😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,867 in Dubendorf versus $1,253 in Phuket.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,690 in Dubendorf versus $2,043 in Phuket.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,513 in Dubendorf versus $2,833 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 181% above, Phuket is 9% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dubendorf
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$30.67CHF 24.94
$4.56฿151
572.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$121CHF 98.6
$32.62฿1,082
271.83%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$16.54CHF 13.45
$8.90฿295
85.84%
Cappuccino
$6.21CHF 5.05
$2.80฿93.0
121.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.47CHF 4.45
$0.88฿29.19
521.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.94CHF 4.01
$0.49฿16.23
908.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.60CHF 7.00
$2.39฿79.2
259.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.71CHF 5.45
$3.71฿123
80.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dubendorf
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.18CHF 1.78
$1.79฿59.3
21.79%
White Bread(500g)
$3.90CHF 3.17
$1.44฿47.81
170.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.70CHF 3.82
$1.58฿52.6
197.47%
Eggs
$7.61CHF 6.18
$2.13฿70.5
257.28%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$33.49CHF 27.22
$19.92฿661
68.12%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$27.04CHF 21.99
$3.43฿114
688.34%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$43.16CHF 35.09
$11.33฿376
280.94%
Apples(1kg)
$3.56CHF 2.89
$2.95฿97.8
20.68%
Banana(1kg)
$2.30CHF 1.87
$1.72฿57.1
33.72%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.34CHF 2.72
$2.32฿77.1
43.97%
Tomato(1kg)
$6.91CHF 5.62
$2.08฿69.0
232.21%
Potato(1kg)
$2.49CHF 2.03
$1.47฿48.77
69.39%
Onion(1kg)
$2.22CHF 1.80
$1.36฿45.05
63.24%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.57CHF 2.09
$1.10฿36.45
133.64%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.45CHF 1.18
$0.57฿19.06
154.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.97CHF 8.92
$4.27฿142
156.91%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.40CHF 10.90
$18.42฿611
-27.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.22CHF 1.81
$1.87฿62.1
18.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81CHF 2.28
$2.92฿96.9
-3.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Dubendorf
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.49CHF 2.02
$2.22฿73.6
12.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$50.0CHF 40.65
$22.90฿759
118.34%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.43CHF 4.41
$3.03฿101
79.21%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.39CHF 2.76
$1.07฿35.63
216.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$61.7CHF 50.2
$3.93฿130
1470.48%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.22CHF 1.80
$1.49฿49.49
48.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$42.9KCHF 34.8K
$27.1K฿899.8K
58.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.7KCHF 32.3K
$27.5K฿910.6K
44.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dubendorf
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$233CHF 190
$103฿3,410
127.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.72CHF 26.60
$10.99฿365
197.73%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.0CHF 54.5
$17.51฿581
282.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dubendorf
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$123CHF 100
$53.5฿1,776
130.58%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$80.3CHF 65.2
$11.20฿371
616.52%
Cinema Ticket
$24.97CHF 20.30
$7.48฿248
233.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dubendorf
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,881CHF 1,529
$557฿18.5K
237.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$32.8KCHF 26.7K
$11.9K฿393.2K
176.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dubendorf
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$144CHF 117
$64.1฿2,125
125.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$88.2CHF 71.7
$29.07฿964
203.54%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$150CHF 122
$96.0฿3,183
56.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$177CHF 144
$90.3฿2,997
96.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dubendorf
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,860CHF 1,512
$730฿24.2K
154.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,884CHF 1,532
$500฿16.6K
276.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,911CHF 2,366
$2,090฿69.3K
39.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,875CHF 2,337
$1,209฿40.1K
137.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$12.3KCHF 9,988
$3,596฿119.3K
241.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$7,334CHF 5,962
$2,512฿83.3K
191.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dubendorf
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,921CHF 3,188
$503฿16.7K
678.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.48
5.57
-55.48%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Dubendorf: August 30, 2026
Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,860 in Dubendorf and $730 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Dubendorf pays 679% 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: $121 in Dubendorf vs $33.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $638 vs $273 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 ($3,867 vs $1,253 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 679% 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: $1,860 in Dubendorf versus $730 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 $3,867 per month in Dubendorf versus $1,253 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 118% 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 $1,253 in Phuket versus $3,867 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.