😐A single person spends $2,081 per month in Dubrovnik vs $1,253 in Phuket, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,060 per month in Dubrovnik vs $2,043 in Phuket, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,039 per month in Dubrovnik vs $2,833 in Phuket, rent included.
😐Dubrovnik costs about 66% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Dubrovnik sits 51% above the global median, while Phuket is 9% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dubrovnik
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.43€17.56
$4.56฿150
348.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.4€69.1
$32.62฿1,073
146.35%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.11€11.27
$8.90฿293
47.30%
Cappuccino
$4.35€3.74
$2.80฿92.2
55.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.86€4.18
$0.88฿28.94
452.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.92€4.23
$0.49฿16.08
904.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.82€5.01
$2.39฿78.5
143.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.02€6.89
$3.71฿122
116.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dubrovnik
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.07€0.92
$1.79฿58.8
-40.22%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26€1.08
$1.44฿47.40
-12.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.33€2.01
$1.58฿52.1
47.47%
Eggs
$4.22€3.63
$2.13฿69.9
98.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.36€8.90
$19.92฿655
-47.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.38€8.06
$3.43฿113
173.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.02€8.62
$11.33฿372
-11.56%
Apples(1kg)
$1.95€1.67
$2.95฿97.0
-33.90%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46€1.26
$1.72฿56.6
-15.12%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.75€1.51
$2.32฿76.5
-24.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.91€2.50
$2.08฿68.4
39.90%
Potato(1kg)
$0.91€0.78
$1.47฿48.34
-38.10%
Onion(1kg)
$0.99€0.85
$1.36฿44.65
-27.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.15€0.99
$1.10฿36.13
4.55%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.29€1.11
$0.57฿18.89
126.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.48€4.71
$4.27฿140
28.34%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.54€3.90
$18.42฿606
-75.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.34€1.16
$1.87฿61.5
-28.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00€2.58
$2.92฿96.1
2.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Dubrovnik
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.83€2.43
$2.22฿73.0
27.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$57.1€49.09
$22.90฿753
149.39%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.78€4.11
$3.03฿99.6
57.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.23€1.06
$1.07฿35.32
14.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.48€6.43
$3.93฿129
90.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.87€1.61
$1.49฿49.06
25.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K€23.1K
$27.1K฿892.0K
-1.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K€21.9K
$27.5K฿902.6K
-7.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dubrovnik
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188€162
$103฿3,380
82.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.18€19.93
$10.99฿361
110.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.89€38.59
$17.51฿576
156.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dubrovnik
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$70.6€60.7
$53.5฿1,760
31.89%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.86€21.37
$11.20฿368
121.96%
Cinema Ticket
$8.58€7.38
$7.48฿246
14.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dubrovnik
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$91.5€78.7
$557฿18.3K
-83.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,962€5,985
$11.9K฿389.7K
-41.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dubrovnik
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.9€64.4
$64.1฿2,107
16.86%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.59€25.44
$29.07฿956
1.79%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$70.0€60.1
$96.0฿3,155
-27.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.8€71.2
$90.3฿2,970
-8.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dubrovnik
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,494€1,285
$730฿24.0K
104.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$939€807
$500฿16.4K
87.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,075€1,784
$2,090฿68.7K
-0.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,505€1,294
$1,209฿39.8K
24.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,265€7,105
$3,596฿118.2K
129.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,456€3,831
$2,512฿82.6K
77.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dubrovnik
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,541€1,325
$503฿16.6K
206.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.79
5.57
-31.96%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Dubrovnik: August 31, 2026
Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,494 in Dubrovnik versus $730 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 206% 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 $80.0 in Dubrovnik versus $33.00 in Phuket. Groceries tell a different story – $244 in Dubrovnik vs $273 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 in Phuket compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,081 in Dubrovnik, $1,253 in Phuket – roughly 66% 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 $3,121 per month in Dubrovnik and $1,880 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 in Phuket?
Public transport costs about 149% 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 $91.5 per month in Dubrovnik and $557 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 $1,253, than in Dubrovnik at $2,081. 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 $1,253 in Phuket to $2,081 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.