πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,030 in Korolyov versus $1,265 in Phuket.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,441 in Korolyov versus $2,297 in Phuket.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,852 in Korolyov versus $3,329 in Phuket.
πLiving in Korolyov costs roughly 19% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Korolyov23% lower, Phuket6% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Korolyov
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.93β½652
$4.70ΰΈΏ153
90.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.26β½1,479
$45.37ΰΈΏ1,482
-55.34%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.31β½388
$8.43ΰΈΏ275
-37.01%
Cappuccino
$1.99β½145
$2.93ΰΈΏ95.6
-32.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91β½66.1
$0.69ΰΈΏ22.40
31.88%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36β½26.59
$0.37ΰΈΏ11.99
-2.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.12β½301
$2.41ΰΈΏ78.6
70.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86β½136
$3.72ΰΈΏ122
-50.00%
π Groceries & Markets
Korolyov
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.13β½82.7
$2.23ΰΈΏ72.9
-49.33%
White Bread(500g)
$0.45β½32.59
$1.83ΰΈΏ59.8
-75.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.30β½94.8
$2.17ΰΈΏ70.8
-40.09%
Eggs
$1.60β½117
$2.21ΰΈΏ72.3
-27.60%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.07β½881
$19.74ΰΈΏ645
-38.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.21β½380
$3.63ΰΈΏ119
43.53%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.83β½572
$13.53ΰΈΏ442
-42.13%
Apples(1kg)
$1.88β½137
$3.28ΰΈΏ107
-42.68%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62β½118
$1.61ΰΈΏ52.6
0.62%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.27β½166
$2.41ΰΈΏ78.6
-5.81%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.99β½291
$2.08ΰΈΏ68.1
91.83%
Potato(1kg)
$0.40β½29.14
$1.53ΰΈΏ49.93
-73.86%
Onion(1kg)
$0.81β½59.1
$1.48ΰΈΏ48.36
-45.27%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.63β½119
$0.99ΰΈΏ32.29
64.65%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56β½40.93
$0.51ΰΈΏ16.67
9.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.49β½181
$4.41ΰΈΏ144
-43.54%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.17β½815
$19.38ΰΈΏ633
-42.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.08β½79.1
$1.78ΰΈΏ58.1
-39.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48β½108
$2.71ΰΈΏ88.6
-45.39%
π Getting Around
Korolyov
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.74β½54.0
$1.37ΰΈΏ44.79
-45.99%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.25β½1,624
$11.39ΰΈΏ372
95.35%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.48β½181
$3.02ΰΈΏ98.6
-17.88%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.44β½32.46
$0.99ΰΈΏ32.48
-55.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.21β½600
$14.10ΰΈΏ461
-41.77%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.75β½54.7
$1.36ΰΈΏ44.51
-44.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.9Kβ½2.8M
$28.2KΰΈΏ921.1K
37.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.1Kβ½1.5M
$32.9KΰΈΏ1.1M
-38.92%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Korolyov
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$126β½9,227
$122ΰΈΏ3,975
3.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.63β½411
$13.57ΰΈΏ443
-58.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.10β½591
$18.31ΰΈΏ598
-55.76%
π Sport & Entertainment
Korolyov
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.27β½2,356
$60.2ΰΈΏ1,967
-46.41%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.22β½1,111
$17.14ΰΈΏ560
-11.20%
Cinema Ticket
$5.54β½404
$8.69ΰΈΏ284
-36.25%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Korolyov
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$712β½51.9K
$693ΰΈΏ22.6K
2.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.6Kβ½1.1M
$15.7KΰΈΏ512.3K
-6.70%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Korolyov
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.3β½4,183
$59.5ΰΈΏ1,944
-3.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.55β½1,865
$34.77ΰΈΏ1,136
-26.52%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$38.45β½2,806
$115ΰΈΏ3,743
-66.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$56.8β½4,147
$83.3ΰΈΏ2,720
-31.78%
π Accommodation & Living
Korolyov
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$466β½34.0K
$613ΰΈΏ20.0K
-23.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$368β½26.8K
$437ΰΈΏ14.3K
-15.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$702β½51.2K
$2,094ΰΈΏ68.4K
-66.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$487β½35.6K
$1,509ΰΈΏ49.3K
-67.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,766β½201.9K
$3,749ΰΈΏ122.5K
-26.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,540β½185.4K
$2,616ΰΈΏ85.4K
-2.91%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Korolyov
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,114β½81.3K
$508ΰΈΏ16.6K
119.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
15
5.33
181.43%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Korolyov: May 31, 2026
Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $466 in Korolyov and $613 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Korolyov pays 119% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
πDining out: $20.00 in Korolyov vs $45.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $208 vs $293 per month, with Korolyov cheaper across the board.
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
Korolyov vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Korolyov or Phuket?
Korolyov wins on cost β living expenses run 23% lower than in Phuket. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Korolyov the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Korolyov or Phuket?
Korolyov pays 119% 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 much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Korolyov vs Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $466 in Korolyov versus $613 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Korolyov vs Phuket?
A monthly transit pass in Korolyov runs roughly 95% less than in Phuket. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Korolyov and Phuket?
Childcare runs $712 in Korolyov versus $693 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Korolyov or Phuket?
At $1,030 in Korolyov versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Korolyov but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Korolyov the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Korolyov or Phuket?
Both work as nomad bases, but Korolyov delivers better value β similar infrastructure at $1,030 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Korolyov hard to pass up.
How safe is Korolyov compared to Phuket?
Safety-wise, Korolyov 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Korolyov gentler on the wallet β expenses run 23% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.