ðA single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $2,098 in Oberhausen, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $2,255 per month in Phuket vs $2,991 in Oberhausen, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $3,279 per month in Phuket vs $3,884 in Oberhausen, rent included.
ðPhuket is about 41% cheaper than Oberhausen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðPhuket sits 8% below the global median, while Oberhausen is 57% above â they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Oberhausen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63āļŋ151
$18.29âŽ15.66
-74.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84āļŋ1,532
$68.9âŽ59.0
-32.05%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84āļŋ289
$13.92âŽ11.92
-36.49%
Cappuccino
$3.00āļŋ98.0
$4.13âŽ3.54
-27.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74āļŋ24.25
$3.33âŽ2.85
-77.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37āļŋ11.95
$3.08âŽ2.63
-87.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44āļŋ79.8
$4.75âŽ4.06
-48.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61āļŋ118
$4.66âŽ3.99
-22.53%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Oberhausen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26āļŋ73.9
$1.35âŽ1.15
67.41%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84āļŋ60.1
$2.22âŽ1.90
-17.12%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24āļŋ73.4
$3.59âŽ3.07
-37.60%
Eggs
$2.32āļŋ75.7
$3.65âŽ3.12
-36.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67āļŋ643
$14.70âŽ12.58
33.81%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65āļŋ119
$14.10âŽ12.07
-74.11%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10āļŋ428
$21.47âŽ18.38
-38.98%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39āļŋ111
$3.17âŽ2.72
6.94%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64āļŋ53.7
$1.93âŽ1.65
-15.03%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41āļŋ79.0
$2.31âŽ1.98
4.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03āļŋ66.4
$4.77âŽ4.09
-57.44%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56āļŋ50.9
$1.60âŽ1.37
-2.50%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50āļŋ48.94
$1.63âŽ1.39
-7.98%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02āļŋ33.50
$1.92âŽ1.64
-46.87%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49āļŋ16.00
$1.14âŽ0.98
-57.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45āļŋ145
$9.28âŽ7.95
-52.05%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88āļŋ617
$5.99âŽ5.13
215.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78āļŋ58.1
$1.11âŽ0.95
60.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75āļŋ90.1
$1.66âŽ1.42
65.66%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Oberhausen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40āļŋ45.81
$3.43âŽ2.93
-59.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48āļŋ376
$51.7âŽ44.28
-77.81%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12āļŋ102
$5.19âŽ4.45
-39.88%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00āļŋ32.67
$2.40âŽ2.06
-58.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09āļŋ461
$35.38âŽ30.29
-60.18%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35āļŋ44.19
$2.00âŽ1.71
-32.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2Kāļŋ888.9K
$32.0KâŽ27.4K
-15.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
$35.0KâŽ30.0K
-5.94%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Oberhausen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125āļŋ4,087
$394âŽ337
-68.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57āļŋ444
$25.00âŽ21.40
-45.72%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52āļŋ606
$50.1âŽ42.92
-63.06%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Oberhausen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5āļŋ2,010
$39.79âŽ34.06
54.51%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84āļŋ551
$22.99âŽ19.68
-26.75%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19āļŋ300
$17.33âŽ14.84
-46.97%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Oberhausen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698āļŋ22.8K
$464âŽ397
50.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6Kāļŋ509.9K
$9,905âŽ8,479
57.41%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Oberhausen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8āļŋ1,889
$96.7âŽ82.8
-40.26%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24āļŋ1,152
$45.60âŽ39.04
-22.72%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,699
$105âŽ89.7
8.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4āļŋ2,825
$145âŽ124
-40.55%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Oberhausen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616āļŋ20.1K
$610âŽ522
1.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446āļŋ14.6K
$646âŽ553
-30.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048āļŋ67.0K
$776âŽ664
163.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492āļŋ48.8K
$781âŽ669
91.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779āļŋ123.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649āļŋ86.6K
$2,386âŽ2,042
11.02%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Oberhausen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524āļŋ17.1K
$3,562âŽ3,049
-85.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
3.97
34.26%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Oberhausen: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $616 in Phuket versus $610 in Oberhausen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
ð°Salaries run about 580% higher in Oberhausen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
ðA mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket versus $69.0 in Oberhausen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $355 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 Oberhausen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Oberhausen?
Oberhausen costs about 70% more than Phuket, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Phuket vs Oberhausen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $3,148 in Oberhausen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Phuket or Oberhausen?
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.
How much does it cost to live in Phuket compared to Oberhausen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,232 in Phuket and $2,098 in Oberhausen. The difference isn't just one category â it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Phuket vs Oberhausen?
Public transport costs about 351% less in Phuket. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Phuket or Oberhausen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,232, than in Oberhausen at $2,098. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Oberhausen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Oberhausen?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,232 versus $2,098 in Oberhausen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Phuket compared to Oberhausen?
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.
Should I move to Phuket or Oberhausen?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Oberhausen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.