Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Dealu Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Dealu

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $1,119 in Dealu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $1,738 in Dealu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $2,357 in Dealu.

Living in Phuket is roughly 13% more expensive than Dealu, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, Dealu 17% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Dealu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70 ฿153
$11.45 RON 51.8
-58.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37 ฿1,482
$57.5 RON 260
-21.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.43 ฿275
$8.22 RON 37.16
2.55%
Cappuccino
$2.93 ฿95.6
$3.36 RON 15.20
-12.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ฿22.40
$2.35 RON 10.61
-70.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿11.99
$2.23 RON 10.06
-83.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.41 ฿78.6
$3.18 RON 14.39
-24.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 ฿122
$3.80 RON 17.19
-2.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Dealu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.23 ฿72.9
$1.80 RON 8.12
23.89%
White Bread (500g)
$1.83 ฿59.8
$1.34 RON 6.04
36.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.17 ฿70.8
$1.86 RON 8.43
16.67%
Eggs
$2.21 ฿72.3
$3.33 RON 15.07
-33.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.74 ฿645
$9.71 RON 43.88
103.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.63 ฿119
$7.13 RON 32.22
-49.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.53 ฿442
$12.09 RON 54.7
11.91%
Apples (1kg)
$3.28 ฿107
$1.25 RON 5.66
162.40%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ฿52.6
$1.72 RON 7.76
-6.40%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 ฿78.6
$1.58 RON 7.14
52.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿68.1
$2.32 RON 10.50
-10.34%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿49.93
$1.03 RON 4.64
48.54%
Onion (1kg)
$1.48 ฿48.36
$0.90 RON 4.08
64.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 ฿32.29
$1.09 RON 4.91
-9.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.67
$0.89 RON 4.04
-42.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41 ฿144
$6.25 RON 28.23
-29.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.38 ฿633
$6.57 RON 29.69
194.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿58.1
$1.17 RON 5.28
52.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 ฿88.6
$1.99 RON 9.00
36.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Dealu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.37 ฿44.79
$0.71 RON 3.22
92.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.39 ฿372
$19.94 RON 90.1
-42.88%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿98.6
$0.93 RON 4.21
224.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.99 ฿32.48
$0.72 RON 3.23
37.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.10 ฿461
$9.26 RON 41.87
52.27%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 ฿44.51
$1.64 RON 7.42
-17.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K ฿921.1K
$27.5K RON 124.2K
2.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K ฿1.1M
$26.3K RON 119.1K
24.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Dealu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ฿3,975
$155 RON 703
-21.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 ฿443
$9.09 RON 41.07
49.28%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31 ฿598
$9.97 RON 45.09
83.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Dealu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.2 ฿1,967
$41.03 RON 185
46.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14 ฿560
$19.17 RON 86.7
-10.59%
Cinema Ticket
$8.69 ฿284
$7.98 RON 36.06
8.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Dealu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$693 ฿22.6K
$483 RON 2,181
43.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.7K ฿512.3K
$10.6K RON 47.8K
48.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Dealu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5 ฿1,944
$68.7 RON 311
-13.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77 ฿1,136
$41.00 RON 185
-15.20%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,743
$86.4 RON 391
32.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3 ฿2,720
$99.9 RON 452
-16.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Dealu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$613 ฿20.0K
$390 RON 1,762
57.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$437 ฿14.3K
$287 RON 1,295
52.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,094 ฿68.4K
$578 RON 2,611
262.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,509 ฿49.3K
$434 RON 1,960
248.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,749 ฿122.5K
$1,905 RON 8,611
96.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,616 ฿85.4K
$1,584 RON 7,160
65.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Dealu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$508 ฿16.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
5.85
-8.89%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Dealu: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $613 in Phuket and $390 in Dealu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $45.00 in Phuket vs $57.0 in Dealu. Groceries flip the comparison at $293 vs $231, with Dealu 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 Dealu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dealu cheaper than Phuket?
Dealu is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 13% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,898 in Phuket and $1,678 in Dealu 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.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Dealu?
Rent for a central apartment: $613 in Phuket versus $390 in Dealu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or Dealu?
Dining out is cheaper in Dealu – a meal for two runs $57.0 versus $45.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket vs Dealu?
All in, you'll spend $1,265 per month in Phuket versus $1,119 in Dealu – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Dealu?
At $1,119 in Dealu versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Dealu but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Dealu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Dealu more family-friendly?
For families, Dealu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Dealu?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Dealu 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Dealu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Phuket vs other spots: cost of living compared

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