😐A single person spends $1,243 per month in Phuket vs $853 in Ekibastuz, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,023 per month in Phuket vs $1,393 in Ekibastuz, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,803 per month in Phuket vs $1,933 in Ekibastuz, rent included.
😐Phuket costs about 46% more than Ekibastuz, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both Phuket and Ekibastuz are more affordable than the global median – Phuket8% lower, Ekibastuz37% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Ekibastuz
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.37฿147
$10.55₸4,810
-58.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.87฿1,107
$39.22₸17.9K
-16.19%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.39฿283
$8.19₸3,732
2.44%
Cappuccino
$2.73฿92.1
$1.62₸738
68.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88฿29.70
$1.12₸512
-21.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47฿15.97
$0.62₸284
-24.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.36฿79.3
$1.38₸628
71.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.71฿125
$2.31₸1,055
60.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Ekibastuz
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.83฿61.7
$1.28₸585
42.97%
White Bread(500g)
$1.45฿48.75
$0.67₸306
116.42%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.58฿53.1
$1.71₸778
-7.60%
Eggs
$2.10฿70.7
$2.22₸1,014
-5.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.37฿652
$12.58₸5,734
53.97%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.42฿115
$6.06₸2,762
-43.56%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.96฿369
$10.97₸5,002
-0.09%
Apples(1kg)
$3.00฿101
$1.80₸819
66.67%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64฿55.1
$2.52₸1,150
-34.92%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.21฿74.3
$2.30₸1,047
-3.91%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.12฿71.5
$2.43₸1,108
-12.76%
Potato(1kg)
$1.47฿49.52
$0.73₸333
101.37%
Onion(1kg)
$1.32฿44.53
$0.44₸199
200.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07฿36.06
$1.57₸714
-31.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿17.68
$0.93₸423
-44.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.38฿148
$2.32₸1,059
88.79%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.59฿626
$11.59₸5,283
60.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75฿58.8
$1.37₸625
27.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86฿96.2
$2.46₸1,120
16.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Ekibastuz
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.26฿76.3
$0.26₸119
769.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.98฿774
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.94฿99.1
$1.16₸527
153.45%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.07฿35.96
$1.17₸535
-8.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.84฿129
$6.78₸3,093
-43.36%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.46฿49.14
$0.62₸282
135.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K฿915.5K
$25.3K₸11.5M
7.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K฿896.7K
$31.5K₸14.3M
-15.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Ekibastuz
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102฿3,433
$67.1₸30.6K
51.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.96฿369
$10.16₸4,633
7.87%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.89฿569
$18.34₸8,361
-7.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Ekibastuz
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.4฿1,765
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.93฿368
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.52฿253
$6.21₸2,830
21.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Ekibastuz
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$547฿18.4K
$381₸173.8K
43.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.3K฿380.9K
$11.9K₸5.4M
-4.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Ekibastuz
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.2฿2,129
$68.0₸31.0K
-6.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.23฿984
$48.23₸22.0K
-39.39%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.8฿3,294
$124₸56.6K
-21.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.7฿2,919
$131₸59.5K
-33.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Ekibastuz
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$721฿24.3K
$249₸113.7K
188.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$476฿16.0K
$186₸84.8K
156.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,081฿70.1K
$457₸208.4K
355.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,194฿40.2K
$348₸158.9K
242.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,577฿120.4K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,541฿85.6K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Ekibastuz
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$489฿16.5K
$341₸155.3K
43.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
15.5
-64.06%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: September 28, 2026
Last update for Ekibastuz: September 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $721 in Phuket versus $249 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 43% 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 $33.00 in Phuket versus $39.00 in Ekibastuz. Groceries tell a different story – $269 in Phuket vs $237 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: $1,243 in Phuket, $853 in Ekibastuz – roughly 46% 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 $1,865 per month in Phuket and $1,279 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 $1,243 in Phuket and $853 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 $547 per month in Phuket and $381 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 $853, than in Phuket at $1,243. 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 $853 in Ekibastuz to $1,243 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.