Cost of Living Comparison Between Krakow and PhuketCost of Living Comparison Between Krakow and Phuket
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,773 in Krakow versus $1,250 in Phuket.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,539 in Krakow versus $2,284 in Phuket.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,305 in Krakow versus $3,317 in Phuket.
🌍Living in Krakow is roughly 42% more expensive than in Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Krakow is 33% above, Phuket is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Krakow
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.91zł 41.39
$4.55฿153
139.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.7zł 204
$46.18฿1,553
16.28%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.55zł 36.22
$8.84฿297
8.03%
Cappuccino
$3.98zł 15.09
$3.06฿103
30.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21zł 8.40
$0.73฿24.40
202.74%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26zł 8.59
$0.40฿13.39
465.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.16zł 15.79
$2.43฿81.8
71.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.04zł 15.34
$3.78฿127
6.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Krakow
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.16zł 4.39
$2.26฿76.0
-48.67%
White Bread(500g)
$1.45zł 5.51
$1.81฿60.9
-19.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.46zł 5.54
$2.25฿75.8
-35.11%
Eggs
$3.61zł 13.68
$2.25฿75.5
60.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.98zł 34.07
$19.51฿656
-53.97%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.51zł 24.68
$3.65฿123
78.36%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.52zł 43.69
$13.05฿439
-11.72%
Apples(1kg)
$1.25zł 4.75
$3.23฿109
-61.30%
Banana(1kg)
$1.74zł 6.61
$1.62฿54.4
7.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.80zł 6.83
$2.38฿80.1
-24.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.03zł 11.50
$2.03฿68.1
49.26%
Potato(1kg)
$1.02zł 3.86
$1.53฿51.6
-33.33%
Onion(1kg)
$1.06zł 4.01
$1.50฿50.5
-29.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.30zł 4.94
$0.98฿32.91
32.65%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71zł 2.68
$0.52฿17.39
36.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.59zł 21.19
$4.44฿149
25.90%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.44zł 24.45
$18.32฿616
-64.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23zł 4.67
$1.86฿62.7
-33.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70zł 6.44
$2.68฿90.1
-36.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Krakow
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.11zł 4.23
$1.41฿47.46
-21.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$39.41zł 150
$11.70฿393
236.84%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.51zł 9.53
$3.11฿105
-19.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.99zł 3.74
$1.04฿35.06
-4.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.03zł 49.43
$14.11฿474
-7.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.69zł 6.42
$1.31฿44.10
29.01%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.1Kzł 125.7K
$27.8K฿935.4K
19.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5Kzł 123.2K
$33.2K฿1.1M
-2.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Krakow
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$278zł 1,056
$122฿4,118
127.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.20zł 34.89
$13.59฿457
-32.30%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.58zł 62.9
$18.70฿629
-11.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Krakow
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.22zł 145
$60.5฿2,034
-36.82%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.23zł 84.3
$16.98฿571
30.92%
Cinema Ticket
$8.05zł 30.54
$9.07฿305
-11.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Krakow
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$437zł 1,657
$706฿23.8K
-38.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.9Kzł 48.9K
$15.8K฿531.5K
-18.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Krakow
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.7zł 291
$58.6฿1,969
31.00%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.54zł 173
$35.36฿1,189
28.79%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101zł 384
$115฿3,883
-12.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113zł 428
$83.7฿2,816
34.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Krakow
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$904zł 3,430
$626฿21.0K
44.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$757zł 2,873
$445฿15.0K
70.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,601zł 6,073
$2,040฿68.6K
-21.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,154zł 4,379
$1,492฿50.2K
-22.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,725zł 21.7K
$3,483฿117.1K
64.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,721zł 14.1K
$2,577฿86.7K
44.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Krakow
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,883zł 7,146
$500฿16.8K
276.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.77
5.33
45.78%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Krakow: July 13, 2026
Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $904 in Krakow and $626 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Krakow pays 277% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $54.0 in Krakow vs $46.00 in Phuket. Groceries flip the comparison at $221 vs $289, with Krakow cheaper for home cooking.
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
Krakow vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Krakow or Phuket?
Phuket wins on cost – living expenses run 42% lower than in Krakow. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Phuket the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Krakow or in Phuket?
Average pay runs 277% higher in Krakow, 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 Krakow compared to Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $904 in Krakow versus $626 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Krakow or in Phuket?
Shoppers in Krakow pay roughly 31% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How do dining costs compare in Krakow and in Phuket?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket – a meal for two runs $46.00 versus $54.0 in Krakow. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Krakow or in Phuket?
At $1,250 in Phuket versus $1,773 in Krakow, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Krakow. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Krakow or Phuket?
Both work as nomad bases, but Phuket delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,250 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Phuket hard to pass up.
How safe is Krakow compared to Phuket?
Safety-wise, Krakow 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 Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 42% less than in Krakow. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.