🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,028 in Astrakhan versus $1,232 in Phuket.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,530 in Astrakhan versus $2,255 in Phuket.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,032 in Astrakhan versus $3,279 in Phuket.
🙂Living in Astrakhan costs roughly 17% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Astrakhan23% lower, Phuket8% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Astrakhan
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.80₽811
$4.63฿151
133.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.14₽2,489
$46.84฿1,532
-29.25%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.76₽583
$8.84฿289
-12.22%
Cappuccino
$1.87₽141
$3.00฿98.0
-37.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85₽64.0
$0.74฿24.25
14.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52₽39.31
$0.37฿11.95
40.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.30₽97.9
$2.44฿79.8
-46.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57₽193
$3.61฿118
-28.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Astrakhan
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28₽95.9
$2.26฿73.9
-43.36%
White Bread(500g)
$1.05₽79.1
$1.84฿60.1
-42.93%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.02₽76.9
$2.24฿73.4
-54.46%
Eggs
$1.77₽133
$2.32฿75.7
-23.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$24.66₽1,853
$19.67฿643
25.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.98₽374
$3.65฿119
36.44%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.95₽522
$13.10฿428
-46.95%
Apples(1kg)
$1.64₽123
$3.39฿111
-51.62%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75₽131
$1.64฿53.7
6.71%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.62₽122
$2.41฿79.0
-32.78%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.41₽181
$2.03฿66.4
18.72%
Potato(1kg)
$0.95₽71.6
$1.56฿50.9
-39.10%
Onion(1kg)
$0.56₽41.78
$1.50฿48.94
-62.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39₽105
$1.02฿33.50
36.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66₽49.68
$0.49฿16.00
34.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.89₽142
$4.45฿145
-57.53%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.59₽495
$18.88฿617
-65.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.06₽79.6
$1.78฿58.1
-40.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93₽145
$2.75฿90.1
-29.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Astrakhan
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.53₽39.46
$1.40฿45.81
-62.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$21.96₽1,650
$11.48฿376
91.29%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.47₽186
$3.12฿102
-20.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.33₽24.78
$1.00฿32.67
-67.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.77₽283
$14.09฿461
-73.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94₽70.6
$1.35฿44.19
-30.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K₽2.6M
$27.2K฿888.9K
27.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.0K₽2.4M
$32.9K฿1.1M
-2.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Astrakhan
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102₽7,629
$125฿4,087
-18.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.47₽486
$13.57฿444
-52.32%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$5.51₽414
$18.52฿606
-70.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Astrakhan
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.96₽3,677
$61.5฿2,010
-20.36%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.95₽1,874
$16.84฿551
48.16%
Cinema Ticket
$5.49₽412
$9.19฿300
-40.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Astrakhan
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$113₽8,517
$698฿22.8K
-83.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,984₽524.5K
$15.6K฿509.9K
-55.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Astrakhan
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.2₽4,370
$57.8฿1,889
0.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.48₽2,364
$35.24฿1,152
-10.67%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.3₽6,784
$113฿3,699
-20.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$126₽9,499
$86.4฿2,825
46.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Astrakhan
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$418₽31.4K
$616฿20.1K
-32.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$313₽23.5K
$446฿14.6K
-29.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$440₽33.0K
$2,048฿67.0K
-78.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$382₽28.7K
$1,492฿48.8K
-74.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,686₽126.7K
$3,779฿123.6K
-55.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,201₽90.2K
$2,649฿86.6K
-54.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Astrakhan
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$508₽38.1K
$524฿17.1K
-3.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
15.33
5.33
187.62%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Astrakhan: April 28, 2026
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $418 in Astrakhan and $616 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Phuket pays 3% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Astrakhan vs $47.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $231 vs $292 per month, with Astrakhan cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Astrakhan vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Astrakhan and Phuket?
Astrakhan and Phuket differ by about 20% in total monthly costs ($1,028 vs $1,232 including rent). Astrakhan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Phuket earns 3% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Astrakhan and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $418 in Astrakhan versus $616 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Astrakhan and Phuket?
A monthly transit pass in Astrakhan runs roughly 91% less than in Phuket. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Astrakhan and Phuket?
Childcare runs $113 in Astrakhan versus $698 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,028 in Astrakhan versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Astrakhan but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Astrakhan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Astrakhan and Phuket?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Astrakhan or Phuket safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Astrakhan and Phuket are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Astrakhan or Phuket?
Expats usually find Astrakhan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.