Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Dartford Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Dartford

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $3,007 in Dartford, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,297 per month in Phuket vs $4,457 in Dartford, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,329 per month in Phuket vs $5,907 in Dartford, rent included.

Phuket is about 58% cheaper than Dartford, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Phuket sits 6% below the global median, while Dartford is 124% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Dartford
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70 ฿153
$27.23 £20.24
-82.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37 ฿1,482
$108 £80.5
-58.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.43 ฿275
$10.91 £8.11
-22.73%
Cappuccino
$2.93 ฿95.6
$5.07 £3.77
-42.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ฿22.40
$2.86 £2.13
-75.87%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿11.99
$1.88 £1.40
-80.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.41 ฿78.6
$8.12 £6.04
-70.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 ฿122
$6.87 £5.11
-45.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Dartford
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.23 ฿72.9
$1.62 £1.20
37.65%
White Bread (500g)
$1.83 ฿59.8
$1.32 £0.98
38.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.17 ฿70.8
$2.55 £1.90
-14.90%
Eggs
$2.21 ฿72.3
$3.65 £2.71
-39.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.74 ฿645
$10.10 £7.51
95.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.63 ฿119
$8.83 £6.57
-58.89%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.53 ฿442
$14.50 £10.77
-6.69%
Apples (1kg)
$3.28 ฿107
$3.35 £2.49
-2.09%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ฿52.6
$1.99 £1.48
-19.10%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 ฿78.6
$2.86 £2.13
-15.73%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿68.1
$3.48 £2.58
-40.23%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿49.93
$1.49 £1.11
2.68%
Onion (1kg)
$1.48 ฿48.36
$1.43 £1.07
3.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 ฿32.29
$0.93 £0.69
6.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.67
$1.53 £1.13
-66.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41 ฿144
$23.16 £17.22
-80.96%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.38 ฿633
$13.63 £10.13
42.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿58.1
$2.23 £1.66
-20.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 ฿88.6
$3.37 £2.51
-19.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Dartford
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.37 ฿44.79
$3.22 £2.39
-57.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.39 ฿372
$87.8 £65.2
-87.02%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿98.6
$5.35 £3.98
-43.55%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.99 ฿32.48
$1.70 £1.26
-41.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.10 ฿461
$15.15 £11.26
-6.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 ฿44.51
$1.89 £1.41
-28.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K ฿921.1K
$38.1K £28.3K
-25.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K ฿1.1M
$39.3K £29.2K
-16.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Dartford
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ฿3,975
$228 £169
-46.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 ฿443
$20.12 £14.95
-32.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31 ฿598
$43.13 £32.06
-57.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Dartford
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.2 ฿1,967
$44.78 £33.28
34.48%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14 ฿560
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.69 ฿284
$20.14 £14.97
-56.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Dartford
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$693 ฿22.6K
$1,905 £1,416
-63.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.7K ฿512.3K
$25.5K £18.9K
-38.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Dartford
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5 ฿1,944
$83.2 £61.8
-28.45%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77 ฿1,136
$48.06 £35.73
-27.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,743
$109 £80.9
5.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3 ฿2,720
$98.4 £73.2
-15.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Dartford
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$613 ฿20.0K
$2,286 £1,699
-73.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$437 ฿14.3K
$1,651 £1,227
-73.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,094 ฿68.4K
$3,009 £2,237
-30.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,509 ฿49.3K
$2,708 £2,013
-44.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,749 ฿122.5K
$5,433 £4,038
-30.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,616 ฿85.4K
$4,424 £3,288
-40.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Dartford
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$508 ฿16.6K
$3,596 £2,673
-85.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
5.05
5.54%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Dartford: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $613 in Phuket versus $2,286 in Dartford. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 608% higher in Dartford, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Phuket versus $108 in Dartford. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $304 – making Phuket the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Dartford: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dartford cheaper than Phuket?
Yes – Dartford is pricier by about 138%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,898 per month in Phuket and $4,511 in Dartford. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or Dartford?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Phuket and $108 in Dartford. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket vs Dartford?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,265 in Phuket and $3,007 in Dartford. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Dartford?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,265, than in Dartford at $3,007. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Dartford it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Phuket or Dartford more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Phuket – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Dartford?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Dartford makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Phuket vs other spots: cost of living compared

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