ðA single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $2,485 in Dunboyne, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $2,255 per month in Phuket vs $3,724 in Dunboyne, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $3,279 per month in Phuket vs $4,963 in Dunboyne, rent included.
ðPhuket is about 50% cheaper than Dunboyne, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðPhuket sits 8% below the global median, while Dunboyne is 86% above â they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Dunboyne
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63āļŋ151
$21.37âŽ18.30
-78.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84āļŋ1,532
$104âŽ89.4
-55.15%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84āļŋ289
$10.25âŽ8.78
-13.76%
Cappuccino
$3.00āļŋ98.0
$4.26âŽ3.65
-29.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74āļŋ24.25
$2.13âŽ1.82
-65.26%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37āļŋ11.95
$1.71âŽ1.46
-78.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44āļŋ79.8
$7.12âŽ6.09
-65.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61āļŋ118
$6.88âŽ5.89
-47.53%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Dunboyne
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26āļŋ73.9
$1.72âŽ1.47
31.40%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84āļŋ60.1
$2.17âŽ1.86
-15.21%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24āļŋ73.4
$1.48âŽ1.27
51.35%
Eggs
$2.32āļŋ75.7
$4.74âŽ4.06
-51.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67āļŋ643
$7.65âŽ6.54
157.12%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65āļŋ119
$11.37âŽ9.73
-67.90%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10āļŋ428
$12.50âŽ10.70
4.80%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39āļŋ111
$3.27âŽ2.80
3.67%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64āļŋ53.7
$2.14âŽ1.83
-23.36%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41āļŋ79.0
$2.85âŽ2.44
-15.44%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03āļŋ66.4
$4.38âŽ3.75
-53.65%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56āļŋ50.9
$2.18âŽ1.86
-28.44%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50āļŋ48.94
$1.55âŽ1.33
-3.23%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02āļŋ33.50
$1.26âŽ1.08
-19.05%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49āļŋ16.00
$2.11âŽ1.81
-76.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45āļŋ145
$18.71âŽ16.02
-76.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88āļŋ617
$14.31âŽ12.25
31.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78āļŋ58.1
$2.88âŽ2.47
-38.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75āļŋ90.1
$3.35âŽ2.87
-17.91%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Dunboyne
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40āļŋ45.81
$2.40âŽ2.06
-41.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48āļŋ376
$98.7âŽ84.5
-88.37%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12āļŋ102
$5.20âŽ4.45
-40.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00āļŋ32.67
$2.03âŽ1.73
-50.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09āļŋ461
$39.05âŽ33.43
-63.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35āļŋ44.19
$1.98âŽ1.69
-31.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2Kāļŋ888.9K
$42.9KâŽ36.7K
-36.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
$38.9KâŽ33.3K
-15.28%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Dunboyne
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125āļŋ4,087
$183âŽ157
-31.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57āļŋ444
$22.25âŽ19.05
-39.01%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52āļŋ606
$49.82âŽ42.64
-62.83%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Dunboyne
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5āļŋ2,010
$52.5âŽ44.95
17.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84āļŋ551
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.19āļŋ300
$11.80âŽ10.10
-22.12%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Dunboyne
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698āļŋ22.8K
$954âŽ816
-26.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6Kāļŋ509.9K
$2,351âŽ2,013
563.17%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Dunboyne
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8āļŋ1,889
$77.2âŽ66.1
-25.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24āļŋ1,152
$37.43âŽ32.04
-5.85%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,699
$101âŽ86.6
11.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4āļŋ2,825
$75.1âŽ64.3
14.97%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Dunboyne
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616āļŋ20.1K
$1,461âŽ1,250
-57.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446āļŋ14.6K
$1,267âŽ1,085
-64.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048āļŋ67.0K
$2,362âŽ2,022
-13.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492āļŋ48.8K
$2,003âŽ1,715
-25.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779āļŋ123.6K
$4,359âŽ3,731
-13.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649āļŋ86.6K
-
-
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Dunboyne
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524āļŋ17.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
4.04
31.93%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Dunboyne: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $616 in Phuket versus $1,461 in Dunboyne. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
ðA mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket versus $104 in Dunboyne. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $333 â making Phuket 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 Dunboyne: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Phuket and Dunboyne compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,232 in Phuket, $2,485 in Dunboyne â roughly 102% apart. Dunboyne costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Phuket compared to Dunboyne?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $3,728 in Dunboyne. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Phuket and Dunboyne?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket and $104 in Dunboyne. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafÃĐ pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Phuket or Dunboyne?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,232 in Phuket and $2,485 in Dunboyne. The difference isn't just one category â it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,232, than in Dunboyne at $2,485. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Dunboyne it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Dunboyne?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,232 in Phuket to $2,485 in Dunboyne. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Phuket or Dunboyne safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison â central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Phuket and Dunboyne?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Dunboyne makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.