😐A single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $546 in Abalessa, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,054 per month in Phuket vs $871 in Abalessa, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,876 per month in Phuket vs $1,195 in Abalessa, rent included.
😐Phuket costs about 125% more than Abalessa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Phuket and Abalessa are more affordable than the global median – Phuket10% lower, Abalessa60% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Abalessa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.41฿147
$2.98DZD 398
47.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26฿1,073
$18.82DZD 2,510
71.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.93฿297
$3.99DZD 532
123.81%
Cappuccino
$2.90฿96.3
$0.70DZD 93.4
314.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88฿29.27
$0.55DZD 73.7
60.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.00
$0.29DZD 38.77
65.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.35฿78.2
$1.55DZD 207
51.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿124
$2.30DZD 307
61.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Abalessa
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.87฿62.0
$0.84DZD 111
122.62%
White Bread(500g)
$1.47฿48.75
$0.14DZD 18.27
950.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.55฿51.6
$1.00DZD 133
55.00%
Eggs
$2.10฿69.9
$1.46DZD 194
43.84%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.59฿651
$8.87DZD 1,183
120.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.42฿114
$3.52DZD 470
-2.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.38฿378
$15.44DZD 2,059
-26.30%
Apples(1kg)
$2.98฿99.2
$1.83DZD 244
62.84%
Banana(1kg)
$1.68฿56.0
$2.54DZD 338
-33.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.21฿73.5
$1.21DZD 162
82.64%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.16฿71.9
$0.92DZD 123
134.78%
Potato(1kg)
$1.52฿50.7
$0.71DZD 94.4
114.08%
Onion(1kg)
$1.34฿44.49
$0.52DZD 69.4
157.69%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.13฿37.53
$0.74DZD 99.2
52.70%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55฿18.17
$0.26DZD 34.64
111.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26฿142
$2.51DZD 335
69.72%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.09฿635
$6.91DZD 922
176.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿59.2
$1.10DZD 147
61.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78฿92.5
$1.90DZD 253
46.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Abalessa
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.23฿74.1
$0.19DZD 25.50
1073.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.74฿756
$6.42DZD 857
254.21%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.03฿101
$0.52DZD 69.9
482.69%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02฿34.02
$0.43DZD 57.7
137.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.89฿129
$5.77DZD 770
-32.58%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49฿49.57
$0.37DZD 49.96
302.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K฿883.8K
$34.7KDZD 4.6M
-23.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K฿898.7K
$31.9KDZD 4.3M
-15.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Abalessa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102฿3,407
$35.98DZD 4,799
184.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.33฿377
$9.95DZD 1,327
13.87%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.40฿578
$11.61DZD 1,549
49.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Abalessa
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.1฿1,732
$20.94DZD 2,793
148.71%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07฿368
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.69฿256
$4.30DZD 573
78.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Abalessa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$561฿18.6K
$104DZD 13.9K
436.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.5K฿382.6K
$2,988DZD 398.4K
285.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Abalessa
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.0฿2,096
$30.32DZD 4,044
107.88%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.52฿982
$37.08DZD 4,945
-20.39%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.0฿3,259
$65.1DZD 8,680
50.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5฿2,943
$77.3DZD 10.3K
14.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Abalessa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$738฿24.5K
$168DZD 22.4K
339.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$482฿16.0K
$102DZD 13.7K
370.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,107฿70.0K
$275DZD 36.7K
665.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,226฿40.8K
$207DZD 27.5K
493.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,617฿120.3K
$1,185DZD 158.0K
205.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,603฿86.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Abalessa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494฿16.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
5.3
5.09%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026
Last update for Abalessa: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $738 in Phuket versus $168 in Abalessa. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Phuket versus $19.00 in Abalessa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $274 vs $176 – making Abalessa 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
Phuket vs Abalessa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Abalessa?
Phuket costs about 125% more than Abalessa, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 Phuket and in Abalessa?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $820 in Abalessa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Phuket or Abalessa?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Abalessa, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Phuket or in Abalessa?
Groceries cost about 55% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Phuket and in Abalessa?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Phuket and $19.00 in Abalessa. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Phuket or in Abalessa?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Abalessa, where all-in costs run around $546, than in Phuket at $1,232. In Abalessa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Abalessa?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Abalessa costs $546 versus $1,232 in Phuket. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Phuket compared to Abalessa?
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.
Should I move to Phuket or to Abalessa?
If budget matters most, go with Abalessa. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.