😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,253 in Phuket versus $1,076 in Arkhangelsk.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,043 in Phuket versus $1,673 in Arkhangelsk.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,833 in Phuket versus $2,271 in Arkhangelsk.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 16% more expensive than in Arkhangelsk, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket9% lower, Arkhangelsk22% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Arkhangelsk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56฿150
-
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.62฿1,072
$46.28₽3,971
-29.52%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.90฿293
$9.18₽788
-3.05%
Cappuccino
$2.80฿92.2
$3.54₽303
-20.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88฿28.93
$2.31₽198
-61.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49฿16.08
$2.33₽200
-78.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.39฿78.5
$3.57₽307
-33.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.71฿122
$5.95₽510
-37.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Arkhangelsk
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.79฿58.7
$1.06₽90.6
68.87%
White Bread(500g)
$1.44฿47.38
$0.92₽78.6
56.52%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.58฿52.1
$1.79₽153
-11.73%
Eggs
$2.13฿69.9
$1.62₽139
31.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.92฿655
$8.08₽693
146.53%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.43฿113
$5.63₽483
-39.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.33฿372
$12.50₽1,073
-9.36%
Apples(1kg)
$2.95฿96.9
$2.39₽205
23.43%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72฿56.6
$1.70₽146
1.18%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.32฿76.4
$1.14₽98.2
103.51%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿68.4
$2.36₽203
-11.86%
Potato(1kg)
$1.47฿48.33
$0.83₽71.0
77.11%
Onion(1kg)
$1.36฿44.64
$0.45₽38.52
202.22%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.10฿36.12
$0.47₽40.48
134.04%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57฿18.89
$0.55₽47.58
3.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27฿140
$2.83₽243
50.88%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.42฿605
$8.14₽698
126.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.87฿61.5
$0.78₽67.3
139.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92฿96.0
$2.88₽248
1.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Arkhangelsk
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.22฿72.9
$0.58₽49.98
282.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.90฿753
$50.3₽4,320
-54.50%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.03฿99.6
$4.58₽393
-33.84%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.07฿35.31
$0.16₽13.71
568.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.93฿129
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49฿49.04
$0.82₽70.3
81.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.1K฿891.7K
$47.1K₽4.0M
-42.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5K฿902.3K
$34.2K₽2.9M
-19.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Arkhangelsk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$103฿3,379
$108₽9,256
-4.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.99฿361
$9.36₽804
17.41%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.51฿576
$17.72₽1,521
-1.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Arkhangelsk
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.5฿1,760
$52.5₽4,506
1.94%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.20฿368
$45.63₽3,916
-75.45%
Cinema Ticket
$7.48฿246
$9.37₽804
-20.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Arkhangelsk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$557฿18.3K
$176₽15.1K
215.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.9K฿389.6K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Arkhangelsk
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.1฿2,106
$80.8₽6,936
-20.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.07฿956
$34.23₽2,938
-15.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.0฿3,154
$91.3₽7,835
5.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.3฿2,970
$91.5₽7,852
-1.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Arkhangelsk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$730฿24.0K
$500₽42.9K
46.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$500฿16.4K
$379₽32.5K
31.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,090฿68.7K
$708₽60.7K
195.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209฿39.7K
$615₽52.8K
96.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,596฿118.2K
$1,471₽126.2K
144.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,512฿82.6K
$1,109₽95.1K
126.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Arkhangelsk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$503฿16.5K
$488₽41.9K
3.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
23
-75.78%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026
Last update for Arkhangelsk: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $730 in Phuket and $500 in Arkhangelsk. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Phuket pays 3% 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: $33.00 in Phuket vs $46.00 in Arkhangelsk. Groceries flip the comparison at $273 vs $200, with Arkhangelsk cheaper for home cooking.
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 Arkhangelsk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Phuket and in Arkhangelsk?
Phuket and Arkhangelsk differ by about 16% in total monthly costs ($1,253 vs $1,076 including rent). Arkhangelsk is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Phuket or Arkhangelsk?
Average pay runs 3% higher in Phuket, 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 Phuket and in Arkhangelsk?
Rent for a central apartment: $730 in Phuket versus $500 in Arkhangelsk. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Phuket or Arkhangelsk?
All in, you'll spend $1,253 per month in Phuket versus $1,076 in Arkhangelsk – a 16% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Phuket and in Arkhangelsk?
A monthly transit pass in Arkhangelsk runs roughly 120% less than in Phuket. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,076 in Arkhangelsk versus $1,253 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Arkhangelsk but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Arkhangelsk the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Arkhangelsk?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Phuket or Arkhangelsk safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Arkhangelsk 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: Phuket or Arkhangelsk?
Expats usually find Arkhangelsk gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.