Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Aberdeen, SD Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Aberdeen, SD

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,270 per month in Phuket vs $2,528 in Aberdeen, SD, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,304 per month in Phuket vs $3,632 in Aberdeen, SD, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,339 per month in Phuket vs $4,735 in Aberdeen, SD, rent included.

Phuket is about 50% cheaper than Aberdeen, SD, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Phuket sits 5% below the global median, while Aberdeen, SD is 89% above โ€“ they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Phuket
Aberdeen, SD
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.66 เธฟ150
$9.94 $9.94
-53.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.44 เธฟ1,496
$64.5 $64.5
-27.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.68 เธฟ280
$9.96 $9.96
-12.85%
Cappuccino
$2.95 เธฟ95.0
$3.95 $3.95
-25.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 เธฟ22.52
$2.78 $2.78
-74.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39 เธฟ12.70
$1.48 $1.48
-73.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.53 เธฟ81.6
$3.90 $3.90
-35.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78 เธฟ122
$7.13 $7.13
-46.98%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Aberdeen, SD
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.22 เธฟ71.5
$0.95 $0.95
133.68%
White Bread (500g)
$1.80 เธฟ57.8
$2.67 $2.67
-32.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.19 เธฟ70.4
$5.28 $5.28
-58.52%
Eggs
$2.31 เธฟ74.5
$5.86 $5.86
-60.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.34 เธฟ623
$9.95 $9.95
94.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.77 เธฟ121
$9.89 $9.89
-61.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.22 เธฟ426
$18.05 $18.05
-26.76%
Apples (1kg)
$3.33 เธฟ107
$4.13 $4.13
-19.37%
Banana (1kg)
$1.65 เธฟ53.1
$2.46 $2.46
-32.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.29 เธฟ73.7
$3.49 $3.49
-34.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.99 เธฟ64.1
$3.89 $3.89
-48.84%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 เธฟ49.24
$5.21 $5.21
-70.63%
Onion (1kg)
$1.51 เธฟ48.77
$2.67 $2.67
-43.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 เธฟ33.12
$2.96 $2.96
-65.20%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 เธฟ16.57
$4.91 $4.91
-89.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41 เธฟ142
$9.64 $9.64
-54.25%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.41 เธฟ625
$30.26 $30.26
-35.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 เธฟ58.0
$1.85 $1.85
-2.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 เธฟ86.4
$3.43 $3.43
-21.87%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Phuket
Aberdeen, SD
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.43 เธฟ46.11
$1.96 $1.96
-27.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.70 เธฟ377
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.04 เธฟ97.9
$3.58 $3.58
-15.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.04 เธฟ33.37
$1.66 $1.66
-37.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.68 เธฟ441
$29.03 $29.03
-52.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 เธฟ41.85
$0.77 $0.77
68.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9K เธฟ898.9K
$29.9K $29.9K
-6.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0K เธฟ1.1M
$25.7K $25.7K
28.68%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Aberdeen, SD
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$123 เธฟ3,962
$191 $191
-35.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.82 เธฟ445
$52.0 $52.0
-73.44%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.86 เธฟ608
$25.20 $25.20
-25.16%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Aberdeen, SD
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.2 เธฟ1,970
$42.44 $42.44
44.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.81 เธฟ541
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.87 เธฟ286
$13.59 $13.59
-34.73%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Aberdeen, SD
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$696 เธฟ22.4K
$1,292 $1,292
-46.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.1K เธฟ517.4K
$23.7K $23.7K
-32.25%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Aberdeen, SD
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3 เธฟ1,910
$44.64 $44.64
32.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.85 เธฟ1,123
$24.55 $24.55
41.96%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 เธฟ3,646
$73.6 $73.6
53.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.1 เธฟ2,740
$113 $113
-24.73%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Aberdeen, SD
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$615 เธฟ19.8K
$1,587 $1,587
-61.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$448 เธฟ14.4K
$1,356 $1,356
-66.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,085 เธฟ67.2K
$2,673 $2,673
-21.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,496 เธฟ48.2K
$2,180 $2,180
-31.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,734 เธฟ120.3K
$1,342 $1,342
178.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,662 เธฟ85.8K
$1,342 $1,342
98.38%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Aberdeen, SD
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$534 เธฟ17.2K
$5,149 $5,149
-89.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
6.7
-20.45%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Phuket: April 20, 2026

Last update for Aberdeen, SD: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $615 in Phuket versus $1,587 in Aberdeen, SD. 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 865% higher in Aberdeen, SD, 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 $46 in Phuket versus $64 in Aberdeen, SD. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $291 vs $451 โ€“ 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
Phuket vs Aberdeen, SD: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Aberdeen, SD?
Aberdeen, SD costs about 99% more than Phuket, 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 vs Aberdeen, SD?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,904 per month in Phuket and $3,792 in Aberdeen, SD. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ€“ not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Phuket or Aberdeen, SD?
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 do dining costs compare in Phuket vs Aberdeen, SD?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Phuket and $64.0 in Aberdeen, SD. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafรฉ pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Phuket or Aberdeen, SD?
Groceries cost about 55% more in Aberdeen, SD, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Phuket or Aberdeen, SD?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,270, than in Aberdeen, SD at $2,528. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Aberdeen, SD it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Aberdeen, SD?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,270 versus $2,528 in Aberdeen, SD. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Phuket compared to Aberdeen, SD?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison โ€“ central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Phuket or Aberdeen, SD?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Aberdeen, SD makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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