Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Dabas Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Dabas

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,182 in Dabas.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $1,726 in Dabas.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $2,269 in Dabas.

Living in Phuket is roughly 4% more expensive than Dabas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 8% lower, Dabas 12% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Dabas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63 ฿151
$8.60 Ft 2,683
-46.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84 ฿1,532
$35.09 Ft 10.9K
33.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.84 ฿289
$8.60 Ft 2,683
2.79%
Cappuccino
$3.00 ฿98.0
$1.47 Ft 459
104.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 ฿24.25
$1.11 Ft 345
-33.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿11.95
$0.45 Ft 140
-17.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.44 ฿79.8
$1.53 Ft 478
59.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61 ฿118
$1.40 Ft 436
157.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Dabas
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.26 ฿73.9
$1.11 Ft 345
103.60%
White Bread (500g)
$1.84 ฿60.1
$1.41 Ft 440
30.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.24 ฿73.4
$1.84 Ft 575
21.74%
Eggs
$2.32 ฿75.7
$2.44 Ft 762
-4.92%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.67 ฿643
$9.11 Ft 2,844
115.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.65 ฿119
$5.83 Ft 1,819
-37.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.10 ฿428
$14.11 Ft 4,402
-7.16%
Apples (1kg)
$3.39 ฿111
$2.02 Ft 632
67.82%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 ฿53.7
$2.02 Ft 630
-18.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 ฿79.0
$2.10 Ft 654
14.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 ฿66.4
$3.60 Ft 1,124
-43.61%
Potato (1kg)
$1.56 ฿50.9
$1.22 Ft 381
27.87%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 ฿48.94
$1.24 Ft 386
20.97%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 ฿33.50
$1.78 Ft 555
-42.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.00
$0.58 Ft 182
-15.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45 ฿145
$7.41 Ft 2,311
-39.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.88 ฿617
$4.92 Ft 1,535
283.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿58.1
$1.22 Ft 381
45.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 ฿90.1
$2.04 Ft 635
34.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Dabas
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.40 ฿45.81
$1.16 Ft 362
20.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.48 ฿376
$25.24 Ft 7,875
-54.52%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.12 ฿102
$3.24 Ft 1,012
-3.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.00 ฿32.67
$1.07 Ft 333
-6.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.09 ฿461
$22.76 Ft 7,100
-38.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 ฿44.19
$1.45 Ft 453
-6.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K ฿888.9K
$27.2K Ft 8.5M
-0.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K ฿1.1M
$31.3K Ft 9.8M
5.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Dabas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$125 ฿4,087
$165 Ft 51.6K
-24.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 ฿444
$27.51 Ft 8,583
-50.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52 ฿606
$19.74 Ft 6,159
-6.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Dabas
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.5 ฿2,010
$46.08 Ft 14.4K
33.42%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84 ฿551
$16.49 Ft 5,146
2.12%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19 ฿300
$7.68 Ft 2,397
19.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Dabas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$698 ฿22.8K
$401 Ft 125.2K
73.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.6K ฿509.9K
$7,125 Ft 2.2M
118.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Dabas
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8 ฿1,889
$90.6 Ft 28.3K
-36.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24 ฿1,152
$44.20 Ft 13.8K
-20.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 ฿3,699
$92.3 Ft 28.8K
22.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4 ฿2,825
$103 Ft 32.0K
-15.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Dabas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$616 ฿20.1K
$448 Ft 139.9K
37.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$446 ฿14.6K
$339 Ft 105.6K
31.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,048 ฿67.0K
$643 Ft 200.7K
218.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,492 ฿48.8K
$522 Ft 163.0K
185.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,779 ฿123.6K
$2,999 Ft 935.7K
26.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,649 ฿86.6K
$2,142 Ft 668.4K
23.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Dabas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$524 ฿17.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
8
-33.38%

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

Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026

Last update for Dabas: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $616 in Phuket and $448 in Dabas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $35.00 in Dabas for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $230 per month, with Dabas cheaper across the board.

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?
Dabas wins on cost – living expenses run 4% lower than in Phuket. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Dabas the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Phuket vs Dabas?
You'd need roughly $1,847 in Phuket and $1,773 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 vs Dabas?
Rent for a central apartment: $616 in Phuket versus $448 in Dabas. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Phuket vs Dabas?
A monthly transit pass in Dabas runs roughly 120% less than in Phuket. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Phuket and Dabas?
Childcare runs $698 in Phuket versus $401 in Dabas. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Phuket or Dabas?
At $1,182 in Dabas versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Dabas but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Dabas the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Dabas?
Both work as nomad bases, but Dabas delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,182 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Dabas 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 Dabas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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