🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,156 in Kastamonu versus $1,261 in Phuket.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,788 in Kastamonu versus $2,286 in Phuket.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,420 in Kastamonu versus $3,310 in Phuket.
🙂Living in Kastamonu costs roughly 8% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Kastamonu14% lower, Phuket6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kastamonu
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.71₺448
$4.56฿150
112.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.51₺1,776
$46.63฿1,533
-17.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.04₺417
$8.47฿278
6.73%
Cappuccino
$3.13₺144
$3.03฿99.5
3.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.21₺55.9
$0.69฿22.65
75.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41₺18.95
$0.37฿12.03
10.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.29₺152
$2.49฿81.8
32.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.84₺177
$3.66฿120
4.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kastamonu
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.97₺44.70
$2.18฿71.7
-55.50%
White Bread(500g)
$0.65₺29.91
$1.90฿62.5
-65.79%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.38₺110
$2.20฿72.3
8.18%
Eggs
$2.37₺109
$2.22฿73.1
6.76%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.30₺429
$19.99฿657
-53.48%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.77₺266
$3.66฿120
57.65%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.07₺879
$13.25฿436
43.92%
Apples(1kg)
$1.45₺66.7
$3.23฿106
-55.11%
Banana(1kg)
$2.38₺110
$1.70฿55.8
40.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.32₺60.9
$2.39฿78.7
-44.77%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.53₺70.7
$2.08฿68.3
-26.44%
Potato(1kg)
$0.73₺33.76
$1.59฿52.3
-54.09%
Onion(1kg)
$0.57₺26.51
$1.48฿48.76
-61.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.11₺51.3
$1.03฿33.85
7.77%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43₺19.75
$0.52฿16.99
-17.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.18₺100
$4.25฿140
-48.71%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.97₺459
$18.79฿618
-46.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.02₺93.1
$1.76฿57.8
14.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.13₺144
$2.76฿90.6
13.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Kastamonu
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.68₺31.15
$1.36฿44.73
-50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$30.60₺1,411
$11.36฿374
169.37%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.85₺39.03
$3.14฿103
-72.93%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.65₺29.74
$1.04฿34.05
-37.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.16₺284
$13.77฿452
-55.27%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.19₺54.7
$1.34฿44.20
-11.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$42.5K₺2.0M
$27.7K฿909.7K
53.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$43.2K₺2.0M
$33.9K฿1.1M
27.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kastamonu
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.1₺3,880
$124฿4,062
-31.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.72₺494
$13.52฿444
-20.71%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.77₺635
$18.69฿614
-26.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kastamonu
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.86₺2,022
$61.8฿2,032
-29.05%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.25฿567
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.47₺298
$9.14฿300
-29.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kastamonu
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$599₺27.6K
$703฿23.1K
-14.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.5K₺623.3K
$15.9K฿521.7K
-14.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kastamonu
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6₺2,700
$59.5฿1,955
-1.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.75₺2,017
$35.07฿1,153
24.75%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105₺4,819
$115฿3,789
-9.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.5₺4,449
$84.1฿2,763
14.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kastamonu
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$508₺23.4K
$619฿20.3K
-17.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$389₺18.0K
$433฿14.2K
-10.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$892₺41.1K
$2,062฿67.8K
-56.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$704₺32.4K
$1,511฿49.7K
-53.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,317₺60.7K
$3,646฿119.8K
-63.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$910₺42.0K
$2,626฿86.3K
-65.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kastamonu
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,362₺62.8K
$507฿16.7K
168.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
40
5.33
650.47%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kastamonu: June 9, 2026
Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $508 in Kastamonu and $619 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kastamonu pays 169% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $39.00 in Kastamonu vs $47.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $233 vs $293 per month, with Kastamonu cheaper across the board.
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
Kastamonu vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Kastamonu and Phuket?
Kastamonu and Phuket differ by about 9% in total monthly costs ($1,156 vs $1,261 including rent). Kastamonu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Kastamonu or Phuket?
Kastamonu pays 169% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Kastamonu and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $508 in Kastamonu versus $619 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Kastamonu or Phuket?
All in, you'll spend $1,156 per month in Kastamonu versus $1,261 in Phuket – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Kastamonu and Phuket?
A monthly transit pass in Kastamonu runs roughly 169% less than in Phuket. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,156 in Kastamonu versus $1,261 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kastamonu but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Kastamonu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Kastamonu and Phuket?
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.
Is Kastamonu or Phuket safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Kastamonu 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.
Where should expats move: Kastamonu or Phuket?
Expats usually find Kastamonu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.