Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Cacak

For one person, living is cheaper in Cacak: $1,054 a month against $1,278 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $2,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Phuket, Thailand
Cacak, Serbia
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,278
/mo nomad
Cacak
🇷🇸 Serbia
$1,054
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Cacak

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Phuket and in Cacak actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,278 in Phuket versus $1,054 in Cacak.

  • Phuket $1,278
  • Cacak $1,054

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,216 in Phuket versus $1,571 in Cacak.

  • Phuket $2,216
  • Cacak $1,571

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,154 in Phuket versus $2,088 in Cacak.

  • Phuket $3,154
  • Cacak $2,088

Living in Phuket is roughly 21% more expensive than in Cacak, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, Cacak 23% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Cacak
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.47 ฿151
$7.21 RSD 760
-38.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.41 ฿1,094
$38.39 RSD 4,045
-15.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.81 ฿297
$11.54 RSD 1,216
-23.66%
Cappuccino
$2.83 ฿95.5
$1.49 RSD 157
89.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 ฿29.43
$2.45 RSD 258
-64.49%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.67
$1.46 RSD 154
-66.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.56 ฿86.4
$2.42 RSD 255
5.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 ฿124
$2.42 RSD 255
52.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Cacak
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 ฿56.0
$1.25 RSD 132
32.80%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 ฿49.35
$0.77 RSD 81.6
89.61%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.6
$2.69 RSD 283
-44.24%
Eggs
$2.09 ฿70.5
$2.54 RSD 267
-17.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.07 ฿644
$3.86 RSD 407
394.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.30 ฿111
$7.07 RSD 745
-53.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.91 ฿368
$14.33 RSD 1,510
-23.87%
Apples (1kg)
$2.93 ฿99.0
$1.23 RSD 130
138.21%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 ฿57.1
$1.94 RSD 204
-12.89%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 ฿75.8
$1.67 RSD 176
34.73%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿70.1
$2.47 RSD 260
-15.79%
Potato (1kg)
$1.51 ฿51.0
$1.03 RSD 109
46.60%
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.56
$0.65 RSD 68.1
112.31%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ฿35.99
$0.94 RSD 99.3
13.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.52
$0.55 RSD 57.8
-5.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20 ฿142
$4.70 RSD 495
-10.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.79 ฿634
$7.03 RSD 740
167.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 ฿61.5
$0.94 RSD 98.9
93.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 ฿95.9
$2.25 RSD 237
26.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Cacak
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.45 ฿49.03
$0.98 RSD 104
47.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$56.7 ฿1,913
$16.56 RSD 1,745
242.15%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿102
$1.95 RSD 205
54.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ฿34.36
$0.96 RSD 101
6.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.69 ฿125
$10.62 RSD 1,119
-65.25%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ฿49.81
$1.73 RSD 182
-15.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K ฿904.3K
$26.5K RSD 2.8M
0.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿901.3K
$23.7K RSD 2.5M
12.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Cacak
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.4 ฿3,254
$141 RSD 14.9K
-31.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.26 ฿380
$19.02 RSD 2,004
-40.80%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.85 ฿569
$19.27 RSD 2,030
-12.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Cacak
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.2 ฿2,270
$29.04 RSD 3,060
131.51%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.73 ฿362
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.50 ฿253
$7.04 RSD 741
6.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Cacak
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$476 ฿16.1K
$367 RSD 38.7K
29.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.3K ฿380.4K
$7,491 RSD 789.3K
50.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Cacak
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.4 ฿2,106
$117 RSD 12.3K
-46.70%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.41 ฿959
$44.75 RSD 4,715
-36.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.3 ฿3,184
$138 RSD 14.5K
-31.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.8 ฿2,898
$127 RSD 13.4K
-32.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Cacak
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$716 ฿24.2K
$307 RSD 32.4K
133.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$491 ฿16.6K
$264 RSD 27.8K
86.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,927 ฿65.1K
$427 RSD 45.0K
351.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,431 ฿48.3K
$369 RSD 38.9K
287.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,175 ฿141.0K
$2,071 RSD 218.3K
101.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,045 ฿102.8K
$1,563 RSD 164.7K
94.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Cacak
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$502 ฿17.0K
$726 RSD 76.5K
-30.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
5.17
7.74%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Last update for Cacak: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$491
Cacak
$264 46.3% $227
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$266
Cacak
$206 22.7% $60
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$124
Cacak
$180 44.3% $55
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$122
Cacak
$192 57.4% $70
Eating Out
Phuket
$122
Cacak
$143 17.3% $21
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$82
Cacak
$43 47.6% $39
Getting Around
Phuket
$71
Cacak
$27 61.4% $43

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $716 in Phuket and $307 in Cacak. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cacak pays 45% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $32 in Phuket vs $38 in Cacak. Groceries flip the comparison at $266 vs $206, with Cacak cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇷🇸 Cacak
🕒 Local time
22:43 10:43 PM
16:43 4:43 PM
6 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
69,598
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

RSD, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 33.77 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.58 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Serbian Dinar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 105 RSD (1,000 RSD = 9.49 USD). 1 EUR = 117 RSD (1,000 RSD = 8.53 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Cacak 8,440 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Cacak

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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, transport, and leisure. The 21% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Cacak?
On paper, salaries run 31% lower in Phuket. 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: $716 in Phuket versus $307 in Cacak. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $476 in Phuket versus $367 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 29% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 enough for either Phuket or Cacak?
Either city works on $1,500 a month, though Cacak gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is it better to live in Phuket or in Cacak?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
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.

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