Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Abaza Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Abaza

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,264 in Phuket versus $955 in Abaza.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,256 in Phuket versus $1,462 in Abaza.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,248 in Phuket versus $1,970 in Abaza.

Living in Phuket is roughly 32% more expensive than in Abaza, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 5% lower, Abaza 28% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Abaza
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.48 ฿150
$9.57 ₽764
-53.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.59 ฿1,525
$37.43 ₽2,986
21.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.76 ฿293
$5.82 ₽464
50.52%
Cappuccino
$2.97 ฿99.3
$2.30 ₽183
29.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ฿22.96
$1.13 ₽90.1
-38.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39 ฿13.07
$0.49 ₽38.81
-20.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.53 ฿84.7
$1.42 ₽113
78.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75 ฿125
$2.57 ₽205
45.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Abaza
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.15 ฿71.8
$0.56 ₽44.67
283.93%
White Bread (500g)
$1.82 ฿60.7
$0.66 ₽52.5
175.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.18 ฿73.1
$1.43 ₽114
52.45%
Eggs
$2.25 ฿75.2
$1.72 ₽138
30.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$20.00 ฿669
$10.66 ₽850
87.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.63 ฿121
$4.97 ₽396
-26.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.56 ฿453
$9.01 ₽719
50.50%
Apples (1kg)
$3.24 ฿109
$1.74 ₽139
86.21%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 ฿54.7
$1.89 ₽151
-13.23%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.33 ฿78.0
$1.91 ₽152
21.99%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.07 ฿69.3
$2.69 ₽215
-23.05%
Potato (1kg)
$1.55 ฿51.8
$0.80 ₽64.2
93.75%
Onion (1kg)
$1.46 ฿48.67
$0.67 ₽53.2
117.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.98 ฿32.94
$1.42 ₽113
-30.99%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48 ฿16.13
$0.68 ₽54.1
-29.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35 ฿146
$2.88 ₽229
51.04%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.57 ฿621
$6.67 ₽532
178.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 ฿62.1
$1.01 ₽80.8
84.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65 ฿88.8
$1.94 ₽155
36.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Abaza
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.42 ฿47.40
$0.49 ₽39.22
189.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.57 ฿387
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.17 ฿106
$1.93 ₽154
64.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.03 ฿34.51
$0.35 ₽28.17
194.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.89 ฿465
$6.50 ₽519
113.69%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 ฿44.96
$0.72 ₽57.5
86.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K ฿929.6K
$33.7K ₽2.7M
-17.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4K ฿1.1M
$36.0K ₽2.9M
-7.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Abaza
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$123 ฿4,116
$109 ₽8,712
12.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77 ฿461
$5.88 ₽469
134.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.33 ฿613
$8.04 ₽641
127.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Abaza
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.7 ฿2,030
$35.49 ₽2,831
71.01%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.16 ฿574
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.87 ฿297
$5.12 ₽409
73.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Abaza
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$688 ฿23.0K
$326 ₽26.0K
111.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.8K ฿527.8K
$6,864 ₽547.6K
129.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Abaza
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3 ฿1,984
$69.0 ₽5,502
-14.01%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.69 ฿1,160
$43.93 ₽3,504
-21.03%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,853
$114 ₽9,080
1.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.8 ฿2,802
$107 ₽8,543
-21.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Abaza
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$621 ฿20.8K
$438 ₽34.9K
41.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$446 ฿14.9K
$305 ₽24.4K
46.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,034 ฿68.0K
$760 ₽60.6K
167.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,496 ฿50.0K
$504 ₽40.2K
196.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,455 ฿115.6K
$2,514 ₽200.6K
37.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,531 ฿84.7K
$1,508 ₽120.3K
67.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Abaza
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$494 ฿16.5K
$1,275 ₽101.7K
-61.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
15.33
-65.23%

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

Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026

Last update for Abaza: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $621 in Phuket and $438 in Abaza. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Abaza pays 158% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $46.00 in Phuket vs $37.00 in Abaza for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $291 vs $190 per month, with Abaza 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
Phuket vs Abaza: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Abaza cheaper than Phuket?
Abaza is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 32% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Abaza?
On paper, salaries run 158% lower in Abaza. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Abaza?
Rent for a central apartment: $621 in Phuket versus $438 in Abaza. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $688 in Phuket versus $326 in Abaza. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or in Abaza?
Dining out is cheaper in Abaza – a meal for two runs $37.00 versus $46.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Abaza?
At $955 in Abaza versus $1,264 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Abaza but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Abaza the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Abaza more family-friendly?
For families, Abaza is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Abaza?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Abaza 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 Abaza gentler on the wallet – expenses run 32% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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