Cost of Living Comparison Between Dundee and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Dundee and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,958 in Dundee versus $1,270 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,989 in Dundee versus $2,304 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,019 in Dundee versus $3,339 in Phuket.

Living in Dundee is roughly 54% more expensive than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Dundee is 46% above, Phuket is 5% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dundee
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.27 £14.98
$4.66 ฿149
334.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$96.2 £71.1
$46.44 ฿1,488
107.11%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.16 £7.51
$8.68 ฿278
17.05%
Cappuccino
$4.42 £3.26
$2.95 ฿94.4
49.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 £1.66
$0.70 ฿22.39
220.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 £0.97
$0.39 ฿12.63
235.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.97 £4.42
$2.53 ฿81.1
135.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.64 £4.17
$3.78 ฿121
49.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dundee
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.14 £1.58
$2.22 ฿71.1
-3.60%
White Bread (500g)
$1.55 £1.15
$1.80 ฿57.5
-13.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.47 £1.83
$2.19 ฿70.0
12.79%
Eggs
$4.87 £3.60
$2.31 ฿74.0
110.82%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.41 £6.22
$19.34 ฿620
-56.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.57 £7.08
$3.77 ฿121
153.85%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.73 £11.62
$13.22 ฿424
18.99%
Apples (1kg)
$3.11 £2.29
$3.33 ฿107
-6.61%
Banana (1kg)
$2.33 £1.72
$1.65 ฿52.8
41.21%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.64 £1.95
$2.29 ฿73.3
15.28%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.60 £3.40
$1.99 ฿63.7
131.16%
Potato (1kg)
$2.10 £1.55
$1.53 ฿48.96
37.25%
Onion (1kg)
$1.86 £1.38
$1.51 ฿48.50
23.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.22 £0.90
$1.03 ฿32.93
18.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.13 £1.58
$0.51 ฿16.47
317.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$19.09 £14.10
$4.41 ฿141
332.88%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.12 £8.96
$19.41 ฿622
-37.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.10 £2.29
$1.80 ฿57.6
72.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99 £2.21
$2.68 ฿85.9
11.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Dundee
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.60 £2.66
$1.43 ฿45.86
151.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$58.3 £43.10
$11.70 ฿375
398.46%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.66 £3.45
$3.04 ฿97.3
53.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.38 £1.02
$1.04 ฿33.19
32.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$23.55 £17.40
$13.68 ฿438
72.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.89 £1.40
$1.30 ฿41.61
45.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.9K £28.8K
$27.9K ฿893.9K
39.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$46.4K £34.3K
$33.0K ฿1.1M
40.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dundee
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$231 £171
$123 ฿3,940
88.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.62 £10.80
$13.82 ฿443
5.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$46.52 £34.38
$18.86 ฿604
146.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dundee
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.87 £36.12
$61.2 ฿1,959
-20.08%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.60 £7.09
$16.81 ฿538
-42.89%
Cinema Ticket
$12.76 £9.43
$8.87 ฿284
43.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dundee
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,627 £1,202
$696 ฿22.3K
133.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.6K £12.3K
$16.1K ฿514.5K
3.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dundee
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$97.3 £71.9
$59.3 ฿1,899
64.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$65.2 £48.18
$34.85 ฿1,117
87.09%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$137 £101
$113 ฿3,626
21.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 £88.7
$85.1 ฿2,725
41.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dundee
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$917 £678
$615 ฿19.7K
49.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$675 £499
$448 ฿14.4K
50.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,544 £1,141
$2,085 ฿66.8K
-25.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,100 £813
$1,496 ฿47.9K
-26.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,117 £3,042
$3,734 ฿119.7K
10.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,343 £2,471
$2,662 ฿85.3K
25.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dundee
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,294 £2,435
$534 ฿17.1K
517.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.9
5.33
10.69%

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

Last update for Dundee: April 20, 2026

Last update for Phuket: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $917 in Dundee and $615 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dundee pays 517% 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: $96 in Dundee vs $46 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $336 vs $291 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
Dundee vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Dundee and Phuket?
Dundee and Phuket differ by about 54% in total monthly costs ($1,958 vs $1,270 including rent). Phuket is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Dundee or Phuket?
Dundee pays 517% more on average, 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 Dundee and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $917 in Dundee versus $615 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Dundee and Phuket?
A monthly transit pass in Phuket runs roughly 398% less than in Dundee. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Dundee and Phuket?
Childcare runs $1,627 in Dundee versus $696 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,270 in Phuket versus $1,958 in Dundee, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Dundee. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Dundee 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 Dundee or Phuket safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Dundee 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: Dundee or Phuket?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 54% less than in Dundee. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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