Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Astana

For one person, living is cheaper in Astana: $1,133 a month against $1,278 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $1,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Phuket, Thailand
Astana, Kazakhstan
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,278
/mo nomad
Astana
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan
$1,133
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Astana

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Phuket and in Astana actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,278 per month in Phuket vs $1,133 in Astana, rent included.

  • Phuket $1,278
  • Astana $1,133

A couple spends around $2,216 per month in Phuket vs $1,810 in Astana, rent included.

  • Phuket $2,216
  • Astana $1,810

A family of three spends $3,154 per month in Phuket vs $2,486 in Astana, rent included.

  • Phuket $3,154
  • Astana $2,486

Phuket costs about 13% more than Astana, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Phuket and Astana are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Astana 17% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Astana
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.47 ฿151
$11.06 ₸5,018
-59.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.41 ฿1,094
$38.01 ₸17.2K
-14.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.81 ฿297
$7.89 ₸3,580
11.66%
Cappuccino
$2.83 ฿95.4
$2.65 ₸1,200
6.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 ฿29.42
$1.08 ₸488
-19.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.66
$0.62 ₸281
-20.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.56 ฿86.3
$1.34 ₸609
91.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 ฿124
$2.25 ₸1,019
63.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Astana
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 ฿56.0
$1.26 ₸571
31.75%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 ฿49.32
$0.60 ₸274
143.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.5
$1.55 ₸705
-3.23%
Eggs
$2.09 ฿70.5
$2.18 ₸988
-4.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.07 ฿643
$11.98 ₸5,436
59.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.30 ฿111
$5.79 ₸2,627
-43.01%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.91 ฿368
$10.57 ₸4,794
3.22%
Apples (1kg)
$2.93 ฿98.9
$1.82 ₸826
60.99%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 ฿57.0
$2.31 ₸1,048
-26.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 ฿75.8
$2.29 ₸1,038
-1.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿70.1
$2.19 ₸991
-5.02%
Potato (1kg)
$1.51 ฿51.0
$0.66 ₸298
128.79%
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.54
$0.46 ₸209
200.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ฿35.97
$1.53 ₸692
-30.07%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.51
$0.90 ₸410
-42.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20 ฿142
$2.37 ₸1,075
77.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.79 ฿634
$10.93 ₸4,957
71.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 ฿61.5
$1.30 ₸588
40.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 ฿95.9
$2.35 ₸1,066
20.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Astana
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.45 ฿49.00
$0.25 ₸114
480.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$56.7 ฿1,912
$16.60 ₸7,528
241.33%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿102
$2.27 ₸1,027
33.04%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ฿34.34
$1.13 ₸513
-9.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.69 ฿125
$6.62 ₸3,003
-44.26%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ฿49.78
$0.69 ₸311
113.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K ฿903.7K
$28.0K ₸12.7M
-4.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿900.8K
$31.7K ₸14.4M
-15.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Astana
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.4 ฿3,252
$68.4 ₸31.0K
40.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.26 ฿380
$10.08 ₸4,573
11.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.85 ฿569
$18.13 ₸8,223
-7.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Astana
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.2 ฿2,269
$58.7 ₸26.6K
14.63%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.73 ฿362
$20.67 ₸9,374
-48.09%
Cinema Ticket
$7.50 ฿253
$6.27 ₸2,844
19.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Astana
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$476 ฿16.1K
$487 ₸221.0K
-2.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.3K ฿380.1K
$11.7K ₸5.3M
-3.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Astana
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.4 ฿2,105
$64.6 ₸29.3K
-3.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.41 ฿959
$46.35 ₸21.0K
-38.71%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.3 ฿3,182
$120 ₸54.2K
-21.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.8 ฿2,896
$126 ₸57.3K
-32.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Astana
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$716 ฿24.2K
$564 ₸255.9K
26.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$491 ฿16.6K
$391 ₸177.6K
25.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,927 ฿65.0K
$1,151 ₸521.9K
67.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,431 ฿48.3K
$769 ₸348.7K
86.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,175 ฿140.9K
$1,560 ₸707.5K
167.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,045 ฿102.8K
$1,120 ₸508.0K
171.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Astana
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$502 ฿17.0K
$867 ₸393.1K
-42.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
14.83
-62.44%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Last update for Astana: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$491
Astana
$391 20.3% $99
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$266
Astana
$226 15.1% $40
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$124
Astana
$97 22.4% $28
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$122
Astana
$161 31.7% $39
Eating Out
Phuket
$122
Astana
$162 33% $40
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$82
Astana
$71 13.4% $11
Getting Around
Phuket
$71
Astana
$26 63.9% $45

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $716 in Phuket versus $564 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 73% 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 $32 in Phuket versus $38 in Astana. Groceries tell a different story – $266 in Phuket vs $226 in Astana – so Astana wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇰🇿 Astana
🕒 Local time
11:46 11:46 AM
09:46 9:46 AM
2 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
814,400 Capital
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

KZT, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.75 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.68 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

Kazakhstani Tenge exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 454 KZT (1,000 KZT = 2.2 USD). 1 EUR = 506 KZT (1,000 KZT = 1.97 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Astana 5,410 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Astana

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
How do living costs in Phuket and in Astana compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,278 in Phuket, $1,133 in Astana – Astana comes out roughly 11% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in transport.
What salary covers living expenses in Phuket compared to Astana?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,917 per month in Phuket and $1,700 in Astana. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Phuket and Astana?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Astana, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $564 there versus $716 in Phuket.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Phuket and Astana?
Kindergarten costs $476 per month in Phuket and $487 in Astana. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 18% more in Phuket, though the gap depends on what you buy.
How far does $2,000 go in Phuket compared to Astana?
$2,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,278 in Phuket and $1,133 in Astana, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Where should digital nomads live: Phuket or Astana?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Astana costs $1,133 versus $1,278 in Phuket. Both appeal to remote workers, and the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Is Phuket or Astana safer for residents?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

Phuket vs other spots: cost of living compared

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