😐A single person spends $1,405 per month in Bialystok vs $1,265 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,014 per month in Bialystok vs $2,297 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,622 per month in Bialystok vs $3,329 in Phuket, rent included.
😐Bialystok costs about 11% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Bialystok sits 5% above the global median, while Phuket is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bialystok
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.65zł 35.19
$4.70฿153
105.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.53zł 177
$45.37฿1,482
6.96%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.01zł 29.21
$8.43฿275
-4.98%
Cappuccino
$3.11zł 11.33
$2.93฿95.6
6.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92zł 7.01
$0.69฿22.40
178.26%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63zł 5.93
$0.37฿11.99
340.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.35zł 12.23
$2.41฿78.6
39.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01zł 10.95
$3.72฿122
-19.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bialystok
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.03zł 3.76
$2.23฿72.9
-53.81%
White Bread(500g)
$1.18zł 4.31
$1.83฿59.8
-35.52%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.17zł 4.25
$2.17฿70.8
-46.08%
Eggs
$3.04zł 11.07
$2.21฿72.3
37.56%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.45zł 30.78
$19.74฿645
-57.19%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.00zł 21.86
$3.63฿119
65.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.64zł 38.80
$13.53฿442
-21.36%
Apples(1kg)
$0.90zł 3.27
$3.28฿107
-72.56%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72zł 6.29
$1.61฿52.6
6.83%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.73zł 6.31
$2.41฿78.6
-28.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.12zł 7.72
$2.08฿68.1
1.92%
Potato(1kg)
$0.92zł 3.36
$1.53฿49.93
-39.87%
Onion(1kg)
$1.02zł 3.72
$1.48฿48.36
-31.08%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.20zł 4.37
$0.99฿32.29
21.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60zł 2.18
$0.51฿16.67
17.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.30zł 19.33
$4.41฿144
20.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.64zł 24.22
$19.38฿633
-65.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.24zł 4.53
$1.78฿58.1
-30.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61zł 5.88
$2.71฿88.6
-40.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Bialystok
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.06zł 3.86
$1.37฿44.79
-22.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$35.70zł 130
$11.39฿372
213.43%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.14zł 7.79
$3.02฿98.6
-29.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.49zł 1.78
$0.99฿32.48
-50.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$12.39zł 45.17
$14.10฿461
-12.13%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.67zł 6.09
$1.36฿44.51
22.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.2Kzł 124.6K
$28.2K฿921.1K
21.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.6Kzł 108.0K
$32.9K฿1.1M
-9.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bialystok
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$308zł 1,122
$122฿3,975
152.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.13zł 29.62
$13.57฿443
-40.09%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.79zł 61.2
$18.31฿598
-8.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bialystok
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.15zł 135
$60.2฿1,967
-38.31%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.18zł 69.9
$17.14฿560
11.90%
Cinema Ticket
$6.92zł 25.24
$8.69฿284
-20.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bialystok
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$339zł 1,234
$693฿22.6K
-51.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,355zł 34.1K
$15.7K฿512.3K
-40.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bialystok
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.0zł 335
$59.5฿1,944
54.59%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.51zł 111
$34.77฿1,136
-12.25%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.5zł 271
$115฿3,743
-35.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.4zł 344
$83.3฿2,720
13.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bialystok
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$533zł 1,942
$613฿20.0K
-13.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$485zł 1,768
$437฿14.3K
10.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$855zł 3,117
$2,094฿68.4K
-59.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$724zł 2,638
$1,509฿49.3K
-52.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,809zł 10.2K
$3,749฿122.5K
-25.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,480zł 9,042
$2,616฿85.4K
-5.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bialystok
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,569zł 5,720
$508฿16.6K
208.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.47
5.33
21.39%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bialystok: May 31, 2026
Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $533 in Bialystok versus $613 in Phuket. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 209% higher in Bialystok, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $49.00 in Bialystok versus $45.00 in Phuket. Groceries tell a different story – $198 in Bialystok vs $293 in Phuket – so Bialystok wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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
Bialystok vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bialystok or Phuket?
Bialystok costs about 11% more than Phuket, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 Bialystok vs Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,107 per month in Bialystok and $1,898 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Bialystok or Phuket?
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 do childcare costs compare in Bialystok and Phuket?
Kindergarten costs $339 per month in Bialystok and $693 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Bialystok or Phuket?
Interestingly, groceries are about 48% cheaper in Bialystok – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Bialystok or Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,265, than in Bialystok at $1,405. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bialystok it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Bialystok or Phuket?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,265 versus $1,405 in Bialystok. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Bialystok compared to Phuket?
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.
Should I move to Bialystok or Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bialystok makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.