Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Astana Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Astana

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $912 in Astana, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,297 per month in Phuket vs $1,422 in Astana, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,329 per month in Phuket vs $1,933 in Astana, rent included.

Phuket costs about 39% more than Astana, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Astana are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Astana 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.70 ฿154

$8.10 ₸3,936

-41.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.37 ฿1,488

$28.85 ₸14.0K

57.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.43 ฿276

$5.76 ₸2,797

46.35%

Cappuccino

$2.93 ฿96.0

$2.19 ₸1,066

33.79%

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

$0.69 ฿22.48

$0.91 ₸444

-24.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿12.04

$0.53 ₸259

-30.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿79.0

$1.14 ₸554

111.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿122

$2.95 ₸1,432

26.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 ฿73.2

$1.01 ₸492

120.79%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 ฿60.1

$0.50 ₸245

266.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ฿71.1

$1.40 ₸680

55.00%

Eggs

$2.21 ฿72.6

$1.79 ₸868

23.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.74 ฿647

$9.34 ₸4,537

111.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿119

$4.73 ₸2,300

-23.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.53 ฿444

$6.96 ₸3,381

94.40%

Apples (1kg)

$3.28 ฿107

$1.36 ₸661

141.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ฿52.8

$1.87 ₸907

-13.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿79.0

$1.92 ₸935

25.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.3

$1.97 ₸959

5.58%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.1

$0.58 ₸283

163.79%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.56

$0.38 ₸183

289.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ฿32.42

$1.02 ₸495

-2.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.73

$0.75 ₸364

-32.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 ฿144

$1.81 ₸878

143.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.38 ฿636

$9.14 ₸4,440

112.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.3

$1.02 ₸497

74.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ฿88.9

$1.70 ₸823

59.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.37 ฿44.96

$0.21 ₸102

552.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.39 ฿374

$14.56 ₸7,075

-21.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿99.0

$1.79 ₸868

68.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 ฿32.61

$0.71 ₸345

39.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.10 ฿462

$4.51 ₸2,191

212.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 ฿44.68

$0.47 ₸226

189.36%

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

$28.2K ฿924.7K

$20.7K ₸10.1M

35.96%

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

$32.9K ฿1.1M

$24.7K ₸12.0M

32.94%

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

$122 ฿3,991

$53.9 ₸26.2K

125.62%

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

$13.57 ฿445

$8.00 ₸3,888

69.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.31 ฿600

$13.90 ₸6,751

31.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.2 ฿1,975

$49.83 ₸24.2K

20.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 ฿562

$11.16 ₸5,419

53.58%

Cinema Ticket

$8.69 ฿285

$5.30 ₸2,572

63.96%

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

$693 ฿22.7K

$238 ₸115.8K

191.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K ฿514.4K

$4,790 ₸2.3M

227.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,952

$55.8 ₸27.1K

6.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.77 ฿1,140

$34.85 ₸16.9K

-0.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,758

$88.8 ₸43.1K

29.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.3 ฿2,731

$86.1 ₸41.8K

-3.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$613 ฿20.1K

$478 ₸232.1K

28.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$437 ฿14.3K

$328 ₸159.2K

33.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,094 ฿68.7K

$848 ₸412.2K

146.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,509 ฿49.5K

$598 ₸290.3K

152.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,749 ฿122.9K

$1,378 ₸669.5K

172.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,616 ฿85.8K

$993 ₸482.3K

163.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.7K

$798 ₸387.8K

-36.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

16.12

-66.94%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Astana: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $613 in Phuket versus $478 in Astana. 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 57% higher in Astana, 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 $45.00 in Phuket versus $29.00 in Astana. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $178 – making Astana 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 Astana: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,265 in Phuket, $912 in Astana – roughly 39% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,898 per month in Phuket and $1,367 in Astana. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $693 per month in Phuket and $238 in Astana. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 64% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Astana, where all-in costs run around $912, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Astana 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 $912 in Astana 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 Astana. 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.