๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,247 in Phuket versus $1,635 in Montalto Dora.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,276 in Phuket versus $2,497 in Montalto Dora.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,306 in Phuket versus $3,359 in Montalto Dora.
๐Living in Phuket costs roughly 24% less than in Montalto Dora, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 7% below, Montalto Dora is 21% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Phuket
Montalto Dora
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.59เธฟ147
$5.71โฌ4.86
-19.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.83เธฟ1,501
$80.2โฌ68.3
-41.64%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.70เธฟ279
$9.51โฌ8.09
-8.52%
Cappuccino
$2.92เธฟ93.7
$2.22โฌ1.89
31.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68เธฟ21.92
$2.81โฌ2.39
-75.80%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40เธฟ12.70
$1.44โฌ1.23
-72.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.51เธฟ80.4
$5.81โฌ4.94
-56.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80เธฟ122
$5.95โฌ5.06
-36.13%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Montalto Dora
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.16เธฟ69.3
$1.57โฌ1.34
37.58%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88เธฟ60.3
$2.68โฌ2.28
-29.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16เธฟ69.2
$2.72โฌ2.32
-20.59%
Eggs
$2.22เธฟ71.2
$5.11โฌ4.35
-56.56%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.57เธฟ627
$21.29โฌ18.12
-8.08%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.80เธฟ122
$13.27โฌ11.29
-71.36%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.41เธฟ430
$17.77โฌ15.12
-24.54%
Apples(1kg)
$3.26เธฟ104
$2.42โฌ2.06
34.71%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61เธฟ51.7
$2.19โฌ1.86
-26.48%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.31เธฟ74.0
$2.03โฌ1.72
13.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06เธฟ66.0
$2.91โฌ2.48
-29.21%
Potato(1kg)
$1.61เธฟ51.5
$1.62โฌ1.38
-0.62%
Onion(1kg)
$1.44เธฟ46.26
$1.32โฌ1.13
9.09%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03เธฟ33.01
$1.76โฌ1.50
-41.48%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48เธฟ15.39
$0.60โฌ0.51
-20.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.50เธฟ144
$6.88โฌ5.85
-34.59%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.18เธฟ615
$8.68โฌ7.39
120.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82เธฟ58.4
$1.66โฌ1.41
9.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69เธฟ86.2
$1.84โฌ1.57
46.20%
๐ Getting Around
Phuket
Montalto Dora
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.38เธฟ44.16
$1.72โฌ1.46
-19.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.76เธฟ377
$43.11โฌ36.69
-72.72%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.11เธฟ99.6
$5.86โฌ4.99
-46.93%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00เธฟ32.18
$1.54โฌ1.31
-35.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.74เธฟ441
$28.82โฌ24.53
-52.32%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30เธฟ41.61
$2.09โฌ1.78
-37.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.4Kเธฟ877.0K
$26.6Kโฌ22.6K
3.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0Kเธฟ1.1M
$34.7Kโฌ29.5K
-4.87%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Montalto Dora
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125เธฟ4,004
$181โฌ154
-30.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.74เธฟ440
$14.94โฌ12.71
-8.03%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.61เธฟ597
$30.05โฌ25.57
-38.07%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Montalto Dora
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.6เธฟ1,941
$55.4โฌ47.18
9.22%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.15เธฟ550
$23.31โฌ19.83
-26.43%
Cinema Ticket
$9.01เธฟ289
$11.14โฌ9.48
-19.12%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Montalto Dora
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698เธฟ22.4K
$655โฌ558
6.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.1Kเธฟ516.5K
$4,705โฌ4,004
242.47%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Montalto Dora
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.2เธฟ1,898
$93.2โฌ79.3
-36.48%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.86เธฟ1,118
$44.78โฌ38.11
-22.15%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$114เธฟ3,662
$99.1โฌ84.3
15.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.8เธฟ2,751
$170โฌ144
-49.46%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Montalto Dora
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$619เธฟ19.8K
$739โฌ629
-16.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$437เธฟ14.0K
$573โฌ487
-23.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,075เธฟ66.5K
$1,204โฌ1,024
72.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,509เธฟ48.4K
$915โฌ779
64.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,764เธฟ120.7K
$3,447โฌ2,933
9.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,694เธฟ86.4K
$2,010โฌ1,710
34.03%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Montalto Dora
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$528เธฟ16.9K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
4.83
10.35%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 13, 2026
Last update for Montalto Dora: April 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $619 in Phuket and $739 in Montalto Dora. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐Dining out: $47 in Phuket vs $80 in Montalto Dora for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $356 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 Montalto Dora: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Montalto Dora cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 31% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,870 in Phuket and $2,453 in Montalto Dora to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Montalto Dora?
Rent for a central apartment: $619 in Phuket versus $739 in Montalto Dora. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Phuket runs roughly 267% less than in Montalto Dora. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $698 in Phuket versus $655 in Montalto Dora. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Montalto Dora?
At $1,247 in Phuket versus $1,635 in Montalto Dora, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Montalto Dora. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Montalto Dora more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Montalto Dora, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Montalto Dora?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Montalto Dora are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 31% less than in Montalto Dora. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.