😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $808 in Horishni Plavni.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,054 in Phuket versus $1,205 in Horishni Plavni.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,876 in Phuket versus $1,603 in Horishni Plavni.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 52% more expensive than in Horishni Plavni, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket10% lower, Horishni Plavni41% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Horishni Plavni
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.41฿147
$8.83₴394
-50.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26฿1,074
$26.51₴1,182
21.69%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.93฿297
$5.78₴258
54.50%
Cappuccino
$2.90฿96.4
$0.71₴31.77
308.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88฿29.30
$0.43₴19.10
104.65%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.01
$0.28₴12.64
71.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.35฿78.3
$0.67₴29.70
250.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿124
$1.31₴58.5
183.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Horishni Plavni
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.87฿62.1
$1.12₴49.89
66.96%
White Bread(500g)
$1.47฿48.81
$0.71₴31.47
107.04%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.55฿51.7
$1.46₴65.2
6.16%
Eggs
$2.10฿70.0
$2.09₴93.1
0.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.59฿652
$9.97₴445
96.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.42฿114
$5.47₴244
-37.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.38฿379
$8.61₴384
32.17%
Apples(1kg)
$2.98฿99.3
$0.83₴36.98
259.04%
Banana(1kg)
$1.68฿56.1
$1.53₴68.4
9.80%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.21฿73.5
$1.89₴84.3
16.93%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.16฿72.0
$2.61₴116
-17.24%
Potato(1kg)
$1.52฿50.8
$0.66₴29.26
130.30%
Onion(1kg)
$1.34฿44.55
$0.45₴20.09
197.78%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.13฿37.57
$1.41₴62.8
-19.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55฿18.19
$0.67₴29.80
-17.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26฿142
$3.30₴147
29.09%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.09฿635
$5.71₴255
234.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿59.2
$0.95₴42.52
87.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78฿92.6
$1.44₴64.2
93.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Horishni Plavni
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.23฿74.2
$0.36₴15.85
519.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.74฿757
$11.16₴498
103.76%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.03฿101
$2.29₴102
32.31%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02฿34.06
$0.47₴20.81
117.02%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.89฿130
$4.26₴190
-8.69%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49฿49.63
$1.39₴62.0
7.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K฿884.9K
$29.3K₴1.3M
-9.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K฿899.8K
$27.0K₴1.2M
-0.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Horishni Plavni
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102฿3,411
$96.5₴4,303
6.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.33฿377
$5.22₴233
117.05%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.40฿579
$4.45₴198
291.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Horishni Plavni
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.1฿1,734
$26.49₴1,181
96.60%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07฿369
$14.19₴633
-21.99%
Cinema Ticket
$7.69฿256
$3.30₴147
133.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Horishni Plavni
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$561฿18.7K
$396₴17.7K
41.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.5K฿383.0K
$4,312₴192.3K
166.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Horishni Plavni
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.0฿2,098
$72.7₴3,242
-13.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.52฿983
$40.30₴1,798
-26.75%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.0฿3,263
$92.7₴4,136
5.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5฿2,946
$116₴5,170
-23.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Horishni Plavni
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$738฿24.6K
$311₴13.8K
137.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$482฿16.1K
$204₴9,113
136.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,107฿70.1K
$482₴21.5K
336.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,226฿40.8K
$246₴11.0K
398.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,617฿120.4K
$1,077₴48.0K
235.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,603฿86.7K
$797₴35.6K
226.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Horishni Plavni
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494฿16.4K
$370₴16.5K
33.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
18.25
-69.48%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026
Last update for Horishni Plavni: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $738 in Phuket and $311 in Horishni Plavni. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Phuket pays 33% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $32.00 in Phuket vs $27.00 in Horishni Plavni for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $274 vs $185 per month, with Horishni Plavni 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 Horishni Plavni: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Phuket and in Horishni Plavni?
Phuket and Horishni Plavni differ by about 52% in total monthly costs ($1,232 vs $808 including rent). Horishni Plavni is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Phuket or Horishni Plavni?
Average pay runs 33% higher in Phuket, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Phuket and in Horishni Plavni?
Rent for a central apartment: $738 in Phuket versus $311 in Horishni Plavni. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 48% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Horishni Plavni – a meal for two runs $27.00 versus $32.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $808 in Horishni Plavni versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Horishni Plavni but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Horishni Plavni the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Horishni Plavni?
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.
Is Phuket or Horishni Plavni safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Horishni Plavni are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Phuket or Horishni Plavni?
Expats usually find Horishni Plavni gentler on the wallet – expenses run 52% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.