Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and CacakCost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Cacak
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,264 in Phuket versus $1,092 in Cacak.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,256 in Phuket versus $1,625 in Cacak.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,248 in Phuket versus $2,159 in Cacak.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 16% more expensive than in Cacak, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket5% lower, Cacak18% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Cacak
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.48฿150
$7.47RSD 767
-40.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.59฿1,525
$39.47RSD 4,052
15.51%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.76฿293
$10.73RSD 1,101
-18.36%
Cappuccino
$2.97฿99.3
$1.63RSD 167
82.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.96
$2.13RSD 219
-67.61%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39฿13.07
$1.44RSD 148
-72.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.53฿84.7
$2.64RSD 271
-4.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75฿125
$2.54RSD 261
47.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Cacak
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.15฿71.8
$1.26RSD 130
70.63%
White Bread(500g)
$1.82฿60.7
$0.76RSD 78.4
139.47%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.18฿73.1
$2.81RSD 288
-22.42%
Eggs
$2.25฿75.2
$2.56RSD 263
-12.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$20.00฿669
$3.99RSD 410
401.25%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63฿121
$6.79RSD 697
-46.54%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.56฿453
$12.52RSD 1,285
8.31%
Apples(1kg)
$3.24฿109
$1.25RSD 128
159.20%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64฿54.7
$1.85RSD 190
-11.35%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.33฿78.0
$1.56RSD 160
49.36%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.07฿69.3
$2.43RSD 249
-14.81%
Potato(1kg)
$1.55฿51.8
$0.93RSD 95.8
66.67%
Onion(1kg)
$1.46฿48.67
$0.88RSD 89.9
65.91%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98฿32.94
$0.77RSD 78.5
27.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.13
$0.61RSD 62.1
-21.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35฿146
$4.34RSD 445
0.23%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.57฿621
$5.42RSD 556
242.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿62.1
$0.89RSD 91.4
108.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65฿88.8
$2.21RSD 227
19.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Cacak
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.42฿47.40
$0.98RSD 100
44.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.57฿387
$28.11RSD 2,886
-58.84%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.17฿106
$1.95RSD 200
62.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.03฿34.51
$0.64RSD 66.1
60.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.89฿465
$9.55RSD 980
45.45%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34฿44.96
$1.68RSD 173
-20.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿929.6K
$27.5KRSD 2.8M
1.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4K฿1.1M
$28.2KRSD 2.9M
18.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Cacak
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123฿4,116
$146RSD 15.0K
-15.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77฿461
$19.42RSD 1,994
-29.09%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.33฿613
$19.53RSD 2,005
-6.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Cacak
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.7฿2,030
$30.16RSD 3,096
101.23%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.16฿574
$16.23RSD 1,666
5.73%
Cinema Ticket
$8.87฿297
$6.32RSD 649
40.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Cacak
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$688฿23.0K
$341RSD 35.0K
101.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8K฿527.8K
$7,344RSD 753.9K
114.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Cacak
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3฿1,984
$109RSD 11.2K
-45.55%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.69฿1,160
$46.54RSD 4,777
-25.46%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,853
$125RSD 12.8K
-7.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.8฿2,802
$135RSD 13.9K
-38.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Cacak
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$621฿20.8K
$380RSD 39.0K
63.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446฿14.9K
$291RSD 29.9K
53.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,034฿68.0K
$555RSD 57.0K
266.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,496฿50.0K
$412RSD 42.3K
262.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,455฿115.6K
$2,177RSD 223.5K
58.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,531฿84.7K
$1,629RSD 167.2K
55.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Cacak
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494฿16.5K
$752RSD 77.2K
-34.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
7.31
-27.09%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026
Last update for Cacak: July 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $621 in Phuket and $380 in Cacak. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cacak pays 52% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $46.00 in Phuket vs $39.00 in Cacak for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $291 vs $196 per month, with Cacak 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 Cacak: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cacak cheaper than Phuket?
Cacak is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment. The 16% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Cacak?
On paper, salaries run 52% lower in Cacak. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Cacak?
Rent for a central apartment: $621 in Phuket versus $380 in Cacak. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $688 in Phuket versus $341 in Cacak. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and in Cacak?
Supermarket bills run roughly 49% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Cacak?
At $1,092 in Cacak versus $1,264 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cacak but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Cacak the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Cacak more family-friendly?
For families, Cacak is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Cacak?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Cacak are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Cacak gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.