ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,487 in Novo Mesto versus $1,232 in Phuket.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $2,195 in Novo Mesto versus $2,255 in Phuket.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,902 in Novo Mesto versus $3,279 in Phuket.
ðLiving in Novo Mesto is roughly 21% more expensive than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðThe two cities straddle the global median: Novo Mesto is 11% above, Phuket is 8% below.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Novo Mesto
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.78âŽ10.06
$4.63āļŋ151
154.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.18âŽ30.05
$46.84āļŋ1,523
-24.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.47âŽ8.08
$8.84āļŋ287
7.13%
Cappuccino
$1.89âŽ1.62
$3.00āļŋ97.4
-37.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34âŽ2.00
$0.74āļŋ24.11
216.22%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61âŽ1.37
$0.37āļŋ11.88
335.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.15âŽ2.69
$2.44āļŋ79.3
29.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83âŽ2.42
$3.61āļŋ117
-21.61%
ð Groceries & Markets
Novo Mesto
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.32âŽ1.13
$2.26āļŋ73.5
-41.59%
White Bread(500g)
$1.59âŽ1.36
$1.84āļŋ59.8
-13.59%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.96âŽ2.53
$2.24āļŋ73.0
32.14%
Eggs
$3.46âŽ2.96
$2.32āļŋ75.3
49.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.66âŽ11.67
$19.67āļŋ639
-30.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.69âŽ7.42
$3.65āļŋ119
138.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.50âŽ8.11
$13.10āļŋ426
-27.48%
Apples(1kg)
$1.78âŽ1.52
$3.39āļŋ110
-47.49%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75âŽ1.50
$1.64āļŋ53.4
6.71%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.00âŽ1.71
$2.41āļŋ78.5
-17.01%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.55âŽ3.03
$2.03āļŋ66.0
74.88%
Potato(1kg)
$1.18âŽ1.01
$1.56āļŋ50.6
-24.36%
Onion(1kg)
$1.57âŽ1.34
$1.50āļŋ48.66
4.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.30âŽ1.11
$1.02āļŋ33.30
27.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70âŽ0.60
$0.49āļŋ15.91
42.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.12âŽ5.22
$4.45āļŋ145
37.53%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.84âŽ5.84
$18.88āļŋ614
-63.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39âŽ1.19
$1.78āļŋ57.7
-21.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83âŽ1.57
$2.75āļŋ89.5
-33.45%
ð Getting Around
Novo Mesto
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.72âŽ1.47
$1.40āļŋ45.54
22.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$31.37âŽ26.79
$11.48āļŋ373
173.26%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.72âŽ1.47
$3.12āļŋ101
-44.87%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.21âŽ1.04
$1.00āļŋ32.48
21.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.95âŽ24.73
$14.09āļŋ458
105.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.61âŽ1.37
$1.35āļŋ43.93
19.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.4KâŽ22.5K
$27.2Kāļŋ883.7K
-3.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.1KâŽ24.8K
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
-11.66%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Novo Mesto
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$305âŽ260
$125āļŋ4,063
143.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.75âŽ10.03
$13.57āļŋ441
-13.41%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.80âŽ28.87
$18.52āļŋ602
82.51%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Novo Mesto
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.20âŽ24.94
$61.5āļŋ1,999
-52.50%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.16âŽ29.17
$16.84āļŋ547
102.85%
Cinema Ticket
$8.25âŽ7.04
$9.19āļŋ299
-10.23%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Novo Mesto
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$522âŽ446
$698āļŋ22.7K
-25.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,510âŽ7,268
$15.6Kāļŋ506.9K
-45.42%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Novo Mesto
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.8âŽ79.3
$57.8āļŋ1,878
60.70%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.03âŽ29.06
$35.24āļŋ1,146
-3.43%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$121âŽ103
$113āļŋ3,677
7.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$153âŽ130
$86.4āļŋ2,808
76.74%
ð Accommodation & Living
Novo Mesto
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$530âŽ453
$616āļŋ20.0K
-13.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$429âŽ366
$446āļŋ14.5K
-3.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$853âŽ729
$2,048āļŋ66.6K
-58.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$739âŽ631
$1,492āļŋ48.5K
-50.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,908âŽ2,483
$3,779āļŋ122.8K
-23.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,355âŽ2,865
$2,649āļŋ86.1K
26.66%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Novo Mesto
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,467âŽ1,252
$524āļŋ17.0K
179.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.3
5.33
-38.09%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Novo Mesto: April 27, 2026
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $530 in Novo Mesto and $616 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ð°Novo Mesto pays 180% 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: $35.00 in Novo Mesto vs $47.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $257 vs $292 per month, with Novo Mesto cheaper across the board.
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
Novo Mesto vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Novo Mesto and Phuket?
Novo Mesto and Phuket differ by about 21% in total monthly costs ($1,487 vs $1,232 including rent). Phuket is meaningfully more affordable â a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Novo Mesto or Phuket?
Novo Mesto pays 180% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Novo Mesto and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $530 in Novo Mesto versus $616 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Novo Mesto pay roughly 13% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket â a meal for two runs $47.00 versus $35.00 in Novo Mesto. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,487 in Novo Mesto, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Novo Mesto. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Novo Mesto and Phuket?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better â the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Novo Mesto or Phuket safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Novo Mesto 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.
Where should expats move: Novo Mesto or Phuket?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet â expenses run 21% less than in Novo Mesto. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Novo Mesto vs other spots: cost of living compared