Cost of Living Comparison Between Ishim and PhuketCost of Living Comparison Between Ishim and Phuket
Monthly Cost of Living
πA single person spends $1,066 per month in Ishim vs $1,265 in Phuket, rent included.
πA couple spends around $1,620 per month in Ishim vs $2,297 in Phuket, rent included.
πA family of three spends $2,175 per month in Ishim vs $3,329 in Phuket, rent included.
πIshim is about 16% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πBoth Ishim and Phuket are more affordable than the global median β Ishim20% lower, Phuket6% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Ishim
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.96β½727
$4.70ΰΈΏ153
111.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.56β½2,595
$45.37ΰΈΏ1,482
-21.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.73β½638
$8.43ΰΈΏ275
3.56%
Cappuccino
$2.66β½194
$2.93ΰΈΏ95.6
-9.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99β½72.4
$0.69ΰΈΏ22.40
43.48%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58β½42.50
$0.37ΰΈΏ11.99
56.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.10β½80.1
$2.41ΰΈΏ78.6
-54.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86β½136
$3.72ΰΈΏ122
-50.00%
π Groceries & Markets
Ishim
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10β½80.2
$2.23ΰΈΏ72.9
-50.67%
White Bread(500g)
$0.63β½45.65
$1.83ΰΈΏ59.8
-65.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.26β½91.9
$2.17ΰΈΏ70.8
-41.94%
Eggs
$1.67β½122
$2.21ΰΈΏ72.3
-24.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.64β½777
$19.74ΰΈΏ645
-46.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.16β½304
$3.63ΰΈΏ119
14.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.22β½892
$13.53ΰΈΏ442
-9.68%
Apples(1kg)
$1.63β½119
$3.28ΰΈΏ107
-50.30%
Banana(1kg)
$1.82β½133
$1.61ΰΈΏ52.6
13.04%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.71β½125
$2.41ΰΈΏ78.6
-29.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.29β½167
$2.08ΰΈΏ68.1
10.10%
Potato(1kg)
$0.95β½69.6
$1.53ΰΈΏ49.93
-37.91%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67β½48.58
$1.48ΰΈΏ48.36
-54.73%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06β½77.7
$0.99ΰΈΏ32.29
7.07%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74β½54.0
$0.51ΰΈΏ16.67
45.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92β½213
$4.41ΰΈΏ144
-33.79%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.82β½571
$19.38ΰΈΏ633
-59.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.02β½74.5
$1.78ΰΈΏ58.1
-42.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.24β½90.8
$2.71ΰΈΏ88.6
-54.24%
π Getting Around
Ishim
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.53β½39.01
$1.37ΰΈΏ44.79
-61.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$11.39ΰΈΏ372
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.92β½213
$3.02ΰΈΏ98.6
-3.31%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.22β½16.05
$0.99ΰΈΏ32.48
-77.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.18β½451
$14.10ΰΈΏ461
-56.17%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.76β½55.5
$1.36ΰΈΏ44.51
-44.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.4Kβ½1.9M
$28.2KΰΈΏ921.1K
-9.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2Kβ½1.7M
$32.9KΰΈΏ1.1M
-29.52%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ishim
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$157β½11.4K
$122ΰΈΏ3,975
28.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.02β½367
$13.57ΰΈΏ443
-63.01%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.38β½758
$18.31ΰΈΏ598
-43.31%
π Sport & Entertainment
Ishim
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.17β½2,567
$60.2ΰΈΏ1,967
-41.60%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.14ΰΈΏ560
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.46β½325
$8.69ΰΈΏ284
-48.68%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Ishim
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$177β½12.9K
$693ΰΈΏ22.6K
-74.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,362β½610.4K
$15.7KΰΈΏ512.3K
-46.69%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Ishim
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$97.2β½7,095
$59.5ΰΈΏ1,944
63.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.48β½3,319
$34.77ΰΈΏ1,136
30.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$151β½11.0K
$115ΰΈΏ3,743
31.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$162β½11.8K
$83.3ΰΈΏ2,720
94.26%
π Accommodation & Living
Ishim
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$447β½32.6K
$613ΰΈΏ20.0K
-27.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$309β½22.6K
$437ΰΈΏ14.3K
-29.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$751β½54.8K
$2,094ΰΈΏ68.4K
-64.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$513β½37.4K
$1,509ΰΈΏ49.3K
-66.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,461β½179.7K
$3,749ΰΈΏ122.5K
-34.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,796β½131.1K
$2,616ΰΈΏ85.4K
-31.33%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Ishim
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$508ΰΈΏ16.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
22.38
5.33
319.89%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ishim: June 1, 2026
Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A central one-bedroom costs $447 in Ishim 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.
πA mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Ishim versus $45.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $196 vs $293 β making Ishim the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Ishim vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Ishim?
Yes β Phuket is pricier by about 19%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,598 per month in Ishim and $1,898 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled β not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ishim, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Groceries cost about 49% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Ishim or Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ishim, where all-in costs run around $1,066, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Ishim it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Ishim or Phuket more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Ishim β lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Ishim or 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 β central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Ishim. 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.