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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,250 per month in Phuket vs $892 in Astana, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,284 per month in Phuket vs $1,426 in Astana, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,317 per month in Phuket vs $1,961 in Astana, rent included.

Phuket costs about 40% more than Astana, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Astana are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Astana 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.55 ฿153

$8.27 ₸3,889

-44.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.18 ฿1,553

$29.74 ₸14.0K

55.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.84 ฿297

$5.74 ₸2,697

54.01%

Cappuccino

$3.06 ฿103

$2.22 ₸1,045

37.84%

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

$0.73 ฿24.40

$0.91 ₸429

-19.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ฿13.39

$0.57 ₸266

-29.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 ฿81.8

$1.18 ₸557

105.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.78 ฿127

$3.01 ₸1,413

25.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ฿76.0

$0.97 ₸456

132.99%

White Bread (500g)

$1.81 ฿60.9

$0.46 ₸219

293.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 ฿75.8

$1.38 ₸650

63.04%

Eggs

$2.25 ฿75.5

$1.69 ₸794

33.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.51 ฿656

$9.49 ₸4,460

105.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.65 ฿123

$4.83 ₸2,269

-24.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.05 ฿439

$6.98 ₸3,281

86.96%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ฿109

$1.37 ₸643

135.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.4

$1.84 ₸863

-11.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.38 ฿80.1

$1.90 ₸895

25.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 ฿68.1

$1.88 ₸886

7.98%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿51.6

$0.56 ₸262

173.21%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.5

$0.37 ₸176

305.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ฿32.91

$0.96 ₸449

2.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.39

$0.74 ₸349

-29.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.44 ฿149

$1.90 ₸895

133.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.32 ฿616

$9.54 ₸4,482

92.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.7

$0.97 ₸455

91.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 ฿90.1

$1.68 ₸789

59.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.41 ฿47.46

$0.23 ₸108

513.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.70 ฿393

$14.80 ₸6,955

-20.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.11 ฿105

$1.80 ₸844

72.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿35.06

$0.71 ₸333

46.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.11 ฿474

$4.32 ₸2,028

226.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 ฿44.10

$0.51 ₸239

156.86%

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

$27.8K ฿935.4K

$20.3K ₸9.5M

37.18%

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

$33.2K ฿1.1M

$25.2K ₸11.9M

31.58%

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

$122 ฿4,118

$53.3 ₸25.0K

129.93%

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

$13.59 ฿457

$8.34 ₸3,918

62.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.70 ฿629

$13.70 ₸6,438

36.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.5 ฿2,034

$51.0 ₸24.0K

18.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.98 ฿571

$10.96 ₸5,150

54.93%

Cinema Ticket

$9.07 ฿305

$5.22 ₸2,454

73.75%

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

$706 ฿23.8K

$239 ₸112.3K

195.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K ฿531.5K

$4,800 ₸2.3M

229.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 ฿1,969

$57.4 ₸27.0K

2.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.36 ฿1,189

$35.08 ₸16.5K

0.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,883

$87.6 ₸41.2K

31.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.7 ฿2,816

$87.7 ₸41.2K

-4.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$626 ฿21.0K

$467 ₸219.4K

34.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$445 ฿15.0K

$323 ₸151.6K

37.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,040 ฿68.6K

$860 ₸404.3K

137.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,492 ฿50.2K

$587 ₸276.0K

154.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,483 ฿117.1K

$1,409 ₸662.3K

147.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,577 ฿86.7K

$1,013 ₸476.3K

154.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$500 ฿16.8K

$845 ₸397.2K

-40.86%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Astana: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $626 in Phuket versus $467 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 69% 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 $46.00 in Phuket versus $30.00 in Astana. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $289 vs $177 – 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: $1,250 in Phuket, $892 in Astana – roughly 40% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,875 per month in Phuket and $1,338 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 $706 per month in Phuket and $239 in Astana. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 63% 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 $892, than in Phuket at $1,250. 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 $892 in Astana to $1,250 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.