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: $1,265 in Phuket versus $1,095 in Cacak.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,089 in Phuket versus $1,655 in Cacak.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,913 in Phuket versus $2,214 in Cacak.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 8% lower, Cacak 21% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Cacak
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.66 ฿154
$7.21 RSD 727
-35.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.22 ฿1,065
$38.93 RSD 3,924
-17.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.68 ฿287
$11.69 RSD 1,178
-25.75%
Cappuccino
$2.90 ฿95.8
$1.62 RSD 163
79.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 ฿27.89
$2.45 RSD 247
-65.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.16
$1.45 RSD 146
-66.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.48 ฿82.0
$2.55 RSD 257
-2.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿123
$2.66 RSD 268
40.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Cacak
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.89 ฿62.3
$1.28 RSD 129
47.66%
White Bread (500g)
$1.41 ฿46.54
$0.75 RSD 75.7
88.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.62 ฿53.6
$2.78 RSD 281
-41.73%
Eggs
$2.24 ฿74.1
$2.73 RSD 275
-17.95%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.84 ฿656
$3.94 RSD 397
403.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.48 ฿115
$7.56 RSD 762
-53.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.37 ฿376
$14.93 RSD 1,505
-23.84%
Apples (1kg)
$2.90 ฿95.8
$1.32 RSD 133
119.70%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 ฿57.0
$2.01 RSD 202
-14.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.27 ฿75.1
$1.68 RSD 170
35.12%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.13 ฿70.4
$2.66 RSD 268
-19.92%
Potato (1kg)
$1.47 ฿48.72
$1.04 RSD 105
41.35%
Onion (1kg)
$1.42 ฿46.92
$0.70 RSD 70.8
102.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.10 ฿36.25
$1.03 RSD 104
6.80%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60 ฿19.76
$0.61 RSD 61.5
-1.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.31 ฿142
$4.81 RSD 485
-10.40%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.60 ฿615
$7.25 RSD 730
156.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 ฿59.5
$0.90 RSD 91.2
100.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 ฿98.0
$2.33 RSD 235
27.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Cacak
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.25 ฿74.2
$0.52 RSD 51.9
332.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$23.49 ฿776
$17.04 RSD 1,717
37.85%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.10 ฿102
$1.97 RSD 198
57.36%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.08 ฿35.56
$0.89 RSD 90.0
21.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.87 ฿128
$10.82 RSD 1,091
-64.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.43 ฿47.16
$1.77 RSD 179
-19.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K ฿918.0K
$27.6K RSD 2.8M
0.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K ฿891.5K
$26.5K RSD 2.7M
1.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Cacak
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$105 ฿3,462
$150 RSD 15.2K
-30.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.39 ฿376
$19.71 RSD 1,986
-42.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.54 ฿580
$19.88 RSD 2,004
-11.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Cacak
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.3 ฿1,795
$30.82 RSD 3,107
76.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.44 ฿378
$15.34 RSD 1,546
-25.42%
Cinema Ticket
$7.78 ฿257
$7.23 RSD 729
7.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Cacak
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$576 ฿19.0K
$380 RSD 38.3K
51.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K ฿382.7K
$7,822 RSD 788.4K
48.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Cacak
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.6 ฿2,103
$122 RSD 12.3K
-47.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.10 ฿961
$45.12 RSD 4,548
-35.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.2 ฿3,179
$145 RSD 14.7K
-33.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.0 ฿2,974
$142 RSD 14.3K
-36.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Cacak
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$733 ฿24.2K
$326 RSD 32.8K
124.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$501 ฿16.5K
$298 RSD 30.0K
68.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,126 ฿70.2K
$463 RSD 46.6K
359.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,252 ฿41.4K
$385 RSD 38.8K
225.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,534 ฿116.8K
$2,099 RSD 211.5K
68.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,622 ฿86.6K
$1,578 RSD 159.0K
66.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Cacak
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$508 ฿16.8K
$765 RSD 77.1K
-33.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
5.23
6.50%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Phuket: September 6, 2026

Last update for Cacak: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $733 in Phuket and $326 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: $32.00 in Phuket vs $39.00 in Cacak. Groceries flip the comparison at $275 vs $215, with Cacak cheaper for home cooking.

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, Getting Around. 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 51% 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: $733 in Phuket versus $326 in Cacak. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $576 in Phuket versus $380 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 28% 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 $1,095 in Cacak versus $1,265 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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