Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Adama Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Adama

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $1,006 in Adama, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,054 per month in Phuket vs $1,693 in Adama, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,876 per month in Phuket vs $2,380 in Adama, rent included.

Phuket costs about 22% more than Adama, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Phuket and Adama are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 10% lower, Adama 26% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.41 ฿147

$3.06 ETB 491

44.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.26 ฿1,077

$42.54 ETB 6,834

-24.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.93 ฿298

$5.07 ETB 815

76.13%

Cappuccino

$2.90 ฿96.6

$0.90 ETB 144

222.22%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 ฿29.38

$0.60 ETB 96.3

46.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.06

$0.31 ETB 49.92

54.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ฿78.5

$0.77 ETB 124

205.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿124

$2.23 ETB 357

66.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ฿62.3

$0.84 ETB 135

122.62%

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 ฿48.94

$1.18 ETB 190

24.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.8

$2.12 ETB 341

-26.89%

Eggs

$2.10 ฿70.1

$1.75 ETB 281

20.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.59 ฿654

$7.55 ETB 1,213

159.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.42 ฿114

$10.28 ETB 1,652

-66.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.38 ฿380

$9.35 ETB 1,502

21.71%

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 ฿99.6

$5.29 ETB 850

-43.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 ฿56.2

$0.65 ETB 104

158.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 ฿73.7

$2.13 ETB 343

3.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.16 ฿72.1

$0.65 ETB 105

232.31%

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.9

$0.46 ETB 73.6

230.43%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.67

$1.05 ETB 169

27.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ฿37.67

$0.65 ETB 104

73.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ฿18.24

$0.61 ETB 97.3

-9.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.26 ฿142

$8.18 ETB 1,313

-47.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.09 ฿637

$5.54 ETB 889

244.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿59.4

$0.71 ETB 114

150.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿92.9

$1.28 ETB 206

117.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.23 ฿74.4

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.74 ฿759

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 ฿101

$1.29 ETB 207

134.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ฿34.15

$0.29 ETB 46.93

251.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.89 ฿130

$1.96 ETB 315

98.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿49.77

$0.97 ETB 156

53.61%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.6K ฿887.3K

$54.6K ETB 8.8M

-51.29%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.0K ฿902.2K

$56.0K ETB 9.0M

-51.74%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$102 ฿3,420

$204 ETB 32.7K

-49.67%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$11.33 ฿378

$7.22 ETB 1,160

56.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.40 ฿581

$212 ETB 34.1K

-91.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.1 ฿1,738

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.07 ฿370

Cinema Ticket

$7.69 ฿257

$3.64 ETB 585

111.26%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$561 ฿18.7K

$138 ETB 22.2K

305.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ฿384.1K

$30.7K ETB 4.9M

-62.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.0 ฿2,104

$33.59 ETB 5,396

87.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.52 ฿986

$70.8 ETB 11.4K

-58.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.0 ฿3,272

$77.8 ETB 12.5K

26.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.5 ฿2,954

$81.7 ETB 13.1K

8.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$738 ฿24.6K

$347 ETB 55.7K

112.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.1K

$198 ETB 31.8K

143.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,107 ฿70.3K

$982 ETB 157.7K

114.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,226 ฿40.9K

$816 ETB 131.1K

50.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,617 ฿120.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,603 ฿86.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿16.5K

$102 ETB 16.3K

385.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

18.5

-69.89%

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

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Last update for Adama: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $738 in Phuket versus $347 in Adama. 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 386% higher in Phuket, 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 $32.00 in Phuket versus $43.00 in Adama. Groceries tell a different story – $274 in Phuket vs $210 in Adama – so Adama wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Adama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,232 in Phuket, $1,006 in Adama – roughly 22% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $1,509 in Adama. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Adama, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Phuket and $43.00 in Adama. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 30% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Adama, where all-in costs run around $1,006, than in Phuket at $1,232. In Adama it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,006 in Adama to $1,232 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Adama. 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.