ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,304 in Kretinga versus $1,270 in Phuket.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $2,036 in Kretinga versus $2,304 in Phuket.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,768 in Kretinga versus $3,339 in Phuket.
ðLiving in Kretinga is roughly 3% more expensive than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðBoth cities sit below the global median: Kretinga3% lower, Phuket5% lower.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Kretinga
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.49âŽ9.80
$4.66āļŋ150
146.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.1âŽ59.8
$46.44āļŋ1,496
50.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.09âŽ6.05
$8.68āļŋ280
-18.32%
Cappuccino
$3.02âŽ2.58
$2.95āļŋ95.0
2.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14âŽ1.83
$0.70āļŋ22.52
205.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92âŽ1.63
$0.39āļŋ12.70
392.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.13âŽ4.38
$2.53āļŋ81.6
102.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.06âŽ4.32
$3.78āļŋ122
33.86%
ð Groceries & Markets
Kretinga
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38âŽ1.18
$2.22āļŋ71.5
-37.84%
White Bread(500g)
$1.57âŽ1.34
$1.80āļŋ57.8
-12.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.05âŽ1.75
$2.19āļŋ70.4
-6.39%
Eggs
$2.88âŽ2.46
$2.31āļŋ74.5
24.68%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.66âŽ9.09
$19.34āļŋ623
-44.88%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.33âŽ4.55
$3.77āļŋ121
41.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.99âŽ8.52
$13.22āļŋ426
-24.43%
Apples(1kg)
$1.40âŽ1.20
$3.33āļŋ107
-57.96%
Banana(1kg)
$1.67âŽ1.42
$1.65āļŋ53.1
1.21%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.78âŽ1.52
$2.29āļŋ73.7
-22.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.17âŽ2.71
$1.99āļŋ64.1
59.30%
Potato(1kg)
$0.76âŽ0.65
$1.53āļŋ49.24
-50.33%
Onion(1kg)
$0.99âŽ0.84
$1.51āļŋ48.77
-34.44%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.53âŽ1.31
$1.03āļŋ33.12
48.54%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87âŽ0.74
$0.51āļŋ16.57
70.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.59âŽ4.77
$4.41āļŋ142
26.76%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.03âŽ7.70
$19.41āļŋ625
-53.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72âŽ1.47
$1.80āļŋ58.0
-4.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81âŽ1.55
$2.68āļŋ86.4
-32.46%
ð Getting Around
Kretinga
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.14âŽ0.97
$1.43āļŋ46.11
-20.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$33.09âŽ28.23
$11.70āļŋ377
182.82%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.16âŽ2.70
$3.04āļŋ97.9
3.95%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.11âŽ0.95
$1.04āļŋ33.37
6.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.89âŽ11.85
$13.68āļŋ441
1.54%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.62âŽ1.38
$1.30āļŋ41.85
24.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1KâŽ30.0K
$27.9Kāļŋ898.9K
25.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.4KâŽ25.1K
$33.0Kāļŋ1.1M
-11.00%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kretinga
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$209âŽ179
$123āļŋ3,962
70.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.91âŽ11.86
$13.82āļŋ445
0.65%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.44âŽ12.32
$18.86āļŋ608
-23.44%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Kretinga
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.75âŽ35.61
$61.2āļŋ1,970
-31.73%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.86âŽ19.50
$16.81āļŋ541
35.99%
Cinema Ticket
$9.27âŽ7.91
$8.87āļŋ286
4.51%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Kretinga
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$457âŽ390
$696āļŋ22.4K
-34.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,428âŽ8,042
$16.1Kāļŋ517.4K
-41.28%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Kretinga
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.1âŽ74.3
$59.3āļŋ1,910
46.98%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.83âŽ36.53
$34.85āļŋ1,123
22.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.6âŽ72.1
$113āļŋ3,646
-25.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133âŽ114
$85.1āļŋ2,740
56.48%
ð Accommodation & Living
Kretinga
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$523âŽ446
$615āļŋ19.8K
-14.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$358âŽ306
$448āļŋ14.4K
-20.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$847âŽ722
$2,085āļŋ67.2K
-59.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$647âŽ552
$1,496āļŋ48.2K
-56.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,664âŽ2,273
$3,734āļŋ120.3K
-28.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,624âŽ1,386
$2,662āļŋ85.8K
-38.97%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Kretinga
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,177âŽ1,004
$534āļŋ17.2K
120.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.13
5.33
-22.51%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kretinga: April 21, 2026
Last update for Phuket: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $523 in Kretinga and $615 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ð°Kretinga pays 121% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
ðDining out: $70 in Kretinga vs $46 in Phuket. Groceries flip the comparison at $229 vs $291, with Kretinga 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
Kretinga vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Kretinga?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 3% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Kretinga or Phuket?
Kretinga pays 121% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Kretinga and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $523 in Kretinga versus $615 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Phuket runs roughly 183% less than in Kretinga. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $457 in Kretinga versus $696 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Kretinga or Phuket?
At $1,270 in Phuket versus $1,304 in Kretinga, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Kretinga. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Kretinga or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Kretinga, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Kretinga or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Kretinga 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet â expenses run 3% less than in Kretinga. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.