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 $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $372 in Bahir Dar, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,297 per month in Phuket vs $560 in Bahir Dar, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,329 per month in Phuket vs $748 in Bahir Dar, rent included.

Phuket costs about 240% more than Bahir Dar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Bahir Dar are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Bahir Dar 72% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.70 ฿153

$3.60 ETB 567

30.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.37 ฿1,482

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.43 ฿275

Cappuccino

$2.93 ฿95.6

$1.02 ETB 161

187.25%

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

$0.69 ฿22.40

$0.42 ETB 65.9

64.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.99

$0.48 ETB 76.3

-22.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$0.78 ETB 123

208.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿122

$1.99 ETB 313

86.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 ฿72.9

$1.01 ETB 160

120.79%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 ฿59.8

$1.01 ETB 160

81.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ฿70.8

$0.99 ETB 156

119.19%

Eggs

$2.21 ฿72.3

$1.76 ETB 277

25.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.74 ฿645

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿119

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.53 ฿442

$9.96 ETB 1,569

35.84%

Apples (1kg)

$3.28 ฿107

$2.94 ETB 463

11.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ฿52.6

$1.02 ETB 160

57.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$1.97 ETB 310

22.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.1

$0.77 ETB 122

170.13%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.93

$0.67 ETB 105

128.36%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.36

$1.17 ETB 185

26.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ฿32.29

$0.98 ETB 155

1.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.67

$0.52 ETB 81.6

-1.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 ฿144

Wine (Bottle)

$19.38 ฿633

$4.03 ETB 636

380.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

$0.77 ETB 121

131.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ฿88.6

$1.98 ETB 313

36.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.37 ฿44.79

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.39 ฿372

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿98.6

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 ฿32.48

$0.52 ETB 81.2

90.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.10 ฿461

$1.98 ETB 312

612.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 ฿44.51

$1.02 ETB 160

33.33%

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

$28.2K ฿921.1K

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

$32.9K ฿1.1M

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

$122 ฿3,975

$100 ETB 15.8K

21.12%

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

$13.57 ฿443

$9.90 ETB 1,560

37.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.31 ฿598

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.2 ฿1,967

$50.5 ETB 7,963

19.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 ฿560

$59.1 ETB 9,311

-70.99%

Cinema Ticket

$8.69 ฿284

$5.97 ETB 941

45.56%

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

$693 ฿22.6K

$50.3 ETB 7,927

1278.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K ฿512.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,944

$50.9 ETB 8,024

16.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.77 ฿1,136

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,743

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.3 ฿2,720

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$613 ฿20.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$437 ฿14.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,094 ฿68.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,509 ฿49.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,749 ฿122.5K

$2,032 ETB 320.3K

84.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,616 ฿85.4K

$1,514 ETB 238.6K

72.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.6K

$198 ETB 31.2K

156.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

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

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Bahir Dar: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 156% 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 240% 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 $1,898 per month in Phuket and $557 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 $1,265 in Phuket and $372 in Bahir Dar. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 136% 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 $372, than in Phuket at $1,265. 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 $372 versus $1,265 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.