Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Dhulikhel Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Dhulikhel

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $402 in Dhulikhel, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,255 per month in Phuket vs $663 in Dhulikhel, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,279 per month in Phuket vs $924 in Dhulikhel, rent included.

Phuket costs about 206% more than Dhulikhel, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Dhulikhel are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 8% lower, Dhulikhel 70% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Dhulikhel
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63 ฿151
$1.77 NPR 270
161.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84 ฿1,532
$18.90 NPR 2,872
147.83%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.84 ฿289
$6.41 NPR 974
37.91%
Cappuccino
$3.00 ฿98.0
$1.54 NPR 233
94.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 ฿24.25
$0.55 NPR 82.9
34.55%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿11.95
$0.17 NPR 25.22
117.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.44 ฿79.8
$2.64 NPR 401
-7.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61 ฿118
$3.54 NPR 538
1.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Dhulikhel
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.26 ฿73.9
$0.80 NPR 122
182.50%
White Bread (500g)
$1.84 ฿60.1
$0.55 NPR 84.2
234.55%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.24 ฿73.4
$0.81 NPR 123
176.54%
Eggs
$2.32 ฿75.7
$1.67 NPR 254
38.92%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.67 ฿643
$7.61 NPR 1,157
158.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.65 ฿119
$3.22 NPR 490
13.35%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.10 ฿428
$6.29 NPR 955
108.27%
Apples (1kg)
$3.39 ฿111
$2.26 NPR 344
50.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 ฿53.7
$1.10 NPR 167
49.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 ฿79.0
$1.24 NPR 189
94.35%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 ฿66.4
$0.70 NPR 106
190.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.56 ฿50.9
$0.46 NPR 69.6
239.13%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 ฿48.94
$0.68 NPR 103
120.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 ฿33.50
$0.53 NPR 80.9
92.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.00
$0.27 NPR 41.05
81.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45 ฿145
$2.97 NPR 451
49.83%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.88 ฿617
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿58.1
$2.34 NPR 355
-23.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 ฿90.1
$3.32 NPR 504
-17.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Dhulikhel
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.40 ฿45.81
$0.20 NPR 30.79
600.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.48 ฿376
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.12 ฿102
$2.12 NPR 322
47.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.00 ฿32.67
$0.81 NPR 123
23.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.09 ฿461
$3.74 NPR 568
276.74%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 ฿44.19
$1.24 NPR 188
8.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K ฿888.9K
$31.4K NPR 4.8M
-13.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K ฿1.1M
$40.8K NPR 6.2M
-19.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Dhulikhel
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$125 ฿4,087
$26.75 NPR 4,064
367.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 ฿444
$4.84 NPR 735
180.37%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52 ฿606
$9.48 NPR 1,440
95.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Dhulikhel
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.5 ฿2,010
$17.92 NPR 2,722
243.08%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84 ฿551
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.19 ฿300
$2.77 NPR 420
231.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Dhulikhel
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$698 ฿22.8K
$72.8 NPR 11.1K
858.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.6K ฿509.9K
$2,793 NPR 424.2K
458.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Dhulikhel
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8 ฿1,889
$25.27 NPR 3,838
128.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24 ฿1,152
$28.13 NPR 4,274
25.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 ฿3,699
$46.06 NPR 6,997
145.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4 ฿2,825
$29.13 NPR 4,425
196.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Dhulikhel
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$616 ฿20.1K
$103 NPR 15.6K
498.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$446 ฿14.6K
$63.9 NPR 9,699
598.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,048 ฿67.0K
$204 NPR 30.9K
905.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,492 ฿48.8K
$145 NPR 22.0K
929.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,779 ฿123.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,649 ฿86.6K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Dhulikhel
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$524 ฿17.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
12.08
-55.88%

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

Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026

Last update for Dhulikhel: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $616 in Phuket versus $103 in Dhulikhel. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket versus $19.00 in Dhulikhel. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $134 – making Dhulikhel 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 Dhulikhel: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dhulikhel cheaper than Phuket?
Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 206%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,847 per month in Phuket and $603 in Dhulikhel. 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 Dhulikhel, 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 Dhulikhel?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket and $19.00 in Dhulikhel. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and Dhulikhel?
Groceries cost about 118% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Dhulikhel?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Dhulikhel, where all-in costs run around $402, than in Phuket at $1,232. In Dhulikhel it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Phuket or Dhulikhel more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Dhulikhel – 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 Dhulikhel?
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 Dhulikhel. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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