Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Aktau Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Aktau

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,223 per month in Phuket vs $696 in Aktau, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,237 per month in Phuket vs $1,165 in Aktau, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,251 per month in Phuket vs $1,635 in Aktau, rent included.

Phuket costs about 76% more than Aktau, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Aktau are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 8% lower, Aktau 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.51 ฿147

$9.82 ₸4,789

-54.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.62 ฿1,515

$39.83 ₸19.4K

17.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.49 ฿276

$8.87 ₸4,325

-4.28%

Cappuccino

$3.08 ฿100

$2.28 ₸1,114

35.09%

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

$0.68 ฿22.07

$0.54 ₸264

25.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.75

$0.43 ₸211

-16.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 ฿78.8

$1.20 ₸585

102.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿118

$1.39 ₸680

161.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.19 ฿71.1

$1.14 ₸558

92.11%

White Bread (500g)

$1.81 ฿59.0

$0.42 ₸205

330.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.23 ฿72.5

$1.62 ₸791

37.65%

Eggs

$2.24 ฿72.7

$1.44 ₸701

55.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.60 ฿637

$8.59 ₸4,187

128.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.72 ฿121

$4.06 ₸1,978

-8.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.47 ฿438

$7.53 ₸3,671

78.88%

Apples (1kg)

$3.36 ฿109

$1.29 ₸630

160.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ฿52.5

$1.98 ₸964

-18.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.3

$2.11 ₸1,030

14.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.99 ฿64.6

$2.53 ₸1,232

-21.34%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.76

$0.56 ₸272

173.21%

Onion (1kg)

$1.45 ฿47.19

$0.48 ₸234

202.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 ฿32.96

$1.37 ₸666

-26.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿15.73

$0.82 ₸398

-41.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿139

$2.40 ₸1,170

77.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.12 ฿621

$8.86 ₸4,321

115.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 ฿59.7

$0.67 ₸328

174.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 ฿89.1

$0.82 ₸399

234.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.42 ฿46.06

$0.15 ₸74.6

846.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.72 ฿381

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.00 ฿97.6

$0.95 ₸463

215.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.05 ฿34.00

$0.58 ₸285

81.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.90 ฿452

$4.74 ₸2,313

193.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 ฿41.94

$0.47 ₸227

174.47%

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

$28.0K ฿911.1K

$19.9K ₸9.7M

40.80%

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

$33.5K ฿1.1M

$24.5K ₸12.0M

36.55%

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

$122 ฿3,964

$40.10 ₸19.6K

204.19%

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

$13.93 ฿453

$7.80 ₸3,804

78.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.87 ฿613

$9.49 ₸4,630

98.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.3 ฿1,992

$32.56 ₸15.9K

88.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.84 ฿547

Cinema Ticket

$8.89 ฿289

$2.67 ₸1,302

232.96%

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

$691 ฿22.5K

$128 ₸62.4K

440.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.2K ฿525.2K

$2,310 ₸1.1M

599.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.8 ฿1,878

$57.5 ₸28.0K

0.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.39 ฿1,150

$35.62 ₸17.4K

-0.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 ฿3,685

$63.7 ₸31.1K

77.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.0 ฿2,698

$77.4 ₸37.7K

7.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$607 ฿19.7K

$255 ₸124.1K

138.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$448 ฿14.6K

$180 ₸87.9K

148.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,029 ฿66.0K

$448 ₸218.3K

353.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,493 ฿48.5K

$369 ₸180.1K

304.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,585 ฿116.5K

$749 ₸365.2K

378.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,585 ฿84.0K

$606 ₸295.3K

326.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$505 ฿16.4K

$520 ₸253.6K

-2.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

-33.38%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 13, 2026

Last update for Aktau: June 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $607 in Phuket versus $255 in Aktau. 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 3% higher in Aktau, 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 $47.00 in Phuket versus $40.00 in Aktau. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $176 – making Aktau the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Aktau: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Phuket costs about 76% more than Aktau, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,835 per month in Phuket and $1,043 in Aktau. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket and $40.00 in Aktau. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 65% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Aktau, where all-in costs run around $696, than in Phuket at $1,223. In Aktau it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Aktau costs $696 versus $1,223 in Phuket. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Aktau. 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.