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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,247 per month in Phuket vs $898 in Astana, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,276 per month in Phuket vs $1,407 in Astana, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,306 per month in Phuket vs $1,916 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 7% lower, Astana 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.59 ฿147

$8.23 ₸3,868

-44.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.83 ฿1,501

$29.11 ₸13.7K

60.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.70 ฿279

$5.95 ₸2,797

46.22%

Cappuccino

$2.92 ฿93.7

$2.15 ₸1,009

35.81%

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

$0.68 ฿21.92

$0.94 ₸442

-27.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ฿12.70

$0.54 ₸252

-25.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.51 ฿80.4

$1.19 ₸559

110.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿122

$2.92 ₸1,371

30.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.16 ฿69.3

$0.93 ₸439

132.26%

White Bread (500g)

$1.88 ฿60.3

$0.47 ₸221

300.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.16 ฿69.2

$1.40 ₸660

54.29%

Eggs

$2.22 ฿71.2

$1.71 ₸804

29.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.57 ฿627

$9.33 ₸4,386

109.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.80 ฿122

$4.74 ₸2,229

-19.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.41 ฿430

$7.10 ₸3,339

88.87%

Apples (1kg)

$3.26 ฿104

$1.32 ₸622

146.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ฿51.7

$1.83 ₸862

-12.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.31 ฿74.0

$1.98 ₸930

16.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 ฿66.0

$1.95 ₸919

5.64%

Potato (1kg)

$1.61 ฿51.5

$0.59 ₸276

172.88%

Onion (1kg)

$1.44 ฿46.26

$0.37 ₸176

289.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 ฿33.01

$1.03 ₸483

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿15.39

$0.75 ₸351

-36.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.50 ฿144

$1.81 ₸850

148.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.18 ฿615

$8.47 ₸3,980

126.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 ฿58.4

$0.99 ₸467

83.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 ฿86.2

$1.65 ₸774

63.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.38 ฿44.16

$0.21 ₸98.3

557.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.76 ฿377

$14.43 ₸6,785

-18.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.11 ฿99.6

$1.71 ₸804

81.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.00 ฿32.18

$0.68 ₸318

47.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.74 ฿441

$4.39 ₸2,064

212.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 ฿41.61

$0.51 ₸238

154.90%

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

$27.4K ฿877.0K

$20.5K ₸9.6M

33.32%

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

$33.0K ฿1.1M

$25.4K ₸11.9M

30.20%

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

$125 ฿4,004

$54.5 ₸25.6K

129.18%

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

$13.74 ฿440

$8.14 ₸3,826

68.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.61 ฿597

$13.70 ₸6,442

35.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.6 ฿1,941

$50.0 ₸23.5K

21.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.15 ฿550

$11.30 ₸5,312

51.77%

Cinema Ticket

$9.01 ฿289

$5.20 ₸2,446

73.27%

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

$698 ฿22.4K

$235 ₸110.3K

197.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.1K ฿516.5K

$4,809 ₸2.3M

235.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.2 ฿1,898

$56.2 ₸26.4K

5.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.86 ฿1,118

$34.80 ₸16.4K

0.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$114 ฿3,662

$87.4 ₸41.1K

30.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.8 ฿2,751

$87.9 ₸41.3K

-2.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$619 ฿19.8K

$481 ₸225.9K

28.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$437 ฿14.0K

$324 ₸152.2K

34.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,075 ฿66.5K

$851 ₸399.9K

143.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,509 ฿48.4K

$605 ₸284.6K

149.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,764 ฿120.7K

$1,292 ₸607.1K

191.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,694 ฿86.4K

$943 ₸443.5K

185.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$528 ฿16.9K

$723 ₸339.8K

-26.89%

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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Astana: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $619 in Phuket versus $481 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 37% 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 $47 in Phuket versus $29 in Astana. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $176 – 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: $1,247 in Phuket, $898 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 $1,870 per month in Phuket and $1,346 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 $698 per month in Phuket and $235 in Astana. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 66% 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 $898, than in Phuket at $1,247. 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 $898 in Astana to $1,247 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.