ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,018 in Gelendzhik.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $1,633 in Gelendzhik.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $2,248 in Gelendzhik.
ðLiving in Phuket is roughly 21% more expensive than Gelendzhik, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
ðBoth cities sit below the global median: Phuket8% lower, Gelendzhik24% lower.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Gelendzhik
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63āļŋ151
$10.30â―774
-55.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84āļŋ1,532
$53.1â―3,985
-11.71%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84āļŋ289
$8.01â―602
10.36%
Cappuccino
$3.00āļŋ98.0
$3.41â―256
-12.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74āļŋ24.25
$1.35â―101
-45.19%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37āļŋ11.95
$0.94â―70.6
-60.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44āļŋ79.8
$1.41â―106
73.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61āļŋ118
$5.06â―380
-28.66%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Gelendzhik
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26āļŋ73.9
$1.24â―92.9
82.26%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84āļŋ60.1
$0.69â―52.2
166.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24āļŋ73.4
$0.74â―55.6
202.70%
Eggs
$2.32āļŋ75.7
$1.96â―147
18.37%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67āļŋ643
$13.74â―1,032
43.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65āļŋ119
$5.87â―441
-37.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10āļŋ428
$8.88â―667
47.52%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39āļŋ111
$1.55â―116
118.71%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64āļŋ53.7
$1.60â―120
2.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41āļŋ79.0
$2.42â―182
-0.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03āļŋ66.4
$3.22â―242
-36.96%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56āļŋ50.9
$0.82â―61.3
90.24%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50āļŋ48.94
$0.75â―56.0
100.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02āļŋ33.50
$1.36â―102
-25.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49āļŋ16.00
$0.60â―44.86
-18.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45āļŋ145
$3.23â―243
37.77%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88āļŋ617
$8.54â―642
121.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78āļŋ58.1
$0.96â―72.3
85.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75āļŋ90.1
$1.88â―141
46.28%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Gelendzhik
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40āļŋ45.81
$0.49â―36.47
185.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48āļŋ376
$51.5â―3,871
-77.73%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12āļŋ102
$1.92â―145
62.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00āļŋ32.67
$0.25â―18.66
300.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09āļŋ461
$6.82â―512
106.60%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35āļŋ44.19
$0.73â―54.6
84.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2Kāļŋ888.9K
$42.0Kâ―3.2M
-35.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
$37.0Kâ―2.8M
-10.95%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Gelendzhik
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125āļŋ4,087
$58.2â―4,367
114.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57āļŋ444
$6.43â―483
111.04%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52āļŋ606
$8.83â―663
109.74%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Gelendzhik
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5āļŋ2,010
$35.14â―2,639
74.96%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84āļŋ551
$22.01â―1,654
-23.49%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19āļŋ300
$6.52â―489
40.95%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Gelendzhik
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698āļŋ22.8K
$450â―33.8K
55.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6Kāļŋ509.9K
$7,011â―526.6K
122.40%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Gelendzhik
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8āļŋ1,889
$76.3â―5,729
-24.27%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24āļŋ1,152
$34.28â―2,575
2.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,699
$132â―9,904
-14.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4āļŋ2,825
$106â―7,947
-18.36%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Gelendzhik
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616āļŋ20.1K
$442â―33.2K
39.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446āļŋ14.6K
$310â―23.3K
43.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048āļŋ67.0K
$763â―57.3K
168.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492āļŋ48.8K
$505â―38.0K
195.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779āļŋ123.6K
$3,017â―226.6K
25.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649āļŋ86.6K
$2,509â―188.5K
5.56%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Gelendzhik
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524āļŋ17.1K
$435â―32.7K
20.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
16.4
-67.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Gelendzhik: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $616 in Phuket and $442 in Gelendzhik. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ð°Phuket pays 20% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
ðDining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $53.0 in Gelendzhik. Groceries flip the comparison at $292 vs $213, with Gelendzhik 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 Gelendzhik: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Gelendzhik?
Gelendzhik wins on cost â living expenses run 21% lower than in Phuket. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Gelendzhik the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Phuket or Gelendzhik?
Phuket pays 20% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Phuket vs Gelendzhik?
Rent for a central apartment: $616 in Phuket versus $442 in Gelendzhik. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Phuket vs Gelendzhik?
Dining out is cheaper in Gelendzhik â a meal for two runs $53.0 versus $47.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Phuket compared to Gelendzhik?
All in, you'll spend $1,232 per month in Phuket versus $1,018 in Gelendzhik â a 21% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Phuket or Gelendzhik?
At $1,018 in Gelendzhik versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Gelendzhik but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Gelendzhik the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Gelendzhik?
Both work as nomad bases, but Gelendzhik delivers better value â similar infrastructure at $1,018 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Gelendzhik hard to pass up.
How safe is Phuket compared to Gelendzhik?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Gelendzhik 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Gelendzhik gentler on the wallet â expenses run 21% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.