Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Cacak Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Cacak

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Phuket versus $1,090 in Cacak.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,286 in Phuket versus $1,621 in Cacak.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,310 in Phuket versus $2,151 in Cacak.

Living in Phuket is roughly 16% more expensive than Cacak, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, Cacak 19% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Cacak
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56 ฿149
$7.28 RSD 736
-37.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.63 ฿1,519
$39.10 RSD 3,955
19.26%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.47 ฿276
$11.04 RSD 1,116
-23.28%
Cappuccino
$3.03 ฿98.6
$1.60 RSD 162
89.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ฿22.45
$2.21 RSD 223
-68.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿11.92
$1.45 RSD 147
-74.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.49 ฿81.0
$2.55 RSD 258
-2.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿119
$2.50 RSD 253
46.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Cacak
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 ฿71.0
$1.27 RSD 128
71.65%
White Bread (500g)
$1.90 ฿62.0
$0.81 RSD 81.8
134.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.20 ฿71.6
$2.80 RSD 284
-21.43%
Eggs
$2.22 ฿72.4
$2.58 RSD 261
-13.95%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.99 ฿651
$3.83 RSD 388
421.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.66 ฿119
$7.01 RSD 709
-47.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.25 ฿432
$12.68 RSD 1,282
4.50%
Apples (1kg)
$3.23 ฿105
$1.29 RSD 131
150.39%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 ฿55.3
$1.83 RSD 185
-7.10%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.39 ฿78.0
$1.56 RSD 158
53.21%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿67.7
$2.46 RSD 249
-15.45%
Potato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿51.8
$0.93 RSD 93.8
70.97%
Onion (1kg)
$1.48 ฿48.31
$0.95 RSD 95.7
55.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 ฿33.54
$0.81 RSD 81.9
27.16%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿16.83
$0.57 RSD 57.6
-8.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.25 ฿138
$4.41 RSD 446
-3.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.79 ฿612
$5.49 RSD 555
242.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 ฿57.2
$0.91 RSD 91.6
93.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 ฿89.8
$2.24 RSD 226
23.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Cacak
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.36 ฿44.32
$0.91 RSD 92.0
49.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.36 ฿370
$28.02 RSD 2,834
-59.46%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 ฿102
$1.97 RSD 199
59.39%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.04 ฿33.74
$0.63 RSD 63.9
65.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.77 ฿448
$9.21 RSD 931
49.51%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 ฿43.79
$1.70 RSD 172
-21.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K ฿901.4K
$27.5K RSD 2.8M
0.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9K ฿1.1M
$28.6K RSD 2.9M
18.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Cacak
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$124 ฿4,025
$146 RSD 14.7K
-15.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.52 ฿440
$19.79 RSD 2,001
-31.68%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.69 ฿609
$19.79 RSD 2,002
-5.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Cacak
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.8 ฿2,013
$31.07 RSD 3,142
98.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.25 ฿562
$16.35 RSD 1,654
5.50%
Cinema Ticket
$9.14 ฿298
$6.29 RSD 637
45.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Cacak
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$703 ฿22.9K
$346 RSD 35.0K
103.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.9K ฿517.0K
$7,405 RSD 748.9K
114.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Cacak
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5 ฿1,937
$109 RSD 11.0K
-45.27%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.07 ฿1,142
$46.54 RSD 4,707
-24.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,754
$124 RSD 12.5K
-6.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.1 ฿2,737
$137 RSD 13.8K
-38.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Cacak
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$619 ฿20.1K
$370 RSD 37.4K
67.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$433 ฿14.1K
$301 RSD 30.4K
43.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,062 ฿67.2K
$559 RSD 56.5K
268.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,511 ฿49.2K
$422 RSD 42.7K
258.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,646 ฿118.7K
$2,067 RSD 209.0K
76.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,626 ฿85.5K
$1,499 RSD 151.6K
75.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Cacak
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$507 ฿16.5K
$765 RSD 77.4K
-33.72%
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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Cacak: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $619 in Phuket and $370 in Cacak. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cacak pays 51% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $39.00 in Cacak for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $198 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, Cacak earns 51% less. 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: $619 in Phuket versus $370 in Cacak. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $703 in Phuket versus $346 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 Cacak?
Supermarket bills run roughly 48% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Cacak?
At $1,090 in Cacak versus $1,261 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.

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