Cost of Living Comparison Between Cricova and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Cricova and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $23.22 in Cricova versus $1,232 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $29.00 in Cricova versus $2,255 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $34.47 in Cricova versus $3,279 in Phuket.

Living in Cricova costs roughly 98% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cricova 98% lower, Phuket 8% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.63 ฿151

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.84 ฿1,523

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.84 ฿287

Cappuccino

$3.00 ฿97.4

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 ฿24.11

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.88

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 ฿79.3

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 ฿117

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ฿73.5

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 ฿59.8

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.24 ฿73.0

Eggs

$2.32 ฿75.3

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.67 ฿639

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.65 ฿119

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.10 ฿426

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 ฿110

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.4

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.5

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 ฿66.0

Potato (1kg)

$1.56 ฿50.6

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 ฿48.66

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 ฿33.30

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿15.91

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.45 ฿145

Wine (Bottle)

$11.44 MDL 198

$18.88 ฿614

-39.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿57.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.75 ฿89.5

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.40 ฿45.54

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.48 ฿373

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.12 ฿101

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.00 ฿32.48

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.09 ฿458

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 ฿43.93

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$27.2K ฿883.7K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.9K ฿1.1M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$125 ฿4,063

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.57 ฿441

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.52 ฿602

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.5 ฿1,999

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.84 ฿547

Cinema Ticket

$9.19 ฿299

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$698 ฿22.7K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.6K ฿506.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.8 ฿1,878

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.24 ฿1,146

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 ฿3,677

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.4 ฿2,808

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$616 ฿20.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$446 ฿14.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,048 ฿66.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,492 ฿48.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,836 MDL 49.1K

$3,779 ฿122.8K

-24.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,033 MDL 35.2K

$2,649 ฿86.1K

-23.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 MDL 10.0K

$524 ฿17.0K

10.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Cricova: April 26, 2026

Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Cricova pays 10% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

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

Cricova vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cricova and Phuket differ by about 5204% in total monthly costs ($23.22 vs $1,232 including rent). Cricova is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Cricova pays 10% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Supermarket bills run roughly 1177% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $23.22 per month in Cricova versus $1,232 in Phuket – a 5204% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $23.22 in Cricova versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Cricova but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Cricova the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Cricova 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.

Expats usually find Cricova gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5204% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.