Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Dubendorf

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,207 a month against $3,678 in Dubendorf, rent and utilities included – about $29,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,207
/mo nomad
Dubendorf
🇨🇭 Switzerland
$3,678
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Dubendorf

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,207 in Phuket versus $3,678 in Dubendorf.

  • Phuket $1,207
  • Dubendorf $3,678

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,037 in Phuket versus $5,457 in Dubendorf.

  • Phuket $2,037
  • Dubendorf $5,457

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,867 in Phuket versus $7,236 in Dubendorf.

  • Phuket $2,867
  • Dubendorf $7,236

Living in Phuket costs roughly 67% less than in Dubendorf, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 11% below, Dubendorf is 172% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Dubendorf
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.58 ฿153
$29.44 CHF 24.24
-84.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.48 ฿1,086
$118 CHF 97.4
-72.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.55 ฿286
$16.26 CHF 13.39
-47.42%
Cappuccino
$2.72 ฿91.0
$5.92 CHF 4.88
-54.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94 ฿31.25
$5.47 CHF 4.50
-82.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.39
$4.88 CHF 4.02
-89.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.59 ฿86.6
$8.23 CHF 6.78
-68.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.83 ฿128
$6.44 CHF 5.30
-40.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Dubendorf
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 ฿58.1
$2.10 CHF 1.73
-17.14%
White Bread (500g)
$1.43 ฿47.82
$3.92 CHF 3.23
-63.52%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.53 ฿51.0
$4.62 CHF 3.81
-66.88%
Eggs
$2.17 ฿72.7
$7.33 CHF 6.04
-70.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.15 ฿640
$32.45 CHF 26.72
-40.99%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.30 ฿110
$26.18 CHF 21.56
-87.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.14 ฿372
$42.54 CHF 35.03
-73.81%
Apples (1kg)
$2.95 ฿98.5
$3.57 CHF 2.94
-17.37%
Banana (1kg)
$1.68 ฿56.1
$2.10 CHF 1.73
-20.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.30 ฿76.8
$3.11 CHF 2.56
-26.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.13 ฿71.3
$7.00 CHF 5.76
-69.57%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿51.1
$2.49 CHF 2.05
-38.55%
Onion (1kg)
$1.36 ฿45.55
$2.16 CHF 1.78
-37.04%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.12 ฿37.44
$2.52 CHF 2.07
-55.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿18.24
$1.40 CHF 1.15
-60.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26 ฿142
$10.91 CHF 8.98
-60.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.19 ฿608
$13.34 CHF 10.98
36.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 ฿58.2
$2.34 CHF 1.93
-25.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79 ฿93.3
$3.44 CHF 2.83
-18.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Dubendorf
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.22 ฿74.1
$2.34 CHF 1.93
-5.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.06 ฿737
$48.20 CHF 39.69
-54.23%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.91 ฿97.3
$5.37 CHF 4.42
-45.81%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.01 ฿33.79
$3.43 CHF 2.82
-70.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.83 ฿128
$60.6 CHF 49.90
-93.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 ฿49.85
$2.25 CHF 1.86
-33.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.7K ฿891.6K
$41.8K CHF 34.5K
-36.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿892.7K
$39.0K CHF 32.1K
-31.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Dubendorf
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$99.4 ฿3,321
$235 CHF 194
-57.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.28 ฿377
$31.38 CHF 25.84
-64.05%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.36 ฿580
$65.2 CHF 53.7
-73.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Dubendorf
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.3 ฿1,747
$121 CHF 99.5
-56.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.85 ฿362
$78.7 CHF 64.8
-86.22%
Cinema Ticket
$7.57 ฿253
$24.26 CHF 19.98
-68.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Dubendorf
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$558 ฿18.7K
$1,777 CHF 1,463
-68.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.5K ฿383.9K
$32.4K CHF 26.7K
-64.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Dubendorf
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.9 ฿2,102
$140 CHF 115
-55.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.58 ฿955
$87.0 CHF 71.6
-67.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.1 ฿3,213
$146 CHF 120
-34.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.1 ฿2,943
$173 CHF 142
-49.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Dubendorf
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$729 ฿24.4K
$1,805 CHF 1,486
-59.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$460 ฿15.4K
$1,775 CHF 1,462
-74.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,096 ฿70.0K
$2,812 CHF 2,316
-25.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,222 ฿40.8K
$2,763 CHF 2,275
-55.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,459 ฿115.6K
$12.0K CHF 9,902
-71.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,489 ฿83.2K
$7,098 CHF 5,846
-64.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Dubendorf
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$493 ฿16.5K
$3,844 CHF 3,166
-87.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
2.48
124.60%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 13, 2026

Last update for Dubendorf: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$460
Dubendorf
$1.8K 286% $1.3K
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$268
Dubendorf
$626 134% $358
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$128
Dubendorf
$332 159% $204
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$124
Dubendorf
$245 97.8% $121
Eating Out
Phuket
$121
Dubendorf
$451 272% $329
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$67
Dubendorf
$169 151% $102
Getting Around
Phuket
$39
Dubendorf
$80 106% $41

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $729 in Phuket and $1,805 in Dubendorf. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dubendorf pays 680% 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: $32.00 in Phuket vs $118 in Dubendorf for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $268 vs $626 per month, with Phuket cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇨🇭 Dubendorf
🕒 Local time
14:19 2:19 PM
09:19 9:19 AM
5 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
26,759
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

CHF, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Swiss Franc exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 0.824 CHF (1 CHF = 1.21 USD). 1 EUR = 0.926 CHF (1 CHF = 1.08 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Dubendorf 9,350 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Dubendorf

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 Dubendorf: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Phuket and in Dubendorf?
Phuket and Dubendorf differ by about 205% in total monthly costs ($1,207 vs $3,678 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, salaries run 680% lower in Dubendorf. 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 in Dubendorf?
Rent for a central apartment: $729 in Phuket versus $1,805 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 $1,207 per month in Phuket versus $3,678 in Dubendorf – a 205% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Phuket and in Dubendorf?
A monthly transit pass in Phuket runs roughly 118% 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 $1,207 in Phuket versus $3,678 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 205% less than in Dubendorf. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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