ðA single person spends $2,098 per month in Oberhausen vs $1,232 in Phuket, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $2,991 per month in Oberhausen vs $2,255 in Phuket, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $3,884 per month in Oberhausen vs $3,279 in Phuket, rent included.
ðOberhausen costs about 70% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðOberhausen sits 57% above the global median, while Phuket is 8% below â they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Oberhausen
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.29âŽ15.62
$4.63āļŋ151
295.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.9âŽ58.9
$46.84āļŋ1,523
47.16%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.92âŽ11.89
$8.84āļŋ287
57.47%
Cappuccino
$4.13âŽ3.53
$3.00āļŋ97.4
37.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33âŽ2.85
$0.74āļŋ24.11
350.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08âŽ2.63
$0.37āļŋ11.88
732.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.75âŽ4.05
$2.44āļŋ79.3
94.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66âŽ3.98
$3.61āļŋ117
29.09%
ð Groceries & Markets
Oberhausen
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.35âŽ1.15
$2.26āļŋ73.5
-40.27%
White Bread(500g)
$2.22âŽ1.90
$1.84āļŋ59.8
20.65%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.59âŽ3.06
$2.24āļŋ73.0
60.27%
Eggs
$3.65âŽ3.12
$2.32āļŋ75.3
57.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.70âŽ12.55
$19.67āļŋ639
-25.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.10âŽ12.04
$3.65āļŋ119
286.30%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$21.47âŽ18.34
$13.10āļŋ426
63.89%
Apples(1kg)
$3.17âŽ2.71
$3.39āļŋ110
-6.49%
Banana(1kg)
$1.93âŽ1.65
$1.64āļŋ53.4
17.68%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.31âŽ1.97
$2.41āļŋ78.5
-4.15%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.77âŽ4.08
$2.03āļŋ66.0
134.98%
Potato(1kg)
$1.60âŽ1.37
$1.56āļŋ50.6
2.56%
Onion(1kg)
$1.63âŽ1.39
$1.50āļŋ48.66
8.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.92âŽ1.64
$1.02āļŋ33.30
88.24%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.14âŽ0.98
$0.49āļŋ15.91
132.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.28âŽ7.93
$4.45āļŋ145
108.54%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.99âŽ5.12
$18.88āļŋ614
-68.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.11âŽ0.95
$1.78āļŋ57.7
-37.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66âŽ1.42
$2.75āļŋ89.5
-39.64%
ð Getting Around
Oberhausen
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.43âŽ2.93
$1.40āļŋ45.54
145.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$51.7âŽ44.18
$11.48āļŋ373
350.61%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.19âŽ4.44
$3.12āļŋ101
66.35%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40âŽ2.05
$1.00āļŋ32.48
140.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$35.38âŽ30.21
$14.09āļŋ458
151.10%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.00âŽ1.71
$1.35āļŋ43.93
48.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.0KâŽ27.3K
$27.2Kāļŋ883.7K
17.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.0KâŽ29.9K
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
6.32%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oberhausen
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$394âŽ336
$125āļŋ4,063
215.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.00âŽ21.35
$13.57āļŋ441
84.23%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.1âŽ42.82
$18.52āļŋ602
170.73%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Oberhausen
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.79âŽ33.98
$61.5āļŋ1,999
-35.28%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.99âŽ19.64
$16.84āļŋ547
36.52%
Cinema Ticket
$17.33âŽ14.80
$9.19āļŋ299
88.57%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Oberhausen
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$464âŽ396
$698āļŋ22.7K
-33.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,905âŽ8,459
$15.6Kāļŋ506.9K
-36.47%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Oberhausen
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$96.7âŽ82.6
$57.8āļŋ1,878
67.40%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.60âŽ38.95
$35.24āļŋ1,146
29.40%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105âŽ89.4
$113āļŋ3,677
-7.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145âŽ124
$86.4āļŋ2,808
68.21%
ð Accommodation & Living
Oberhausen
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$610âŽ521
$616āļŋ20.0K
-0.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$646âŽ552
$446āļŋ14.5K
44.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$776âŽ663
$2,048āļŋ66.6K
-62.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$781âŽ667
$1,492āļŋ48.5K
-47.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,779āļŋ122.8K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,386âŽ2,037
$2,649āļŋ86.1K
-9.93%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Oberhausen
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,562âŽ3,042
$524āļŋ17.0K
580.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.97
5.33
-25.52%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Oberhausen: April 27, 2026
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $610 in Oberhausen versus $616 in Phuket. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
ð°Salaries run about 580% higher in Oberhausen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
ðA mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Oberhausen versus $47.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $355 vs $292 â 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
Oberhausen vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Oberhausen or Phuket?
Oberhausen costs about 70% more than Phuket, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Oberhausen vs Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,148 per month in Oberhausen and $1,847 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Oberhausen or 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 much does it cost to live in Oberhausen compared to Phuket?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,098 in Oberhausen and $1,232 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category â it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Oberhausen vs Phuket?
Public transport costs about 351% less in Phuket. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Oberhausen or Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,232, than in Oberhausen at $2,098. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Oberhausen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Oberhausen or Phuket?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,232 versus $2,098 in Oberhausen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Oberhausen compared to Phuket?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison â central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Oberhausen or Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Oberhausen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Oberhausen vs other spots: cost of living compared