Cost of Living Comparison Between Makhachkala and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Makhachkala and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $979 per month in Makhachkala vs $1,265 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,491 per month in Makhachkala vs $2,297 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,002 per month in Makhachkala vs $3,329 in Phuket, rent included.

Makhachkala is about 23% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Makhachkala and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Makhachkala 27% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.31 ₽1,125

$4.70 ฿153

225.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.77 ₽2,848

$45.37 ฿1,482

-14.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.20 ₽382

$8.43 ฿275

-38.32%

Cappuccino

$3.12 ₽229

$2.93 ฿95.6

6.48%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.84 ₽62.0

$0.69 ฿22.40

21.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ₽25.81

$0.37 ฿11.99

-5.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.36 ₽99.6

$2.41 ฿78.6

-43.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 ₽184

$3.72 ฿122

-32.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.51 ₽111

$2.23 ฿72.9

-32.29%

White Bread (500g)

$0.60 ₽44.23

$1.83 ฿59.8

-67.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 ₽101

$2.17 ฿70.8

-36.41%

Eggs

$1.37 ₽101

$2.21 ฿72.3

-38.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.97 ₽218

$19.74 ฿645

-84.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.80 ₽353

$3.63 ฿119

32.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.92 ₽361

$13.53 ฿442

-63.64%

Apples (1kg)

$1.74 ₽128

$3.28 ฿107

-46.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.75 ₽129

$1.61 ฿52.6

8.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.72 ₽200

$2.41 ฿78.6

12.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.89 ₽139

$2.08 ฿68.1

-9.13%

Potato (1kg)

$0.88 ₽64.5

$1.53 ฿49.93

-42.48%

Onion (1kg)

$0.49 ₽35.84

$1.48 ฿48.36

-66.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.36 ₽173

$0.99 ฿32.29

138.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 ₽43.05

$0.51 ฿16.67

15.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.19 ₽234

$4.41 ฿144

-27.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.22 ₽310

$19.38 ฿633

-78.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 ₽76.4

$1.78 ฿58.1

-41.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.85 ₽136

$2.71 ฿88.6

-31.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.43 ₽31.44

$1.37 ฿44.79

-68.61%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.39 ฿372

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.22 ₽163

$3.02 ฿98.6

-26.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.21 ₽15.53

$0.99 ฿32.48

-78.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.18 ₽454

$14.10 ฿461

-56.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.70 ₽51.3

$1.36 ฿44.51

-48.53%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.3K ₽2.6M

$28.2K ฿921.1K

25.10%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$30.3K ₽2.2M

$32.9K ฿1.1M

-8.04%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$54.9 ₽4,033

$122 ฿3,975

-54.89%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$6.13 ₽450

$13.57 ฿443

-54.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.84 ₽723

$18.31 ฿598

-46.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.58 ₽3,421

$60.2 ฿1,967

-22.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 ฿560

Cinema Ticket

$5.02 ₽369

$8.69 ฿284

-42.23%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$166 ₽12.2K

$693 ฿22.6K

-76.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,077 ₽519.9K

$15.7K ฿512.3K

-54.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$106 ₽7,777

$59.5 ฿1,944

77.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.24 ₽3,250

$34.77 ฿1,136

27.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 ₽7,704

$115 ฿3,743

-8.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 ₽10.7K

$83.3 ฿2,720

74.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$501 ₽36.8K

$613 ฿20.0K

-18.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$305 ₽22.4K

$437 ฿14.3K

-30.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$698 ₽51.2K

$2,094 ฿68.4K

-66.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$399 ₽29.3K

$1,509 ฿49.3K

-73.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,789 ₽131.4K

$3,749 ฿122.5K

-52.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,289 ₽94.7K

$2,616 ฿85.4K

-50.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$860 ₽63.1K

$508 ฿16.6K

69.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.33

5.33

112.57%

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

Last update for Makhachkala: June 1, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $501 in Makhachkala versus $613 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 69% higher in Makhachkala, 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 $39.00 in Makhachkala versus $45.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $157 vs $293 – making Makhachkala 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

Makhachkala vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 29%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,468 per month in Makhachkala and $1,898 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Makhachkala, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $979 in Makhachkala and $1,265 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $166 per month in Makhachkala and $693 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Makhachkala, where all-in costs run around $979, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Makhachkala it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Makhachkala – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Makhachkala. 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.