😐A single person spends $1,261 per month in Phuket vs $830 in Ekibastuz, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,078 per month in Phuket vs $1,328 in Ekibastuz, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,896 per month in Phuket vs $1,827 in Ekibastuz, rent included.
😐Phuket costs about 52% more than Ekibastuz, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both Phuket and Ekibastuz are more affordable than the global median – Phuket8% lower, Ekibastuz39% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Ekibastuz
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.43฿145
$10.13₸4,631
-56.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.07฿1,151
$36.94₸16.9K
-5.06%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.96฿294
$7.44₸3,399
20.43%
Cappuccino
$3.00฿98.4
$1.56₸713
92.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77฿25.33
$1.08₸493
-28.70%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47฿15.44
$0.66₸301
-28.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.40฿78.6
$1.27₸579
88.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75฿123
$2.14₸979
75.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Ekibastuz
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.82฿59.8
$1.25₸573
45.60%
White Bread(500g)
$1.42฿46.65
$0.63₸287
125.40%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.55฿50.8
$1.75₸799
-11.43%
Eggs
$2.13฿69.9
$2.20₸1,007
-3.18%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.76฿648
$11.76₸5,376
68.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.48฿114
$5.61₸2,562
-37.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.09฿364
$10.03₸4,582
10.57%
Apples(1kg)
$2.91฿95.5
$1.73₸789
68.21%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66฿54.6
$2.41₸1,103
-31.12%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.27฿74.5
$2.18₸996
4.13%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.10฿68.8
$2.39₸1,093
-12.13%
Potato(1kg)
$1.47฿48.24
$0.78₸358
88.46%
Onion(1kg)
$1.41฿46.29
$0.46₸209
206.52%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.09฿35.78
$1.48₸679
-26.35%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54฿17.58
$0.91₸416
-40.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.48฿147
$2.15₸983
108.37%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.72฿614
$10.31₸4,714
81.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84฿60.4
$1.24₸566
48.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95฿96.7
$2.30₸1,053
28.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Ekibastuz
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.26฿74.1
$0.23₸104
882.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$23.07฿757
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.04฿99.9
$1.11₸507
173.87%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.09฿35.82
$1.09₸500
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.82฿125
$6.68₸3,053
-42.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49฿48.79
$0.55₸249
170.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.4K฿900.3K
$23.5K₸10.7M
16.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5K฿902.7K
$30.6K₸14.0M
-10.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Ekibastuz
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102฿3,340
$66.7₸30.5K
52.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.28฿370
$10.26₸4,689
9.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.75฿582
$17.37₸7,938
2.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Ekibastuz
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.2฿1,777
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.96฿360
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.85฿258
$6.07₸2,773
29.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Ekibastuz
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$577฿18.9K
$368₸168.2K
56.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.6K฿381.6K
$11.0K₸5.0M
5.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Ekibastuz
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.4฿2,144
$66.4₸30.3K
-1.52%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.89฿948
$48.97₸22.4K
-41.00%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.1฿3,250
$116₸53.2K
-14.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.3฿2,961
$126₸57.6K
-28.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Ekibastuz
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$756฿24.8K
$240₸109.8K
214.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$487฿16.0K
$180₸82.2K
170.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,085฿68.4K
$439₸200.9K
374.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,207฿39.6K
$337₸154.1K
258.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,591฿117.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,610฿85.6K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Ekibastuz
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$502฿16.5K
$321₸146.6K
56.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
16.2
-65.62%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: August 18, 2026
Last update for Ekibastuz: August 18, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $756 in Phuket versus $240 in Ekibastuz. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 57% higher in Phuket, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Phuket versus $37.00 in Ekibastuz. Groceries tell a different story – $272 in Phuket vs $223 in Ekibastuz – so Ekibastuz wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Ekibastuz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Phuket and in Ekibastuz compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,261 in Phuket, $830 in Ekibastuz – roughly 52% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Phuket compared to Ekibastuz?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,891 per month in Phuket and $1,244 in Ekibastuz. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Phuket and Ekibastuz?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ekibastuz, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Phuket or Ekibastuz?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,261 in Phuket and $830 in Ekibastuz. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Phuket and Ekibastuz?
Kindergarten costs $577 per month in Phuket and $368 in Ekibastuz. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Ekibastuz, where all-in costs run around $830, than in Phuket at $1,261. In Ekibastuz it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Ekibastuz?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $830 in Ekibastuz to $1,261 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Phuket or Ekibastuz safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Phuket and Ekibastuz?
If budget matters most, go with Ekibastuz. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.