Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and David

For one person, living is cheaper in David: $883 a month against $1,278 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $4,700 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Phuket
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Phuket Living Index

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Phuket

🇹🇭 Thailand

$1,278

/mo nomad

David

🇵🇦 Panama

$883

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in David

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 David actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,278 per month in Phuket vs $883 in David, rent included.

Phuket $1,278
David $883

A couple spends around $2,216 per month in Phuket vs $949 in David, rent included.

Phuket $2,216
David $949

A family of three spends $3,154 per month in Phuket vs $1,014 in David, rent included.

Phuket $3,154
David $1,014

Phuket costs about 45% more than David, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Phuket and David are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, David 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.47 ฿151

$5.65 PAB 5.65

-20.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.41 ฿1,093

$37.37 PAB 37.37

-13.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.81 ฿297

$7.11 PAB 7.11

23.91%

Cappuccino

$2.83 ฿95.4

$3.28 PAB 3.28

-13.72%

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

$0.87 ฿29.41

$1.53 PAB 1.53

-43.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.65

$1.48 PAB 1.48

-66.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.56 ฿86.3

$2.05 PAB 2.05

24.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 ฿124

$2.68 PAB 2.68

37.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ฿55.9

$1.77 PAB 1.77

-6.21%

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 ฿49.31

$2.14 PAB 2.14

-31.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.5

$2.44 PAB 2.44

-38.52%

Eggs

$2.09 ฿70.5

$2.39 PAB 2.39

-12.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.07 ฿643

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.30 ฿111

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.91 ฿368

Apples (1kg)

$2.93 ฿98.9

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 ฿57.0

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 ฿75.8

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿70.0

Potato (1kg)

$1.51 ฿51.0

Onion (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.52

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 ฿35.96

$1.94 PAB 1.94

-44.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.51

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.20 ฿142

Wine (Bottle)

$18.79 ฿634

$9.86 PAB 9.86

90.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 ฿61.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿95.8

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.45 ฿48.98

$0.72 PAB 0.72

101.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$56.7 ฿1,912

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿102

$3.01 PAB 3.01

0.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ฿34.33

$2.04 PAB 2.04

-50.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.69 ฿125

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ฿49.76

$1.07 PAB 1.07

37.38%

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

$26.8K ฿903.4K

$24.6K PAB 24.6K

9.00%

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

$26.7K ฿900.5K

$30.0K PAB 30.0K

-11.04%

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

$96.4 ฿3,251

$185 PAB 185

-48.05%

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

$11.26 ฿380

$28.76 PAB 28.76

-60.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.85 ฿568

$48.59 PAB 48.59

-65.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.2 ฿2,268

$30.61 PAB 30.61

119.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.73 ฿362

Cinema Ticket

$7.50 ฿253

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

$476 ฿16.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.3K ฿380.0K

$5,960 PAB 5,960

88.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.4 ฿2,104

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.41 ฿958

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,181

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.8 ฿2,895

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$716 ฿24.2K

$347 PAB 347

106.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$491 ฿16.6K

$354 PAB 354

38.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,927 ฿65.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,431 ฿48.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,175 ฿140.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,045 ฿102.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$502 ฿16.9K

$598 PAB 598

-15.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-20.43%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Last update for David: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Phuket

$491 38.4%

David

–

Groceries & Markets

Phuket

$266 20.8%

David

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Phuket

$124 9.7%

David

–

Clothing & Footwear

Phuket

$122 9.5%

David

–

Eating Out

Phuket

$122 9.5%

David

–

Sport & Entertainment

Phuket

$82 6.4%

David

–

Getting Around

Phuket

$71 5.5%

David

–

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $716 in Phuket versus $347 in David. 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 19% higher in David, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32 in Phuket versus $37 in David. Groceries tell a different story – $266 in Phuket vs $86 in David – so David wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Phuket

🇵🇦 David

🕒 Local time

01:48 1:48 AM

13:48 1:48 PM

12 h behind Phuket

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

79,308

82,907

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Panamanian Balboa PAB B/.

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.65 EUR

1 PAB = 1 USD

1 PAB = 0.896 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

PAB, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 33.74 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.67 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

Panamanian Balboa exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 1 PAB (1 PAB = 1 USD). 1 EUR = 1.12 PAB (1 PAB = 0.896 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Phuket David 18,200 km ≈ 23 h nonstop flight

From you

Phuket
David

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 David: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 45%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,917 per month in Phuket and $1,324 in David. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in David, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $347 there versus $716 in Phuket.

Groceries cost about 210% more in Phuket, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32 in Phuket and $37 in David. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in David, where all-in costs run around $883, than in Phuket at $1,278. In David it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $883 in David to $1,278 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.