🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $3,974 in Dubendorf.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $5,958 in Dubendorf.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $7,942 in Dubendorf.
🙂Living in Phuket costs roughly 68% less than in Dubendorf, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 6% below, Dubendorf is 197% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Dubendorf
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70฿153
$30.79CHF 24.27
-84.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37฿1,482
$150CHF 119
-69.83%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.43฿275
$18.42CHF 14.52
-54.23%
Cappuccino
$2.93฿95.6
$6.38CHF 5.03
-54.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.40
$5.85CHF 4.61
-88.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿11.99
$5.40CHF 4.25
-93.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.41฿78.6
$7.41CHF 5.85
-67.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿122
$6.99CHF 5.51
-46.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Dubendorf
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.23฿72.9
$2.15CHF 1.69
3.72%
White Bread(500g)
$1.83฿59.8
$3.26CHF 2.57
-43.87%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.17฿70.8
$4.08CHF 3.22
-46.81%
Eggs
$2.21฿72.3
$7.26CHF 5.72
-69.56%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.74฿645
$29.29CHF 23.09
-32.60%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63฿119
$31.91CHF 25.16
-88.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.53฿442
$49.09CHF 38.70
-72.44%
Apples(1kg)
$3.28฿107
$3.18CHF 2.50
3.14%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61฿52.6
$2.81CHF 2.21
-42.70%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿78.6
$3.09CHF 2.43
-22.01%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿68.1
$7.09CHF 5.59
-70.66%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿49.93
$2.78CHF 2.19
-44.96%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48฿48.36
$2.27CHF 1.79
-34.80%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99฿32.29
$2.55CHF 2.01
-61.18%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51฿16.67
$1.73CHF 1.37
-70.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41฿144
$11.01CHF 8.68
-59.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.38฿633
$15.50CHF 12.22
25.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿58.1
$2.24CHF 1.76
-20.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71฿88.6
$2.95CHF 2.32
-8.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Dubendorf
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.37฿44.79
$7.71CHF 6.08
-82.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.39฿372
$123CHF 97.1
-90.76%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.02฿98.6
$6.87CHF 5.42
-56.04%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.99฿32.48
$4.25CHF 3.35
-76.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.10฿461
$79.7CHF 62.9
-82.32%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36฿44.51
$2.31CHF 1.82
-41.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K฿921.1K
$39.6KCHF 31.2K
-28.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K฿1.1M
$40.2KCHF 31.7K
-18.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Dubendorf
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿3,975
$260CHF 205
-53.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57฿443
$35.53CHF 28.02
-61.81%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31฿598
$52.7CHF 41.56
-65.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Dubendorf
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.2฿1,967
$87.4CHF 68.9
-31.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14฿560
$55.8CHF 43.96
-69.26%
Cinema Ticket
$8.69฿284
$25.12CHF 19.80
-65.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Dubendorf
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$693฿22.6K
$2,686CHF 2,118
-74.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.7K฿512.3K
$39.6KCHF 31.3K
-60.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Dubendorf
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5฿1,944
$147CHF 116
-59.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77฿1,136
$64.5CHF 50.8
-46.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,743
$147CHF 116
-22.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3฿2,720
$202CHF 159
-58.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Dubendorf
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$613฿20.0K
$1,855CHF 1,462
-66.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$437฿14.3K
$1,860CHF 1,467
-76.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,094฿68.4K
$2,681CHF 2,114
-21.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,509฿49.3K
$2,917CHF 2,299
-48.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,749฿122.5K
$14.0KCHF 11.1K
-73.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,616฿85.4K
$10.0KCHF 7,885
-73.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Dubendorf
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$508฿16.6K
$4,069CHF 3,208
-87.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
2.5
113.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026
Last update for Dubendorf: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $613 in Phuket and $1,855 in Dubendorf. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Dubendorf pays 701% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $45.00 in Phuket vs $150 in Dubendorf for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $667 per month, with Phuket cheaper across the board.
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 Dubendorf: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Phuket and Dubendorf?
Phuket and Dubendorf differ by about 214% in total monthly costs ($1,265 vs $3,974 including rent). Phuket is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Dubendorf earns 701% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Phuket and Dubendorf?
Rent for a central apartment: $613 in Phuket versus $1,855 in Dubendorf. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Phuket or Dubendorf?
All in, you'll spend $1,265 per month in Phuket versus $3,974 in Dubendorf – a 214% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Phuket and Dubendorf?
A monthly transit pass in Phuket runs roughly 982% less than in Dubendorf. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,265 in Phuket versus $3,974 in Dubendorf, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Dubendorf. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Dubendorf?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Phuket or Dubendorf safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Dubendorf are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Phuket or Dubendorf?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 214% less than in Dubendorf. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.