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: $1,261 in Phuket versus $1,351 in Dabas.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,078 in Phuket versus $2,000 in Dabas.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,896 in Phuket versus $2,650 in Dabas.

Living in Phuket costs roughly 7% less than in Dabas, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 8% lower, Dabas 1% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Dabas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.43 ฿145
$12.92 Ft 4,028
-65.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.07 ฿1,151
$38.96 Ft 12.1K
-9.98%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.96 ฿294
$9.32 Ft 2,907
-3.86%
Cappuccino
$3.00 ฿98.4
$1.61 Ft 503
86.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 ฿25.33
$1.40 Ft 436
-45.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 ฿15.44
$0.46 Ft 144
2.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.40 ฿78.6
$1.79 Ft 557
34.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75 ฿123
$1.63 Ft 509
130.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Dabas
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.82 ฿59.8
$1.30 Ft 405
40.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.42 ฿46.65
$1.57 Ft 491
-9.55%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.55 ฿50.8
$2.47 Ft 770
-37.25%
Eggs
$2.13 ฿69.9
$3.34 Ft 1,041
-36.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.76 ฿648
$10.87 Ft 3,389
81.78%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.48 ฿114
$6.96 Ft 2,168
-50.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.09 ฿364
$16.64 Ft 5,188
-33.35%
Apples (1kg)
$2.91 ฿95.5
$2.59 Ft 808
12.36%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 ฿54.6
$2.33 Ft 727
-28.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.27 ฿74.5
$2.69 Ft 840
-15.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.10 ฿68.8
$3.99 Ft 1,243
-47.37%
Potato (1kg)
$1.47 ฿48.24
$1.19 Ft 370
23.53%
Onion (1kg)
$1.41 ฿46.29
$1.44 Ft 449
-2.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.09 ฿35.78
$1.96 Ft 610
-44.39%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 ฿17.58
$0.60 Ft 188
-10.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.48 ฿147
$8.08 Ft 2,518
-44.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.72 ฿614
$4.84 Ft 1,507
286.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84 ฿60.4
$1.41 Ft 439
30.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 ฿96.7
$2.66 Ft 829
10.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Dabas
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.26 ฿74.1
$1.17 Ft 366
93.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$23.07 ฿757
$26.49 Ft 8,259
-12.91%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.04 ฿99.9
$3.52 Ft 1,096
-13.64%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.09 ฿35.82
$1.36 Ft 425
-19.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.82 ฿125
$25.76 Ft 8,032
-85.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 ฿48.79
$1.58 Ft 491
-5.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.4K ฿900.3K
$31.3K Ft 9.8M
-12.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5K ฿902.7K
$38.6K Ft 12.0M
-28.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Dabas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$102 ฿3,340
$178 Ft 55.6K
-42.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.28 ฿370
$21.95 Ft 6,844
-48.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.75 ฿582
$21.90 Ft 6,828
-18.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Dabas
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.2 ฿1,777
$49.41 Ft 15.4K
9.63%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.96 ฿360
$18.79 Ft 5,859
-41.67%
Cinema Ticket
$7.85 ฿258
$9.44 Ft 2,943
-16.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Dabas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$577 ฿18.9K
$440 Ft 137.2K
31.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K ฿381.6K
$8,083 Ft 2.5M
43.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Dabas
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.4 ฿2,144
$103 Ft 32.1K
-36.55%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.89 ฿948
$53.1 Ft 16.6K
-45.61%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.1 ฿3,250
$100 Ft 31.3K
-1.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.3 ฿2,961
$113 Ft 35.3K
-20.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Dabas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$756 ฿24.8K
$562 Ft 175.1K
34.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$487 ฿16.0K
$373 Ft 116.4K
30.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,085 ฿68.4K
$791 Ft 246.7K
163.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,207 ฿39.6K
$723 Ft 225.4K
66.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,591 ฿117.8K
$2,896 Ft 903.0K
23.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,610 ฿85.6K
$2,560 Ft 798.2K
1.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Dabas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$502 ฿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: August 18, 2026

Last update for Dabas: August 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $756 in Phuket and $562 in Dabas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $35.00 in Phuket vs $39.00 in Dabas. Groceries flip the comparison at $272 vs $270, with Dabas cheaper for home cooking.

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 $1,891 in Phuket and $2,026 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: $756 in Phuket versus $562 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 15% 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 $577 in Phuket versus $440 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 $1,261 in Phuket versus $1,351 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 $1,261 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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