Cost of Living Comparison Between Ishim and PhuketCost of Living Comparison Between Ishim and Phuket
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂A single person spends $995 per month in Ishim vs $1,232 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,517 per month in Ishim vs $2,054 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,040 per month in Ishim vs $2,876 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂Ishim is about 19% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Ishim and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Ishim27% lower, Phuket10% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ishim
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.05₽929
$4.41฿147
150.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.68₽3,002
$32.26฿1,074
10.60%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.11₽514
$8.93฿297
-31.58%
Cappuccino
$2.60₽219
$2.90฿96.4
-10.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72₽145
$0.88฿29.30
95.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59₽49.78
$0.48฿16.01
22.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.71₽144
$2.35฿78.3
-27.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44₽290
$3.72฿124
-7.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ishim
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.04₽87.9
$1.87฿62.1
-44.39%
White Bread(500g)
$0.77₽65.0
$1.47฿48.81
-47.62%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.14₽95.9
$1.55฿51.7
-26.45%
Eggs
$1.29₽109
$2.10฿70.0
-38.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.06₽762
$19.59฿652
-53.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.26₽359
$3.42฿114
24.56%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.51₽716
$11.38฿379
-25.22%
Apples(1kg)
$1.70₽143
$2.98฿99.3
-42.95%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71₽144
$1.68฿56.1
1.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.79₽151
$2.21฿73.5
-19.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.79₽151
$2.16฿72.0
-17.13%
Potato(1kg)
$0.39₽32.98
$1.52฿50.8
-74.34%
Onion(1kg)
$0.27₽22.50
$1.34฿44.55
-79.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.25₽105
$1.13฿37.57
10.62%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85₽71.2
$0.55฿18.19
54.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.71₽228
$4.26฿142
-36.38%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.43₽625
$19.09฿635
-61.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.02₽86.1
$1.78฿59.2
-42.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94₽163
$2.78฿92.6
-30.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Ishim
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.49₽40.99
$2.23฿74.2
-78.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$22.74฿757
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.24₽188
$3.03฿101
-26.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31₽25.88
$1.02฿34.06
-69.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.38₽453
$3.89฿130
38.30%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.76₽64.3
$1.49฿49.63
-48.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.5K₽2.6M
$26.6K฿884.9K
18.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.0K₽2.7M
$27.0K฿899.8K
18.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ishim
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$117₽9,806
$102฿3,411
13.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.97₽502
$11.33฿377
-47.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.09₽680
$17.40฿579
-53.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ishim
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.22₽2,879
$52.1฿1,734
-34.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.37₽1,966
$11.07฿369
111.11%
Cinema Ticket
$6.87₽578
$7.69฿256
-10.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ishim
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$304₽25.5K
$561฿18.7K
-45.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,171₽519.2K
$11.5K฿383.0K
-46.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ishim
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.7₽5,777
$63.0฿2,098
8.93%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.54₽3,831
$29.52฿983
54.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$114₽9,597
$98.0฿3,263
16.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.8₽8,145
$88.5฿2,946
9.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ishim
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$462₽38.8K
$738฿24.6K
-37.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$312₽26.2K
$482฿16.1K
-35.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$786₽66.1K
$2,107฿70.1K
-62.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$525₽44.2K
$1,226฿40.8K
-57.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,246₽189.0K
$3,617฿120.4K
-37.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,465₽123.2K
$2,603฿86.7K
-43.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ishim
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$494฿16.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
25.7
5.57
361.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ishim: September 12, 2026
Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $462 in Ishim versus $738 in Phuket. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Ishim versus $32.00 in Phuket. Groceries tell a different story – $178 in Ishim vs $274 in Phuket – so Ishim wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 – Phuket is pricier by about 24%, 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 $1,492 per month in Ishim and $1,847 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – 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.
Is eating out cheaper in Ishim or in Phuket?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Ishim and $32.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Ishim and in Phuket?
Groceries cost about 54% 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 living in Ishim or in Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ishim, where all-in costs run around $995, than in Phuket at $1,232. 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 – 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 – 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.