🙂A single person spends $915 per month in Kostroma vs $1,253 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,420 per month in Kostroma vs $2,043 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,925 per month in Kostroma vs $2,833 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂Kostroma is about 27% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Kostroma and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Kostroma33% lower, Phuket9% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kostroma
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.27₽1,483
$4.56฿150
278.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.7₽4,438
$32.62฿1,072
58.52%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.13₽612
$8.90฿293
-19.89%
Cappuccino
$2.86₽245
$2.80฿92.2
2.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46₽125
$0.88฿28.93
65.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66₽56.7
$0.49฿16.08
34.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72₽148
$2.39฿78.5
-28.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45₽210
$3.71฿122
-33.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kostroma
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.15₽99.1
$1.79฿58.7
-35.75%
White Bread(500g)
$0.55₽47.51
$1.44฿47.38
-61.81%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.32₽113
$1.58฿52.1
-16.46%
Eggs
$1.21₽104
$2.13฿69.9
-43.19%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.17₽357
$19.92฿655
-79.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.47₽298
$3.43฿113
1.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.78₽325
$11.33฿372
-66.64%
Apples(1kg)
$0.83₽70.9
$2.95฿96.9
-71.86%
Banana(1kg)
$1.52₽130
$1.72฿56.6
-11.63%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.93₽80.0
$2.32฿76.4
-59.91%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.34₽115
$2.08฿68.4
-35.58%
Potato(1kg)
$0.74₽63.2
$1.47฿48.33
-49.66%
Onion(1kg)
$0.42₽36.27
$1.36฿44.64
-69.12%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02₽87.5
$1.10฿36.12
-7.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.65₽55.4
$0.57฿18.89
14.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.05₽262
$4.27฿140
-28.57%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.06₽434
$18.42฿605
-72.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.12₽95.9
$1.87฿61.5
-40.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96₽168
$2.92฿96.0
-32.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Kostroma
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.37₽31.54
$2.22฿72.9
-83.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.39₽1,750
$22.90฿753
-10.96%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.37₽118
$3.03฿99.6
-54.79%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.14₽12.37
$1.07฿35.31
-86.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.01₽602
$3.93฿129
78.37%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.76₽65.5
$1.49฿49.04
-48.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.5K₽2.0M
$27.1K฿891.7K
-13.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K₽2.3M
$27.5K฿902.3K
-3.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kostroma
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125₽10.7K
$103฿3,379
21.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.36₽546
$10.99฿361
-42.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.64₽655
$17.51฿576
-56.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kostroma
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$28.93₽2,483
$53.5฿1,760
-45.96%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.43₽1,496
$11.20฿368
55.63%
Cinema Ticket
$6.96₽598
$7.48฿246
-6.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kostroma
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$300₽25.8K
$557฿18.3K
-46.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,591₽565.6K
$11.9K฿389.6K
-44.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kostroma
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.6₽5,460
$64.1฿2,106
-0.70%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.6₽4,516
$29.07฿956
81.01%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$106₽9,138
$96.0฿3,154
10.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102₽8,756
$90.3฿2,970
12.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kostroma
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$369₽31.6K
$730฿24.0K
-49.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$211₽18.1K
$500฿16.4K
-57.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$579₽49.7K
$2,090฿68.7K
-72.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$345₽29.6K
$1,209฿39.7K
-71.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,755₽150.7K
$3,596฿118.2K
-51.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$856₽73.5K
$2,512฿82.6K
-65.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kostroma
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$902₽77.4K
$503฿16.5K
79.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
20
5.57
259.07%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kostroma: August 31, 2026
Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $369 in Kostroma versus $730 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 79% higher in Kostroma, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $52.0 in Kostroma versus $33.00 in Phuket. Groceries tell a different story – $127 in Kostroma vs $273 in Phuket – so Kostroma 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
Kostroma vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kostroma or Phuket?
Phuket costs about 37% more than Kostroma, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Kostroma and in Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,373 per month in Kostroma and $1,880 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Kostroma or Phuket?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kostroma, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Kostroma or in Phuket?
Groceries cost about 116% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Kostroma and in Phuket?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $52.0 in Kostroma and $33.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Kostroma or in Phuket?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kostroma, where all-in costs run around $915, than in Phuket at $1,253. In Kostroma it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Kostroma or Phuket?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kostroma costs $915 versus $1,253 in Phuket. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Kostroma compared to 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.
Should I move to Kostroma or to Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Kostroma. 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.