ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $536 in Bila Tserkva.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $813 in Bila Tserkva.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $1,091 in Bila Tserkva.
ðLiving in Phuket is roughly 130% more expensive than Bila Tserkva, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
ðBoth cities sit below the global median: Phuket8% lower, Bila Tserkva60% lower.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Bila Tserkva
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63āļŋ151
$4.92âī217
-5.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84āļŋ1,532
$29.50âī1,300
58.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84āļŋ289
$5.23âī231
69.02%
Cappuccino
$3.00āļŋ98.0
$0.98âī43.23
206.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74āļŋ24.25
$0.54âī23.71
37.04%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37āļŋ11.95
$0.29âī12.99
27.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44āļŋ79.8
$0.59âī26.08
313.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61āļŋ118
$0.81âī35.58
345.68%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Bila Tserkva
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26āļŋ73.9
$0.96âī42.35
135.42%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84āļŋ60.1
$0.59âī26.08
211.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24āļŋ73.4
$1.20âī52.7
86.67%
Eggs
$2.32āļŋ75.7
$1.25âī55.2
85.60%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67āļŋ643
$7.96âī351
147.11%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65āļŋ119
$3.53âī155
3.40%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10āļŋ428
$4.31âī190
203.94%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39āļŋ111
$0.77âī33.92
340.26%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64āļŋ53.7
$1.35âī59.6
21.48%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41āļŋ79.0
$1.19âī52.3
102.52%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03āļŋ66.4
$1.31âī57.5
54.96%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56āļŋ50.9
$0.42âī18.55
271.43%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50āļŋ48.94
$0.51âī22.30
194.12%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02āļŋ33.50
$0.61âī26.94
67.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49āļŋ16.00
$0.44âī19.58
11.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45āļŋ145
$2.34âī103
90.17%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88āļŋ617
$4.15âī183
354.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78āļŋ58.1
$0.66âī29.00
169.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75āļŋ90.1
$0.87âī38.27
216.09%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Bila Tserkva
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40āļŋ45.81
$0.25âī11.09
460.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48āļŋ376
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12āļŋ102
$1.79âī79.0
74.30%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00āļŋ32.67
$0.30âī13.38
233.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09āļŋ461
$2.97âī131
374.41%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35āļŋ44.19
$1.36âī60.1
-0.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2Kāļŋ888.9K
$31.0Kâī1.4M
-12.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
$24.9Kâī1.1M
32.13%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Bila Tserkva
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125āļŋ4,087
$57.3âī2,526
118.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57āļŋ444
$5.45âī240
148.99%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52āļŋ606
$3.73âī165
396.51%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Bila Tserkva
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5āļŋ2,010
$24.32âī1,072
152.80%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84āļŋ551
$9.93âī438
69.59%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19āļŋ300
$3.46âī152
165.61%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Bila Tserkva
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698āļŋ22.8K
$290âī12.8K
141.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6Kāļŋ509.9K
$3,549âī156.4K
339.34%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Bila Tserkva
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8āļŋ1,889
$41.75âī1,840
38.35%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24āļŋ1,152
$12.25âī540
187.67%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,699
$75.8âī3,341
49.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4āļŋ2,825
$84.1âī3,704
2.76%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Bila Tserkva
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616āļŋ20.1K
$156âī6,868
295.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446āļŋ14.6K
$134âī5,913
232.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048āļŋ67.0K
$209âī9,203
880.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492āļŋ48.8K
$158âī6,971
843.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779āļŋ123.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649āļŋ86.6K
$1,083âī47.7K
144.54%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Bila Tserkva
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524āļŋ17.1K
$444âī19.6K
18.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
8
-33.38%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Bila Tserkva: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $616 in Phuket and $156 in Bila Tserkva. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ð°Phuket pays 18% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
ðDining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $29.00 in Bila Tserkva for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $126 per month, with Bila Tserkva cheaper across the board.
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 Bila Tserkva: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Phuket and Bila Tserkva?
Phuket and Bila Tserkva differ by about 130% in total monthly costs ($1,232 vs $536 including rent). Bila Tserkva is meaningfully more affordable â a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Phuket or Bila Tserkva?
Phuket pays 18% more on average, 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 Bila Tserkva?
Rent for a central apartment: $616 in Phuket versus $156 in Bila Tserkva. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 131% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Phuket or Bila Tserkva?
All in, you'll spend $1,232 per month in Phuket versus $536 in Bila Tserkva â a 130% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $536 in Bila Tserkva versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Bila Tserkva but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Bila Tserkva the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Bila Tserkva?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better â the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Phuket or Bila Tserkva safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Bila Tserkva 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 Bila Tserkva?
Expats usually find Bila Tserkva gentler on the wallet â expenses run 130% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.