😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $996 in Kahramanmaras.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $2,009 in Kahramanmaras.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $3,021 in Kahramanmaras.
😐Living in Phuket is roughly 24% more expensive than Kahramanmaras, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket8% lower, Kahramanmaras26% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Kahramanmaras
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63฿151
$6.23₺281
-25.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84฿1,532
$30.49₺1,376
53.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84฿289
$5.19₺234
70.33%
Cappuccino
$3.00฿98.0
$3.02₺136
-0.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74฿24.25
$1.38₺62.3
-46.38%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿11.95
$0.49₺22.13
-24.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44฿79.8
$3.87₺175
-36.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61฿118
$5.11₺231
-29.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Kahramanmaras
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26฿73.9
$0.77₺34.82
193.51%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84฿60.1
$0.37₺16.51
397.30%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24฿73.4
$1.24₺56.1
80.65%
Eggs
$2.32฿75.7
$2.14₺96.6
8.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67฿643
$7.70₺348
155.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65฿119
$5.21₺235
-29.94%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10฿428
$16.81₺759
-22.07%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39฿111
$1.27₺57.1
166.93%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64฿53.7
$2.06₺92.9
-20.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿79.0
$1.00₺45.29
141.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03฿66.4
$1.42₺64.3
42.96%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56฿50.9
$0.79₺35.50
97.47%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50฿48.94
$0.64₺28.90
134.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02฿33.50
$0.89₺40.24
14.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49฿16.00
$0.40₺17.90
22.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45฿145
$2.20₺99.4
102.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88฿617
$3.96₺179
376.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿58.1
$2.04₺92.1
-12.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75฿90.1
$2.90₺131
-5.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Kahramanmaras
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40฿45.81
$0.43₺19.60
225.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48฿376
$25.16₺1,136
-54.37%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12฿102
$0.74₺33.30
321.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00฿32.67
$0.64₺29.02
56.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09฿461
$4.95₺223
184.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35฿44.19
$1.30₺58.6
3.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K฿888.9K
$44.1K₺2.0M
-38.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K฿1.1M
$40.9K₺1.8M
-19.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Kahramanmaras
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125฿4,087
$35.59₺1,606
251.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57฿444
$13.36₺603
1.57%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52฿606
$13.66₺617
35.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Kahramanmaras
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5฿2,010
$101₺4,568
-39.25%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84฿551
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.19฿300
$3.92₺177
134.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Kahramanmaras
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698฿22.8K
$460₺20.7K
51.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6K฿509.9K
$4,977₺224.7K
213.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Kahramanmaras
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8฿1,889
$64.5₺2,913
-10.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24฿1,152
$50.1₺2,264
-29.72%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113฿3,699
$63.9₺2,883
77.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4฿2,825
$50.0₺2,259
72.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Kahramanmaras
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616฿20.1K
$409₺18.5K
50.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446฿14.6K
$359₺16.2K
24.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048฿67.0K
$1,802₺81.3K
13.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492฿48.8K
$1,548₺69.9K
-3.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779฿123.6K
$4,868₺219.7K
-22.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649฿86.6K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Kahramanmaras
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524฿17.1K
$1,145₺51.7K
-54.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
32
-83.34%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Kahramanmaras: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $616 in Phuket and $409 in Kahramanmaras. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kahramanmaras pays 119% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $30.00 in Kahramanmaras for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $190 per month, with Kahramanmaras 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 Kahramanmaras: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Kahramanmaras?
Kahramanmaras wins on cost – living expenses run 24% lower than in Phuket. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kahramanmaras the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Phuket or Kahramanmaras?
On paper, Kahramanmaras earns 119% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Phuket vs Kahramanmaras?
Rent for a central apartment: $616 in Phuket versus $409 in Kahramanmaras. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Phuket compared to Kahramanmaras?
All in, you'll spend $1,232 per month in Phuket versus $996 in Kahramanmaras – a 24% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Phuket vs Kahramanmaras?
A monthly transit pass in Kahramanmaras runs roughly 119% less than in Phuket. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Phuket or Kahramanmaras?
At $996 in Kahramanmaras versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Kahramanmaras but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Kahramanmaras the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Kahramanmaras?
Both work as nomad bases, but Kahramanmaras delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $996 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Kahramanmaras hard to pass up.
How safe is Phuket compared to Kahramanmaras?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Kahramanmaras 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 Kahramanmaras gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.