Cost of Living Comparison Between Dumfries and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Dumfries and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,785 in Dumfries versus $1,265 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,755 in Dumfries versus $2,297 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,725 in Dumfries versus $3,329 in Phuket.

Living in Dumfries is roughly 41% more expensive than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Dumfries is 33% above, Phuket is 6% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dumfries
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.45 £12.25
$4.70 ฿153
250.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$88.7 £66.1
$45.37 ฿1,482
95.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.95 £5.92
$8.43 ฿275
-5.69%
Cappuccino
$3.87 £2.88
$2.93 ฿95.6
32.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 £1.72
$0.69 ฿22.40
234.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 £1.00
$0.37 ฿11.99
262.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.98 £2.96
$2.41 ฿78.6
65.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.01 £3.73
$3.72 ฿122
34.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dumfries
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.47 £1.10
$2.23 ฿72.9
-34.08%
White Bread (500g)
$1.49 £1.11
$1.83 ฿59.8
-18.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.55 £1.90
$2.17 ฿70.8
17.51%
Eggs
$3.57 £2.66
$2.21 ฿72.3
61.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.07 £6.01
$19.74 ฿645
-59.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.03 £7.47
$3.63 ฿119
176.31%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.73 £11.72
$13.53 ฿442
16.26%
Apples (1kg)
$2.54 £1.89
$3.28 ฿107
-22.56%
Banana (1kg)
$2.35 £1.75
$1.61 ฿52.6
45.96%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.36 £1.76
$2.41 ฿78.6
-2.07%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.34 £2.49
$2.08 ฿68.1
60.58%
Potato (1kg)
$2.13 £1.59
$1.53 ฿49.93
39.22%
Onion (1kg)
$1.92 £1.43
$1.48 ฿48.36
29.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.23 £0.91
$0.99 ฿32.29
24.24%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 £1.32
$0.51 ฿16.67
247.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$18.72 £13.94
$4.41 ฿144
324.49%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.79 £8.04
$19.38 ฿633
-44.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.28 £2.44
$1.78 ฿58.1
84.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.03 £2.26
$2.71 ฿88.6
11.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Dumfries
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.23 £3.15
$1.37 ฿44.79
208.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$98.6 £73.5
$11.39 ฿372
765.58%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.56 £4.14
$3.02 ฿98.6
84.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.60 £1.19
$0.99 ฿32.48
61.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.04 £10.46
$14.10 ฿461
-0.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.87 £1.39
$1.36 ฿44.51
37.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.3K £28.6K
$28.2K ฿921.1K
35.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.3K £30.8K
$32.9K ฿1.1M
25.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dumfries
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$234 £174
$122 ฿3,975
91.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.59 £10.87
$13.57 ฿443
7.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.77 £35.59
$18.31 ฿598
160.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dumfries
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$50.9 £37.89
$60.2 ฿1,967
-15.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.02 £20.13
$17.14 ฿560
57.64%
Cinema Ticket
$12.97 £9.66
$8.69 ฿284
49.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dumfries
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,614 £1,202
$693 ฿22.6K
132.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.1K £12.0K
$15.7K ฿512.3K
2.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dumfries
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$94.7 £70.6
$59.5 ฿1,944
59.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.2 £42.58
$34.77 ฿1,136
64.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$131 £97.7
$115 ฿3,743
14.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 £88.8
$83.3 ฿2,720
43.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dumfries
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$633 £472
$613 ฿20.0K
3.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$554 £413
$437 ฿14.3K
26.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,020 £760
$2,094 ฿68.4K
-51.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$965 £719
$1,509 ฿49.3K
-36.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,749 ฿122.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,616 ฿85.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dumfries
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,570 £2,660
$508 ฿16.6K
602.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.45
5.33
2.25%

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

Last update for Dumfries: June 1, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $633 in Dumfries and $613 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dumfries pays 603% 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: $89.0 in Dumfries vs $45.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $309 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
Dumfries vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Dumfries?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 41% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Dumfries or Phuket?
Dumfries pays 603% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Dumfries and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $633 in Dumfries versus $613 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Dumfries or Phuket?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket – a meal for two runs $45.00 versus $89.0 in Dumfries. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Dumfries vs Phuket?
All in, you'll spend $1,785 per month in Dumfries versus $1,265 in Phuket – a 41% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Dumfries or Phuket?
At $1,265 in Phuket versus $1,785 in Dumfries, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Dumfries. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Dumfries or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Dumfries, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Dumfries or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Dumfries 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 41% less than in Dumfries. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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