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 $1,250 per month in Phuket vs $379 in Bahir Dar, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,284 per month in Phuket vs $563 in Bahir Dar, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,317 per month in Phuket vs $747 in Bahir Dar, rent included.

Phuket costs about 230% 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

$4.55 ฿153

$3.52 ETB 558

29.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.18 ฿1,553

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.84 ฿297

Cappuccino

$3.06 ฿103

$0.97 ETB 154

215.46%

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

$0.73 ฿24.40

$0.38 ETB 60.6

92.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ฿13.39

$0.49 ETB 77.0

-18.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 ฿81.8

$0.73 ETB 115

232.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.78 ฿127

$2.06 ETB 326

83.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ฿76.0

$1.02 ETB 162

121.57%

White Bread (500g)

$1.81 ฿60.9

$0.99 ETB 157

82.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 ฿75.8

$0.99 ETB 157

127.27%

Eggs

$2.25 ฿75.5

$1.70 ETB 270

32.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.51 ฿656

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.65 ฿123

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.05 ฿439

$10.19 ETB 1,615

28.07%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ฿109

$2.91 ETB 462

11.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.4

$0.98 ETB 156

65.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.38 ฿80.1

$2.03 ETB 322

17.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 ฿68.1

$0.76 ETB 121

167.11%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿51.6

$0.62 ETB 97.9

146.77%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.5

$1.17 ETB 186

28.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ฿32.91

$0.98 ETB 156

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.39

$0.51 ETB 81.4

1.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.44 ฿149

Wine (Bottle)

$18.32 ฿616

$4.08 ETB 646

349.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.7

$0.78 ETB 124

138.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 ฿90.1

$1.95 ETB 309

37.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.41 ฿47.46

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.70 ฿393

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.11 ฿105

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿35.06

$0.51 ETB 80.9

103.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.11 ฿474

$1.97 ETB 313

616.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 ฿44.10

$1.03 ETB 163

27.18%

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

$27.8K ฿935.4K

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

$33.2K ฿1.1M

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

$122 ฿4,118

$100 ETB 15.9K

21.93%

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

$13.59 ฿457

$10.06 ETB 1,595

35.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.70 ฿629

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.5 ฿2,034

$49.45 ETB 7,838

22.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.98 ฿571

$60.7 ETB 9,627

-72.04%

Cinema Ticket

$9.07 ฿305

$6.10 ETB 967

48.69%

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

$706 ฿23.8K

$49.33 ETB 7,819

1331.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K ฿531.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 ฿1,969

$49.82 ETB 7,897

17.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.36 ฿1,189

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,883

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.7 ฿2,816

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$626 ฿21.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$445 ฿15.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,040 ฿68.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,492 ฿50.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,483 ฿117.1K

$2,023 ETB 320.7K

72.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,577 ฿86.7K

$1,485 ETB 235.3K

73.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$500 ฿16.8K

$203 ETB 32.2K

145.67%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Bahir Dar: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 146% 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 230% 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 $1,875 per month in Phuket and $568 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 $1,250 in Phuket and $379 in Bahir Dar. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 133% 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 $379, than in Phuket at $1,250. 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 $379 versus $1,250 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.