Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Duncans Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Duncans

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,261 per month in Phuket vs $900 in Duncans, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,276 per month in Phuket vs $1,459 in Duncans, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,291 per month in Phuket vs $2,018 in Duncans, rent included.

Phuket costs about 40% more than Duncans, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Duncans are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Duncans 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.53 ฿152

$7.42 JMD 1,168

-38.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.36 ฿1,558

$62.4 JMD 9,821

-25.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.65 ฿291

$8.78 JMD 1,383

-1.48%

Cappuccino

$3.09 ฿104

$4.30 JMD 678

-28.14%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.68 ฿22.79

$1.30 JMD 205

-47.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿12.38

$0.70 JMD 111

-47.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.42 ฿81.2

$2.56 JMD 403

-5.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.81 ฿128

$3.09 JMD 486

23.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.18 ฿73.2

$4.19 JMD 659

-47.97%

White Bread (500g)

$1.82 ฿61.1

$3.59 JMD 566

-49.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.18 ฿73.2

$1.62 JMD 256

34.57%

Eggs

$2.24 ฿75.1

$3.43 JMD 540

-34.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.93 ฿670

$11.25 JMD 1,772

77.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.64 ฿122

$6.32 JMD 996

-42.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.56 ฿456

$7.56 JMD 1,190

79.37%

Apples (1kg)

$3.29 ฿111

$5.88 JMD 926

-44.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.6

$3.09 JMD 486

-45.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.33 ฿78.4

$4.18 JMD 659

-44.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 ฿68.1

$3.06 JMD 481

-33.66%

Potato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.8

$2.11 JMD 332

-24.17%

Onion (1kg)

$1.49 ฿50.2

$2.03 JMD 319

-26.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 ฿34.02

$3.13 JMD 492

-67.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.02

$1.51 JMD 237

-68.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.45 ฿150

$8.53 JMD 1,344

-47.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.63 ฿626

$11.47 JMD 1,806

62.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿60.0

$2.75 JMD 433

-34.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.80 ฿94.0

$3.11 JMD 490

-9.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.42 ฿47.69

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.33 ฿381

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 ฿104

$1.07 JMD 169

188.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿35.03

$3.22 JMD 507

-67.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.63 ฿458

$6.43 JMD 1,013

111.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 ฿44.03

$1.23 JMD 193

6.50%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$27.3K ฿916.6K

$43.3K JMD 6.8M

-36.96%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$33.2K ฿1.1M

$33.3K JMD 5.2M

-0.33%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$123 ฿4,138

$161 JMD 25.3K

-23.49%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.81 ฿464

$21.75 JMD 3,425

-36.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.52 ฿622

$51.3 JMD 8,082

-63.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.4 ฿2,028

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.80 ฿564

Cinema Ticket

$8.89 ฿299

$13.28 JMD 2,092

-33.06%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$687 ฿23.1K

$222 JMD 35.0K

208.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.6K ฿522.5K

$2,499 JMD 393.6K

522.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.6 ฿1,936

$25.79 JMD 4,062

123.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.66 ฿1,165

$25.46 JMD 4,010

36.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,861

$70.5 JMD 11.1K

62.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.9 ฿2,853

$77.4 JMD 12.2K

9.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$618 ฿20.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$443 ฿14.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,047 ฿68.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,506 ฿50.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,568 ฿119.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,511 ฿84.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$503 ฿16.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

9.15

-41.75%

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

Last update for Phuket: July 20, 2026

Last update for Duncans: July 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Phuket versus $62.0 in Duncans. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $350 – 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 Duncans: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 40%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,891 per month in Phuket and $1,349 in Duncans. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,261 in Phuket and $900 in Duncans. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $687 per month in Phuket and $222 in Duncans. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Duncans, where all-in costs run around $900, than in Phuket at $1,261. In Duncans it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Duncans – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Duncans. 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.