Budapest vs Phuket: cost of living for digital nomads

Budapest, Hungary and Phuket, Thailand, line by line from the catalogue: what a month costs, rent, food, coworking, safety and internet. Every figure links back to its source on the city page.

The short version

  • Phuket is about 9% cheaper than Budapest for a month of nomad living ($1,450 vs $1,600).
  • Rent is the biggest gap: $600 in Phuket against $750 in Budapest.
  • Budapest scores higher on safety (9/10 vs 7/10).
  • Internet is faster in Budapest: 250 Mbps typical against 180 Mbps.
  • Budapest is temperate; Phuket is tropical.

Budapest wins 3 of the measured lines; Phuket wins 3.

LineBudapestPhuket
Monthly total (USD)$1,600$1,450
Rent$750$600
Food$420$380
Transport$40$70
Coworking$120$120
Safety (out of 10)9/107/10
Internet (Mbps)250180
Climatetemperatetropical
City sizemetromid
Settinginlandisland
Nomad score (out of 10)8/108/10

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Costs are typical monthly figures for one person in USD, from the sources named on each city page; safety and internet are the catalogue's own ratings. Check the city pages for the dates each was last verified.