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: $1,264 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: Phuket 5% lower, Cacak 18% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Cacak
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.48 ฿150
$7.47 RSD 767
-40.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.59 ฿1,525
$39.47 RSD 4,052
15.51%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.76 ฿293
$10.73 RSD 1,101
-18.36%
Cappuccino
$2.97 ฿99.3
$1.63 RSD 167
82.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ฿22.96
$2.13 RSD 219
-67.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39 ฿13.07
$1.44 RSD 148
-72.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.53 ฿84.7
$2.64 RSD 271
-4.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75 ฿125
$2.54 RSD 261
47.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Cacak
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.15 ฿71.8
$1.26 RSD 130
70.63%
White Bread (500g)
$1.82 ฿60.7
$0.76 RSD 78.4
139.47%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.18 ฿73.1
$2.81 RSD 288
-22.42%
Eggs
$2.25 ฿75.2
$2.56 RSD 263
-12.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$20.00 ฿669
$3.99 RSD 410
401.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.63 ฿121
$6.79 RSD 697
-46.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.56 ฿453
$12.52 RSD 1,285
8.31%
Apples (1kg)
$3.24 ฿109
$1.25 RSD 128
159.20%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 ฿54.7
$1.85 RSD 190
-11.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.33 ฿78.0
$1.56 RSD 160
49.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.07 ฿69.3
$2.43 RSD 249
-14.81%
Potato (1kg)
$1.55 ฿51.8
$0.93 RSD 95.8
66.67%
Onion (1kg)
$1.46 ฿48.67
$0.88 RSD 89.9
65.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.98 ฿32.94
$0.77 RSD 78.5
27.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48 ฿16.13
$0.61 RSD 62.1
-21.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35 ฿146
$4.34 RSD 445
0.23%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.57 ฿621
$5.42 RSD 556
242.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 ฿62.1
$0.89 RSD 91.4
108.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65 ฿88.8
$2.21 RSD 227
19.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Cacak
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.42 ฿47.40
$0.98 RSD 100
44.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.57 ฿387
$28.11 RSD 2,886
-58.84%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.17 ฿106
$1.95 RSD 200
62.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.03 ฿34.51
$0.64 RSD 66.1
60.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.89 ฿465
$9.55 RSD 980
45.45%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 ฿44.96
$1.68 RSD 173
-20.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K ฿929.6K
$27.5K RSD 2.8M
1.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4K ฿1.1M
$28.2K RSD 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
$146 RSD 15.0K
-15.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77 ฿461
$19.42 RSD 1,994
-29.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.33 ฿613
$19.53 RSD 2,005
-6.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Cacak
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.7 ฿2,030
$30.16 RSD 3,096
101.23%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.16 ฿574
$16.23 RSD 1,666
5.73%
Cinema Ticket
$8.87 ฿297
$6.32 RSD 649
40.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Cacak
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$688 ฿23.0K
$341 RSD 35.0K
101.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.8K ฿527.8K
$7,344 RSD 753.9K
114.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Cacak
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3 ฿1,984
$109 RSD 11.2K
-45.55%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.69 ฿1,160
$46.54 RSD 4,777
-25.46%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,853
$125 RSD 12.8K
-7.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.8 ฿2,802
$135 RSD 13.9K
-38.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Cacak
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$621 ฿20.8K
$380 RSD 39.0K
63.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$446 ฿14.9K
$291 RSD 29.9K
53.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,034 ฿68.0K
$555 RSD 57.0K
266.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,496 ฿50.0K
$412 RSD 42.3K
262.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,455 ฿115.6K
$2,177 RSD 223.5K
58.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,531 ฿84.7K
$1,629 RSD 167.2K
55.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Cacak
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$494 ฿16.5K
$752 RSD 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.

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