🙂A single person spends $853 per month in Ekibastuz vs $1,243 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,393 per month in Ekibastuz vs $2,023 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,933 per month in Ekibastuz vs $2,803 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂Ekibastuz is about 31% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both Ekibastuz and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Ekibastuz37% lower, Phuket8% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ekibastuz
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.55₸4,810
$4.37฿147
141.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.22₸17.9K
$32.87฿1,107
19.32%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.19₸3,732
$8.39฿283
-2.38%
Cappuccino
$1.62₸738
$2.73฿92.1
-40.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12₸512
$0.88฿29.70
27.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62₸284
$0.47฿15.97
31.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.38₸628
$2.36฿79.3
-41.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31₸1,055
$3.71฿125
-37.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ekibastuz
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28₸585
$1.83฿61.7
-30.05%
White Bread(500g)
$0.67₸306
$1.45฿48.75
-53.79%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71₸778
$1.58฿53.1
8.23%
Eggs
$2.22₸1,014
$2.10฿70.7
5.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.58₸5,734
$19.37฿652
-35.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.06₸2,762
$3.42฿115
77.19%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.97₸5,002
$10.96฿369
0.09%
Apples(1kg)
$1.80₸819
$3.00฿101
-40.00%
Banana(1kg)
$2.52₸1,150
$1.64฿55.1
53.66%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.30₸1,047
$2.21฿74.3
4.07%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.43₸1,108
$2.12฿71.5
14.62%
Potato(1kg)
$0.73₸333
$1.47฿49.52
-50.34%
Onion(1kg)
$0.44₸199
$1.32฿44.53
-66.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.57₸714
$1.07฿36.06
46.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.93₸423
$0.52฿17.68
78.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.32₸1,059
$4.38฿148
-47.03%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.59₸5,283
$18.59฿626
-37.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37₸625
$1.75฿58.8
-21.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46₸1,120
$2.86฿96.2
-13.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Ekibastuz
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.26₸119
$2.26฿76.3
-88.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$22.98฿774
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.16₸527
$2.94฿99.1
-60.54%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.17₸535
$1.07฿35.96
9.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.78₸3,093
$3.84฿129
76.56%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.62₸282
$1.46฿49.14
-57.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.3K₸11.5M
$27.2K฿915.5K
-7.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.5K₸14.3M
$26.6K฿896.7K
18.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ekibastuz
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$67.1₸30.6K
$102฿3,433
-34.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.16₸4,633
$10.96฿369
-7.30%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.34₸8,361
$16.89฿569
8.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ekibastuz
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$52.4฿1,765
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$10.93฿368
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.21₸2,830
$7.52฿253
-17.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ekibastuz
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$381₸173.8K
$547฿18.4K
-30.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.9K₸5.4M
$11.3K฿380.9K
4.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ekibastuz
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.0₸31.0K
$63.2฿2,129
7.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.23₸22.0K
$29.23฿984
65.00%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$124₸56.6K
$97.8฿3,294
26.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$131₸59.5K
$86.7฿2,919
50.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ekibastuz
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$249₸113.7K
$721฿24.3K
-65.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$186₸84.8K
$476฿16.0K
-60.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$457₸208.4K
$2,081฿70.1K
-78.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$348₸158.9K
$1,194฿40.2K
-70.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,577฿120.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,541฿85.6K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ekibastuz
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$341₸155.3K
$489฿16.5K
-30.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
15.5
5.57
178.28%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ekibastuz: September 26, 2026
Last update for Phuket: September 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $249 in Ekibastuz versus $721 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 43% higher in Phuket, 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 $39.00 in Ekibastuz versus $33.00 in Phuket. Groceries tell a different story – $237 in Ekibastuz vs $269 in Phuket – so Ekibastuz 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
Ekibastuz vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Ekibastuz and in Phuket compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $853 in Ekibastuz, $1,243 in Phuket – roughly 46% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Ekibastuz compared to Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,279 per month in Ekibastuz and $1,865 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Ekibastuz and Phuket?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ekibastuz, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Ekibastuz or Phuket?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $853 in Ekibastuz and $1,243 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Ekibastuz and Phuket?
Kindergarten costs $381 per month in Ekibastuz and $547 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Ekibastuz, where all-in costs run around $853, than in Phuket at $1,243. In Ekibastuz it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Ekibastuz and Phuket?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $853 in Ekibastuz to $1,243 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Ekibastuz or Phuket safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Ekibastuz and Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Ekibastuz. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.