Cost of Living Comparison Between Kurgan and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Kurgan and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $565 per month in Kurgan vs $1,232 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $916 per month in Kurgan vs $2,054 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,267 per month in Kurgan vs $2,876 in Phuket, rent included.

Kurgan is about 54% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Kurgan and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Kurgan 59% lower, Phuket 10% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kurgan
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.13 ₽687
$4.41 ฿147
84.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.54 ₽2,411
$32.26 ฿1,077
-11.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.44 ₽460
$8.93 ฿298
-39.08%
Cappuccino
$2.70 ₽228
$2.90 ฿96.6
-6.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15 ₽97.5
$0.88 ฿29.38
30.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62 ₽52.1
$0.48 ฿16.06
29.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.66 ₽309
$2.35 ฿78.5
55.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63 ₽391
$3.72 ฿124
24.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kurgan
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.11 ₽93.6
$1.87 ฿62.3
-40.64%
White Bread (500g)
$0.83 ₽70.0
$1.47 ฿48.94
-43.54%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.05 ₽89.1
$1.55 ฿51.8
-32.26%
Eggs
$1.17 ₽98.6
$2.10 ฿70.1
-44.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.69 ₽819
$19.59 ฿654
-50.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.82 ₽407
$3.42 ฿114
40.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.60 ₽811
$11.38 ฿380
-15.64%
Apples (1kg)
$1.68 ₽142
$2.98 ฿99.6
-43.62%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 ₽140
$1.68 ฿56.2
-1.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.83 ₽154
$2.21 ฿73.7
-17.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.13 ₽180
$2.16 ฿72.1
-1.39%
Potato (1kg)
$0.62 ₽52.7
$1.52 ฿50.9
-59.21%
Onion (1kg)
$0.55 ₽46.80
$1.34 ฿44.67
-58.96%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.49 ₽126
$1.13 ฿37.67
31.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ₽46.10
$0.55 ฿18.24
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.66 ₽225
$4.26 ฿142
-37.56%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.02 ₽509
$19.09 ฿637
-68.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.81 ₽68.1
$1.78 ฿59.4
-54.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87 ₽158
$2.78 ฿92.9
-32.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Kurgan
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.47 ₽39.62
$2.23 ฿74.4
-78.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$22.74 ฿759
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.41 ₽204
$3.03 ฿101
-20.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.56 ₽47.54
$1.02 ฿34.15
-45.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.25 ₽612
$3.89 ฿130
86.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.76 ₽64.5
$1.49 ฿49.77
-48.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.1K ₽2.5M
$26.6K ฿887.3K
9.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.4K ₽2.5M
$27.0K ฿902.2K
8.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kurgan
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$78.2 ₽6,610
$102 ฿3,420
-23.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.87 ₽411
$11.33 ฿378
-57.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.26 ₽698
$17.40 ฿581
-52.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kurgan
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$52.1 ฿1,738
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$11.07 ฿370
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.18 ₽354
$7.69 ฿257
-45.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kurgan
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$561 ฿18.7K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$11.5K ฿384.1K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kurgan
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$95.1 ₽8,034
$63.0 ฿2,104
50.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.09 ₽2,543
$29.52 ฿986
1.93%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.1 ₽7,441
$98.0 ฿3,272
-10.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$53.9 ₽4,557
$88.5 ฿2,954
-39.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kurgan
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$738 ฿24.6K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$482 ฿16.1K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$2,107 ฿70.3K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,226 ฿40.9K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,617 ฿120.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,603 ฿86.9K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kurgan
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$933 ₽78.8K
$494 ฿16.5K
89.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
20.34
5.57
265.17%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Kurgan: September 14, 2026

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 89% higher in Kurgan, 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 $29.00 in Kurgan versus $32.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $182 vs $274 – making Kurgan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Kurgan vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Kurgan?
Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 118%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $848 per month in Kurgan and $1,847 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do food prices compare in Kurgan and in Phuket?
Groceries cost about 50% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Kurgan or in Phuket?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $29.00 in Kurgan and $32.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Kurgan or in Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kurgan, where all-in costs run around $565, than in Phuket at $1,232. In Kurgan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Kurgan or Phuket more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Kurgan – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Kurgan or 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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Kurgan. 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.

Kurgan vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities