😐A single person spends $1,416 per month in Bialystok vs $1,250 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,997 per month in Bialystok vs $2,284 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,579 per month in Bialystok vs $3,317 in Phuket, rent included.
😐Bialystok costs about 13% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Bialystok sits 6% 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
$9.52zł 36.12
$4.55฿153
109.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.43zł 184
$46.18฿1,553
4.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.80zł 29.60
$8.84฿297
-11.76%
Cappuccino
$3.16zł 11.99
$3.06฿103
3.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82zł 6.92
$0.73฿24.40
149.32%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65zł 6.25
$0.40฿13.39
312.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.22zł 12.20
$2.43฿81.8
32.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07zł 11.64
$3.78฿127
-18.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bialystok
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08zł 4.10
$2.26฿76.0
-52.21%
White Bread(500g)
$1.23zł 4.66
$1.81฿60.9
-32.04%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.18zł 4.48
$2.25฿75.8
-47.56%
Eggs
$3.13zł 11.87
$2.25฿75.5
39.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.36zł 31.72
$19.51฿656
-57.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88zł 22.33
$3.65฿123
61.10%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.97zł 41.61
$13.05฿439
-15.94%
Apples(1kg)
$0.95zł 3.59
$3.23฿109
-70.59%
Banana(1kg)
$1.79zł 6.80
$1.62฿54.4
10.49%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.72zł 6.54
$2.38฿80.1
-27.73%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.12zł 8.04
$2.03฿68.1
4.43%
Potato(1kg)
$0.94zł 3.56
$1.53฿51.6
-38.56%
Onion(1kg)
$1.02zł 3.86
$1.50฿50.5
-32.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19zł 4.50
$0.98฿32.91
21.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58zł 2.21
$0.52฿17.39
11.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.13zł 19.46
$4.44฿149
15.54%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.46zł 24.52
$18.32฿616
-64.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.25zł 4.74
$1.86฿62.7
-32.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65zł 6.25
$2.68฿90.1
-38.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Bialystok
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.06zł 4.04
$1.41฿47.46
-24.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$35.93zł 136
$11.70฿393
207.09%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.12zł 8.06
$3.11฿105
-31.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.49zł 1.84
$1.04฿35.06
-52.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$12.38zł 46.96
$14.11฿474
-12.26%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.69zł 6.41
$1.31฿44.10
29.01%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.0Kzł 125.3K
$27.8K฿935.4K
18.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.2Kzł 110.6K
$33.2K฿1.1M
-12.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bialystok
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$311zł 1,180
$122฿4,118
154.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.50zł 32.26
$13.59฿457
-37.45%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.77zł 63.6
$18.70฿629
-10.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bialystok
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.43zł 142
$60.5฿2,034
-38.12%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.05zł 72.3
$16.98฿571
12.19%
Cinema Ticket
$6.86zł 26.01
$9.07฿305
-24.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bialystok
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$341zł 1,294
$706฿23.8K
-51.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,315zł 35.3K
$15.8K฿531.5K
-41.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bialystok
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.3zł 346
$58.6฿1,969
55.92%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.35zł 119
$35.36฿1,189
-11.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.9zł 292
$115฿3,883
-33.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.3zł 365
$83.7฿2,816
14.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bialystok
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$546zł 2,073
$626฿21.0K
-12.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$490zł 1,860
$445฿15.0K
10.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$847zł 3,214
$2,040฿68.6K
-58.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$734zł 2,784
$1,492฿50.2K
-50.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,794zł 10.6K
$3,483฿117.1K
-19.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,370zł 8,993
$2,577฿86.7K
-8.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bialystok
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,525zł 5,785
$500฿16.8K
205.02%
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: July 11, 2026
Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $546 in Bialystok versus $626 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 205% 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 $48.00 in Bialystok versus $46.00 in Phuket. Groceries tell a different story – $200 in Bialystok vs $289 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 13% 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 and in Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,124 per month in Bialystok and $1,875 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 in Phuket?
Kindergarten costs $341 per month in Bialystok and $706 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 in Phuket?
Interestingly, groceries are about 45% 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 in Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,250, than in Bialystok at $1,416. 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 $1,250 versus $1,416 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 to 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.