Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mlava and Phuket

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,208 a month against $1,401 in Mlava, rent and utilities included – about $2,300 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Mlava outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Mlava
🇵🇱 Poland
$1,401
/mo nomad
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,208
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Mlava and in Phuket

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Mlava and in Phuket actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,401 in Mlava versus $1,208 in Phuket.

  • Mlava $1,401
  • Phuket $1,208

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,989 in Mlava versus $2,027 in Phuket.

  • Mlava $1,989
  • Phuket $2,027

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,577 in Mlava versus $2,845 in Phuket.

  • Mlava $2,577
  • Phuket $2,845

Living in Mlava is roughly 16% more expensive than in Phuket, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mlava is 3% above, Phuket is 11% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mlava
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.04 zł 39.02
$4.40 ฿147
128.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.85 zł 100
$32.26 ฿1,078
-19.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.68 zł 29.86
$8.76 ฿293
-12.33%
Cappuccino
$2.50 zł 9.70
$2.83 ฿94.5
-11.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85 zł 7.21
$0.90 ฿30.14
105.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63 zł 6.34
$0.47 ฿15.56
246.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.57 zł 10.00
$2.55 ฿85.2
0.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 zł 14.49
$3.83 ฿128
-2.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mlava
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 zł 4.06
$1.73 ฿57.7
-39.88%
White Bread (500g)
$1.66 zł 6.44
$1.47 ฿49.11
12.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.91 zł 3.53
$1.51 ฿50.6
-39.74%
Eggs
$3.82 zł 14.84
$2.17 ฿72.7
76.04%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.77 zł 34.07
$19.70 ฿658
-55.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.15 zł 27.77
$3.34 ฿112
114.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.70 zł 45.44
$11.16 ฿373
4.84%
Apples (1kg)
$1.36 zł 5.27
$2.85 ฿95.1
-52.28%
Banana (1kg)
$1.68 zł 6.52
$1.70 ฿56.9
-1.18%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 zł 6.23
$2.19 ฿73.3
-26.94%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.20 zł 12.42
$2.05 ฿68.4
56.10%
Potato (1kg)
$0.97 zł 3.78
$1.45 ฿48.57
-33.10%
Onion (1kg)
$1.36 zł 5.29
$1.38 ฿46.16
-1.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.10 zł 4.27
$1.07 ฿35.69
2.80%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.65 zł 2.53
$0.51 ฿16.91
27.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.80 zł 18.66
$4.26 ฿142
12.68%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.39 zł 24.82
$18.58 ฿621
-65.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.05 zł 4.07
$1.78 ฿59.7
-41.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 zł 5.48
$2.85 ฿95.2
-50.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Mlava
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.09 zł 4.22
$2.26 ฿75.6
-51.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.12 zł 117
$22.10 ฿738
36.29%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.13 zł 8.28
$3.01 ฿101
-29.24%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.84 zł 3.27
$1.06 ฿35.34
-20.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.89 zł 38.41
$3.86 ฿129
156.22%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.60 zł 6.23
$1.45 ฿48.45
10.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9K zł 120.1K
$26.3K ฿879.9K
17.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.7K zł 107.6K
$26.9K ฿900.4K
2.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mlava
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$278 zł 1,081
$96.4 ฿3,221
188.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.20 zł 24.09
$11.04 ฿369
-43.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.53 zł 29.27
$17.14 ฿573
-56.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mlava
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.75 zł 147
$52.2 ฿1,744
-27.65%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.24 zł 86.4
$11.16 ฿373
99.28%
Cinema Ticket
$5.06 zł 19.66
$7.81 ฿261
-35.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mlava
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$328 zł 1,273
$556 ฿18.6K
-41.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,091 zł 19.8K
$11.6K ฿387.0K
-56.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mlava
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$81.4 zł 316
$64.2 ฿2,146
26.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.08 zł 140
$28.69 ฿959
25.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.1 zł 346
$95.4 ฿3,187
-6.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.4 zł 297
$88.0 ฿2,940
-13.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mlava
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$600 zł 2,332
$737 ฿24.6K
-18.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$505 zł 1,961
$462 ฿15.5K
9.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$987 zł 3,833
$2,095 ฿70.0K
-52.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$805 zł 3,130
$1,201 ฿40.1K
-32.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,950 zł 11.5K
$3,488 ฿116.6K
-15.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,201 zł 8,550
$2,523 ฿84.3K
-12.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mlava
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,021 zł 3,967
$501 ฿16.7K
103.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.89
5.57
23.70%

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

Last update for Mlava: October 19, 2026

Last update for Phuket: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Mlava
$505
Phuket
$462 8.4% $42
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mlava
$292
Phuket
$125 57.3% $167
Groceries & Markets
Mlava
$221
Phuket
$269 21.6% $48
Eating Out
Mlava
$168
Phuket
$121 27.7% $46
Clothing & Footwear
Mlava
$127
Phuket
$124 2.4% $3.1
Sport & Entertainment
Mlava
$48
Phuket
$68 41.6% $20
Getting Around
Mlava
$41
Phuket
$39 3.3% $1.4

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $600 in Mlava and $737 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mlava pays 104% 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: $26.00 in Mlava vs $32.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $221 vs $269 per month, with Mlava cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇱 Mlava
🇹🇭 Phuket
🕒 Local time
00:04 12:04 AM
05:04 5:04 AM
5 h ahead of Mlava
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
31,130
79,308
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to PLN – Polish Złoty Converter

Polish Złoty exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 3.89 PLN (1 PLN = 0.257 USD). 1 EUR = 4.37 PLN (1 PLN = 0.229 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Mlava Phuket 8,510 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Mlava
  • Phuket

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Mlava vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Mlava?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in eating out, clothing, and transport. The 16% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Mlava or Phuket?
Average pay runs 104% higher in Mlava, 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 Mlava and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $600 in Mlava versus $737 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $328 in Mlava versus $556 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Mlava and in Phuket?
Shoppers in Mlava pay roughly 22% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Mlava or in Phuket?
At $1,208 in Phuket versus $1,401 in Mlava, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Mlava. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Mlava or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Mlava, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Mlava or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Mlava 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 – expenses run 16% less than in Mlava. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Mlava vs other spots: cost of living compared

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