Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Dabas

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,207 a month against $1,292 in Dabas, rent and utilities included – about $1,000 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,207
/mo nomad
Dabas
🇭🇺 Hungary
$1,292
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Dabas

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Phuket and in Dabas actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,207 in Phuket versus $1,292 in Dabas.

  • Phuket $1,207
  • Dabas $1,292

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,037 in Phuket versus $1,972 in Dabas.

  • Phuket $2,037
  • Dabas $1,972

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,867 in Phuket versus $2,653 in Dabas.

  • Phuket $2,867
  • Dabas $2,653

Living in Phuket costs roughly 7% less than in Dabas, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 11% lower, Dabas 4% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Dabas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.58 ฿153
$11.57 Ft 3,737
-60.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.48 ฿1,086
$36.39 Ft 11.8K
-10.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.55 ฿286
$9.16 Ft 2,958
-6.66%
Cappuccino
$2.72 ฿91.0
$1.50 Ft 485
81.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94 ฿31.25
$1.35 Ft 437
-30.37%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.39
$0.48 Ft 155
2.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.59 ฿86.6
$1.69 Ft 547
53.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.83 ฿128
$1.55 Ft 499
147.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Dabas
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 ฿58.1
$1.23 Ft 398
41.46%
White Bread (500g)
$1.43 ฿47.82
$1.57 Ft 506
-8.92%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.53 ฿51.0
$2.42 Ft 781
-36.78%
Eggs
$2.17 ฿72.7
$3.18 Ft 1,028
-31.76%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.15 ฿640
$10.27 Ft 3,318
86.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.30 ฿110
$6.88 Ft 2,224
-52.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.14 ฿372
$16.14 Ft 5,216
-30.98%
Apples (1kg)
$2.95 ฿98.5
$2.43 Ft 784
21.40%
Banana (1kg)
$1.68 ฿56.1
$2.31 Ft 745
-27.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.30 ฿76.8
$2.64 Ft 852
-12.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.13 ฿71.3
$3.85 Ft 1,244
-44.68%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿51.1
$1.09 Ft 353
40.37%
Onion (1kg)
$1.36 ฿45.55
$1.42 Ft 459
-4.23%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.12 ฿37.44
$1.86 Ft 600
-39.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿18.24
$0.58 Ft 188
-5.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26 ฿142
$7.70 Ft 2,489
-44.68%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.19 ฿608
$4.53 Ft 1,464
301.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 ฿58.2
$1.37 Ft 443
27.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79 ฿93.3
$2.59 Ft 837
7.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Dabas
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.22 ฿74.1
$1.26 Ft 406
76.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.06 ฿737
$27.69 Ft 8,947
-20.33%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.91 ฿97.3
$3.46 Ft 1,118
-15.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.01 ฿33.79
$1.38 Ft 447
-26.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.83 ฿128
$24.17 Ft 7,809
-84.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 ฿49.85
$1.57 Ft 508
-5.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.7K ฿891.6K
$31.0K Ft 10.0M
-13.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿892.7K
$36.3K Ft 11.7M
-26.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Dabas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$99.4 ฿3,321
$166 Ft 53.7K
-40.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.28 ฿377
$20.87 Ft 6,742
-45.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.36 ฿580
$20.72 Ft 6,693
-16.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Dabas
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.3 ฿1,747
$49.15 Ft 15.9K
6.39%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.85 ฿362
$18.00 Ft 5,814
-39.72%
Cinema Ticket
$7.57 ฿253
$8.86 Ft 2,862
-14.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Dabas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$558 ฿18.7K
$436 Ft 140.8K
28.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.5K ฿383.9K
$7,678 Ft 2.5M
49.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Dabas
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.9 ฿2,102
$100.0 Ft 32.3K
-37.09%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.58 ฿955
$51.1 Ft 16.5K
-44.03%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.1 ฿3,213
$95.2 Ft 30.7K
1.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.1 ฿2,943
$112 Ft 36.3K
-21.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Dabas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$729 ฿24.4K
$512 Ft 165.3K
42.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$460 ฿15.4K
$395 Ft 127.5K
16.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,096 ฿70.0K
$860 Ft 277.8K
143.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,222 ฿40.8K
$702 Ft 226.7K
74.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,459 ฿115.6K
$2,623 Ft 847.3K
31.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,489 ฿83.2K
$2,942 Ft 950.4K
-15.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Dabas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$493 ฿16.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
8
-30.37%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 13, 2026

Last update for Dabas: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$460
Dabas
$395 14.2% $65
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$268
Dabas
$261 2.3% $6.1
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$128
Dabas
$208 62.2% $80
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$124
Dabas
$161 30% $37
Eating Out
Phuket
$121
Dabas
$157 29.3% $36
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$67
Dabas
$67 0.8% $0.5
Getting Around
Phuket
$39
Dabas
$43 10.8% $4.2

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $729 in Phuket and $512 in Dabas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $32.00 in Phuket vs $36.00 in Dabas. Groceries flip the comparison at $268 vs $261, with Dabas cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇭🇺 Dabas
🕒 Local time
03:44 3:44 AM
22:44 10:44 PM
5 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
17,542
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

HUF, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.58 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Hungarian Forint exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 323 HUF (1,000 HUF = 3.1 USD). 1 EUR = 363 HUF (1,000 HUF = 2.75 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Dabas 8,540 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Dabas

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Dabas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Dabas?
Phuket wins on cost – living expenses run 7% lower than in Dabas. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Phuket the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Phuket and in Dabas?
You'd need roughly $1,811 in Phuket and $1,938 in Dabas to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Phuket compared to Dabas?
Rent for a central apartment: $729 in Phuket versus $512 in Dabas. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Phuket compared to Dabas?
A monthly transit pass in Phuket runs roughly 26% less than in Dabas. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Phuket and in Dabas?
Childcare runs $558 in Phuket versus $436 in Dabas. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Phuket or in Dabas?
At $1,207 in Phuket versus $1,292 in Dabas, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Dabas. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Dabas?
Both work as nomad bases, but Phuket delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,207 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Phuket hard to pass up.
How safe is Phuket compared to Dabas?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Dabas are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Dabas. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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