😐A single person spends $2,885 per month in Dun Laoghaire vs $1,264 in Phuket, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $4,491 per month in Dun Laoghaire vs $2,256 in Phuket, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $6,097 per month in Dun Laoghaire vs $3,248 in Phuket, rent included.
😐Dun Laoghaire costs about 128% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Dun Laoghaire sits 117% above the global median, while Phuket is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dun Laoghaire
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.27€15.82
$4.48฿150
307.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$95.1€82.3
$45.59฿1,521
108.55%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.37€8.98
$8.76฿292
18.38%
Cappuccino
$4.25€3.68
$2.97฿99.0
43.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44€2.11
$0.69฿22.90
253.62%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61€1.39
$0.39฿13.04
312.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.43€6.44
$2.53฿84.4
193.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.03€6.09
$3.75฿125
87.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dun Laoghaire
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70€1.47
$2.15฿71.6
-20.93%
White Bread(500g)
$2.27€1.97
$1.82฿60.6
24.73%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.10€1.82
$2.18฿72.9
-3.67%
Eggs
$3.91€3.39
$2.25฿75.0
73.78%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.58€10.90
$20.00฿667
-37.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.49€9.08
$3.63฿121
188.98%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.73€10.15
$13.56฿452
-13.50%
Apples(1kg)
$3.01€2.60
$3.24฿108
-7.10%
Banana(1kg)
$2.00€1.73
$1.64฿54.6
21.95%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.85€2.47
$2.33฿77.8
22.32%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.54€3.06
$2.07฿69.1
71.01%
Potato(1kg)
$1.45€1.26
$1.55฿51.6
-6.45%
Onion(1kg)
$1.42€1.23
$1.46฿48.54
-2.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.45€1.26
$0.98฿32.86
47.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.59€1.38
$0.48฿16.09
231.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$19.41€16.81
$4.35฿145
346.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.56€11.74
$18.57฿620
-26.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.52€3.05
$1.86฿61.9
89.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.90€3.38
$2.65฿88.6
47.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Dun Laoghaire
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.06€1.78
$1.42฿47.28
45.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$69.5€60.2
$11.57฿386
500.43%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.99€4.32
$3.17฿106
57.41%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.34€1.16
$1.03฿34.41
30.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$38.37€33.23
$13.89฿463
176.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.97€1.71
$1.34฿44.84
47.01%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.2K€37.4K
$27.8K฿927.1K
55.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K€33.4K
$33.4K฿1.1M
15.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dun Laoghaire
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$279€241
$123฿4,105
126.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.76€18.84
$13.77฿459
58.02%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.1€49.47
$18.33฿611
211.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dun Laoghaire
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.62€36.04
$60.7฿2,025
-31.42%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.16฿573
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.79€11.94
$8.87฿296
55.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dun Laoghaire
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,052€911
$688฿22.9K
53.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,539€7,395
$15.8K฿526.4K
-45.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dun Laoghaire
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€88.2
$59.3฿1,978
71.70%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.44€34.16
$34.69฿1,157
13.69%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101€87.5
$115฿3,843
-12.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130€113
$83.8฿2,794
55.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dun Laoghaire
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,537€1,331
$621฿20.7K
147.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,519€1,315
$446฿14.9K
240.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,727€3,227
$2,034฿67.8K
83.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$3,212€2,782
$1,496฿49.9K
114.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,802€3,292
$3,455฿115.3K
10.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,531฿84.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dun Laoghaire
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,453€3,857
$494฿16.5K
802.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.5
5.33
-15.57%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Dun Laoghaire: July 26, 2026
Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,537 in Dun Laoghaire versus $621 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 802% higher in Dun Laoghaire, 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 $95.0 in Dun Laoghaire versus $46.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $330 vs $291 – making Phuket the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Dun Laoghaire vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Dun Laoghaire and in Phuket compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,885 in Dun Laoghaire, $1,264 in Phuket – roughly 128% apart. Dun Laoghaire costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Dun Laoghaire compared to Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,328 per month in Dun Laoghaire and $1,896 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Dun Laoghaire 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.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $95.0 in Dun Laoghaire and $46.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Dun Laoghaire or Phuket?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,885 in Dun Laoghaire and $1,264 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
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 $1,264, than in Dun Laoghaire at $2,885. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Dun Laoghaire it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Dun Laoghaire and Phuket?
It depends on your priorities. Dun Laoghaire has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,264 in Phuket to $2,885 in Dun Laoghaire. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Dun Laoghaire 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 Dun Laoghaire and Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Dun Laoghaire makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Dun Laoghaire vs other spots: cost of living compared