CHF 5.42
$3.02฿98.6
127.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$4.25CHF 3.35
$0.99฿32.48
329.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$79.7CHF 62.9
$14.10฿461
465.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.31CHF 1.82
$1.36฿44.51
69.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.6KCHF 31.2K
$28.2K฿921.1K
40.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.2KCHF 31.7K
$32.9K฿1.1M
22.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dubendorf
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$260CHF 205
$122฿3,975
114.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.53CHF 28.02
$13.57฿443
161.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.7CHF 41.56
$18.31฿598
187.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dubendorf
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$87.4CHF 68.9
$60.2฿1,967
45.10%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$55.8CHF 43.96
$17.14฿560
225.26%
Cinema Ticket
$25.12CHF 19.80
$8.69฿284
189.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dubendorf
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,686CHF 2,118
$693฿22.6K
287.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$39.6KCHF 31.3K
$15.7K฿512.3K
152.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dubendorf
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$147CHF 116
$59.5฿1,944
147.32%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$64.5CHF 50.8
$34.77฿1,136
85.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$147CHF 116
$115฿3,743
28.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$202CHF 159
$83.3฿2,720
142.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dubendorf
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,855CHF 1,462
$613฿20.0K
202.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,860CHF 1,467
$437฿14.3K
325.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,681CHF 2,114
$2,094฿68.4K
28.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,917CHF 2,299
$1,509฿49.3K
93.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$14.0KCHF 11.1K
$3,749฿122.5K
274.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$10.0KCHF 7,885
$2,616฿85.4K
282.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dubendorf
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,069CHF 3,208
$508฿16.6K
700.79%
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: June 2, 2026
Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,855 in Dubendorf and $613 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Dubendorf pays 701% 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: $150 in Dubendorf vs $45.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $667 vs $293 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 Phuket?
Dubendorf and Phuket differ by about 214% in total monthly costs ($3,974 vs $1,265 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?
Dubendorf pays 701% more on average, 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 Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,855 in Dubendorf versus $613 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 $3,974 per month in Dubendorf versus $1,265 in Phuket – a 214% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Dubendorf and Phuket?
A monthly transit pass in Phuket runs roughly 982% 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 $1,265 in Phuket versus $3,974 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 214% less than in Dubendorf. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.