Cost of Living Comparison Between Murmansk and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Murmansk and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $892 per month in Murmansk vs $1,265 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,209 per month in Murmansk vs $2,089 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,527 per month in Murmansk vs $2,913 in Phuket, rent included.

Murmansk is about 29% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Murmansk and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Murmansk 35% lower, Phuket 8% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.66 ฿154

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.22 ฿1,065

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.94 ₽499

$8.68 ฿287

-31.57%

Cappuccino

$2.88 ₽242

$2.90 ฿95.8

-0.69%

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

$0.84 ₽70.2

$0.84 ฿27.89

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.66 ₽55.2

$0.49 ฿16.16

34.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.48 ฿82.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿123

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 ₽94.9

$1.89 ฿62.3

-40.21%

White Bread (500g)

$1.04 ₽87.2

$1.41 ฿46.54

-26.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.22 ₽103

$1.62 ฿53.6

-24.69%

Eggs

$2.27 ₽191

$2.24 ฿74.1

1.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.13 ₽1,776

$19.84 ฿656

6.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.30 ₽277

$3.48 ฿115

-5.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.37 ฿376

Apples (1kg)

$2.90 ฿95.8

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 ฿57.0

Oranges (1kg)

$2.27 ฿75.1

Tomato (1kg)

$2.13 ฿70.4

Potato (1kg)

$1.47 ฿48.72

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.92

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ฿36.25

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 ฿19.76

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.31 ฿142

Wine (Bottle)

$18.60 ฿615

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿59.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 ฿98.0

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.57 ₽47.51

$2.25 ฿74.2

-74.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.14 ₽2,533

$23.49 ฿776

28.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.30 ₽193

$3.10 ฿102

-25.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.08 ฿35.56

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.97 ₽418

$3.87 ฿128

28.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 ₽71.9

$1.43 ฿47.16

-39.86%

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

$30.8K ₽2.6M

$27.8K ฿918.0K

10.91%

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

$20.7K ₽1.7M

$27.0K ฿891.5K

-23.31%

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

$150 ₽12.6K

$105 ฿3,462

42.99%

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

$7.60 ₽639

$11.39 ฿376

-33.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$5.94 ₽500

$17.54 ฿580

-66.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.3 ฿1,795

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.44 ฿378

Cinema Ticket

$7.78 ฿257

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

$576 ฿19.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ฿382.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$172 ₽14.5K

$63.6 ฿2,103

170.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.08 ₽3,873

$29.10 ฿961

58.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$173 ₽14.5K

$96.2 ฿3,179

79.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.2 ₽6,828

$90.0 ฿2,974

-9.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$412 ₽34.6K

$733 ฿24.2K

-43.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$294 ₽24.7K

$501 ฿16.5K

-41.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$590 ₽49.6K

$2,126 ฿70.2K

-72.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$400 ₽33.6K

$1,252 ฿41.4K

-68.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,534 ฿116.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,622 ฿86.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$978 ₽82.2K

$508 ฿16.8K

92.63%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

438.60%

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

Last update for Murmansk: September 6, 2026

Last update for Phuket: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $412 in Murmansk versus $733 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 93% higher in Murmansk, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

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

Murmansk vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $892 in Murmansk, $1,265 in Phuket – roughly 42% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,338 per month in Murmansk 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 Murmansk, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 28% less in Murmansk. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $892 in Murmansk and $1,265 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Murmansk, where all-in costs run around $892, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Murmansk it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $892 in Murmansk to $1,265 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Murmansk. 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.