Cost of Living Comparison Between Dubrovnik and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Dubrovnik and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,991 per month in Dubrovnik vs $1,265 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,825 per month in Dubrovnik vs $2,297 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,659 per month in Dubrovnik vs $3,329 in Phuket, rent included.

Dubrovnik costs about 57% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Dubrovnik sits 49% above the global median, while Phuket is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dubrovnik
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.24 €14.83
$4.70 ฿153
266.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.8 €69.5
$45.37 ฿1,482
78.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.53 €10.78
$8.43 ฿275
48.64%
Cappuccino
$3.48 €2.99
$2.93 ฿95.6
18.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.94 €4.25
$0.69 ฿22.40
615.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.83 €3.30
$0.37 ฿11.99
935.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.77 €5.83
$2.41 ฿78.6
180.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.75 €4.09
$3.72 ฿122
27.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dubrovnik
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.22 €1.05
$2.23 ฿72.9
-45.29%
White Bread (500g)
$1.53 €1.32
$1.83 ฿59.8
-16.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.26 €1.94
$2.17 ฿70.8
4.15%
Eggs
$4.30 €3.70
$2.21 ฿72.3
94.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.36 €10.63
$19.74 ฿645
-37.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.44 €10.70
$3.63 ฿119
242.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.62 €9.13
$13.53 ฿442
-21.51%
Apples (1kg)
$1.75 €1.50
$3.28 ฿107
-46.65%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 €1.43
$1.61 ฿52.6
3.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.89 €1.62
$2.41 ฿78.6
-21.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.65 €2.28
$2.08 ฿68.1
27.40%
Potato (1kg)
$1.21 €1.04
$1.53 ฿49.93
-20.92%
Onion (1kg)
$0.88 €0.75
$1.48 ฿48.36
-40.54%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.56 €1.34
$0.99 ฿32.29
57.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.23 €1.06
$0.51 ฿16.67
141.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.20 €4.47
$4.41 ฿144
17.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.74 €4.08
$19.38 ฿633
-75.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 €1.14
$1.78 ฿58.1
-25.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98 €2.56
$2.71 ฿88.6
9.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Dubrovnik
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.54 €2.18
$1.37 ฿44.79
85.40%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$56.0 €48.20
$11.39 ฿372
391.92%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.99 €2.57
$3.02 ฿98.6
-0.99%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.15 €0.99
$0.99 ฿32.48
16.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.50 €6.46
$14.10 ฿461
-46.81%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.75 €1.51
$1.36 ฿44.51
28.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.7K €33.3K
$28.2K ฿921.1K
37.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K €22.9K
$32.9K ฿1.1M
-19.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dubrovnik
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$189 €162
$122 ฿3,975
54.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.85 €19.65
$13.57 ฿443
68.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.74 €23.00
$18.31 ฿598
46.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dubrovnik
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$71.6 €61.6
$60.2 ฿1,967
18.93%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.14 €20.76
$17.14 ฿560
40.84%
Cinema Ticket
$8.21 €7.06
$8.69 ฿284
-5.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dubrovnik
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$91.1 €78.4
$693 ฿22.6K
-86.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,988 €6,872
$15.7K ฿512.3K
-49.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dubrovnik
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.2 €65.6
$59.5 ฿1,944
28.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.86 €24.83
$34.77 ฿1,136
-17.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$69.1 €59.5
$115 ฿3,743
-39.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.1 €69.8
$83.3 ฿2,720
-2.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dubrovnik
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,256 €1,081
$613 ฿20.0K
104.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$892 €768
$437 ฿14.3K
104.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,708 €1,469
$2,094 ฿68.4K
-18.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,248 €1,073
$1,509 ฿49.3K
-17.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,513 €7,323
$3,749 ฿122.5K
127.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,440 €3,819
$2,616 ฿85.4K
69.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dubrovnik
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,509 €1,298
$508 ฿16.6K
197.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.66
5.33
-12.57%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Dubrovnik: June 1, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,256 in Dubrovnik versus $613 in Phuket. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 197% higher in Dubrovnik, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $81.0 in Dubrovnik versus $45.00 in Phuket. Groceries tell a different story – $273 in Dubrovnik vs $293 in Phuket – so Dubrovnik wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Dubrovnik vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Dubrovnik and Phuket compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,991 in Dubrovnik, $1,265 in Phuket – roughly 57% apart. Dubrovnik costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Dubrovnik compared to Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,986 per month in Dubrovnik and $1,898 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Dubrovnik and Phuket?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do commuting costs compare in Dubrovnik and Phuket?
Public transport costs about 392% less in Phuket. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Dubrovnik and Phuket?
Kindergarten costs $91.1 per month in Dubrovnik and $693 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,265, than in Dubrovnik at $1,991. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Dubrovnik it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Dubrovnik and Phuket?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,265 in Phuket to $1,991 in Dubrovnik. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Dubrovnik or Phuket safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Dubrovnik and Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Dubrovnik makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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