Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Bahir Dar Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Bahir Dar

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,253 per month in Phuket vs $373 in Bahir Dar, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,043 per month in Phuket vs $573 in Bahir Dar, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,833 per month in Phuket vs $772 in Bahir Dar, rent included.

Phuket costs about 236% more than Bahir Dar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Bahir Dar are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 9% lower, Bahir Dar 73% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.56 ฿150

$3.40 ETB 546

34.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.62 ฿1,073

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.90 ฿293

Cappuccino

$2.80 ฿92.2

$1.01 ETB 163

177.23%

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

$0.88 ฿28.94

$0.41 ETB 66.3

114.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.08

$0.51 ETB 82.3

-3.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.39 ฿78.5

$0.74 ETB 119

222.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 ฿122

$1.95 ETB 313

90.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 ฿58.8

$0.98 ETB 157

82.65%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ฿47.40

$0.97 ETB 156

48.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 ฿52.1

$1.02 ETB 164

54.90%

Eggs

$2.13 ฿69.9

$1.71 ETB 275

24.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.92 ฿655

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.43 ฿113

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.33 ฿372

$9.83 ETB 1,579

15.26%

Apples (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.0

$3.08 ETB 495

-4.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 ฿56.6

$1.01 ETB 163

70.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.32 ฿76.5

$2.03 ETB 326

14.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.4

$0.78 ETB 125

166.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.47 ฿48.34

$0.64 ETB 103

129.69%

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 ฿44.65

$1.16 ETB 187

17.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ฿36.13

$1.03 ETB 165

6.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ฿18.89

$0.52 ETB 83.7

9.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿140

Wine (Bottle)

$18.42 ฿606

$3.96 ETB 636

365.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 ฿61.5

$0.78 ETB 125

139.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 ฿96.1

$1.94 ETB 312

50.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.22 ฿73.0

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.90 ฿753

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 ฿99.6

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.07 ฿35.32

$0.49 ETB 78.3

118.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.93 ฿129

$2.05 ETB 329

91.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿49.06

$0.99 ETB 159

50.51%

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

$27.1K ฿892.0K

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

$27.5K ฿902.6K

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

$103 ฿3,380

$100 ETB 16.1K

2.64%

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

$10.99 ฿361

$9.81 ETB 1,575

12.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.51 ฿576

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.5 ฿1,760

$49.32 ETB 7,920

8.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.20 ฿368

$59.3 ETB 9,523

-81.11%

Cinema Ticket

$7.48 ฿246

$5.85 ETB 940

27.86%

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

$557 ฿18.3K

$49.73 ETB 7,986

1019.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.9K ฿389.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.1 ฿2,107

$49.08 ETB 7,883

30.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.07 ฿956

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.0 ฿3,155

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.3 ฿2,970

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$730 ฿24.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$500 ฿16.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,090 ฿68.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,209 ฿39.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,596 ฿118.2K

$1,995 ETB 320.4K

80.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,512 ฿82.6K

$1,505 ETB 241.8K

66.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$503 ฿16.6K

$202 ETB 32.5K

149.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026

Last update for Bahir Dar: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 149% higher in Phuket, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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 Bahir Dar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Phuket costs about 236% more than Bahir Dar, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,880 per month in Phuket and $560 in Bahir Dar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,253 in Phuket and $373 in Bahir Dar. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 121% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Bahir Dar, where all-in costs run around $373, than in Phuket at $1,253. In Bahir Dar it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bahir Dar costs $373 versus $1,253 in Phuket. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Bahir Dar. 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.