Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Kalush

For one person, living is cheaper in Kalush: $593 a month against $1,294 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $8,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Phuket, Thailand
Kalush, Ukraine
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,294
/mo nomad
Kalush
🇺🇦 Ukraine
$593
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Kalush

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Phuket and in Kalush actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,294 per month in Phuket vs $593 in Kalush, rent included.

  • Phuket $1,294
  • Kalush $593

A couple spends around $2,204 per month in Phuket vs $996 in Kalush, rent included.

  • Phuket $2,204
  • Kalush $996

A family of three spends $3,115 per month in Phuket vs $1,398 in Kalush, rent included.

  • Phuket $3,115
  • Kalush $1,398

Phuket costs about 118% more than Kalush, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Phuket and Kalush are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 4% lower, Kalush 56% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Kalush
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.39 ฿147
$6.44 ₴294
-31.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.31 ฿1,078
$12.04 ₴550
168.36%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.70 ฿290
$5.37 ₴245
62.01%
Cappuccino
$2.72 ฿90.9
$0.95 ₴43.22
186.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93 ฿31.06
$0.59 ₴27.15
57.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50 ฿16.67
$0.42 ₴19.22
19.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.53 ฿84.5
$1.09 ₴49.74
132.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 ฿121
$1.67 ₴76.3
117.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Kalush
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 ฿58.1
$1.15 ₴52.6
51.30%
White Bread (500g)
$1.45 ฿48.42
$0.62 ₴28.36
133.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.1
$1.37 ₴62.7
9.49%
Eggs
$2.17 ฿72.5
$1.42 ₴65.1
52.82%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.09 ฿637
$8.63 ₴394
121.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.40 ฿113
$4.37 ₴200
-22.20%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.90 ฿364
$7.09 ₴324
53.74%
Apples (1kg)
$2.94 ฿98.2
$1.06 ₴48.63
177.36%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 ฿56.5
$1.55 ₴70.9
9.03%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.19 ฿73.2
$1.57 ₴71.9
39.49%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.12 ฿70.9
$2.15 ₴98.2
-1.40%
Potato (1kg)
$1.46 ฿48.68
$0.74 ₴33.93
97.30%
Onion (1kg)
$1.37 ฿45.66
$0.44 ₴20.31
211.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 ฿35.91
$1.17 ₴53.6
-7.69%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿18.21
$0.53 ₴24.21
3.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.43 ฿148
$3.14 ₴143
41.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.25 ฿609
$4.30 ₴197
324.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 ฿59.2
$0.83 ₴38.02
113.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 ฿96.2
$1.43 ₴65.4
101.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Kalush
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.45 ฿48.32
$0.31 ₴14.35
367.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.9 ฿1,832
$15.05 ₴687
264.72%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.51 ฿50.5
$1.11 ₴50.9
36.04%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.78 ฿25.90
$0.35 ₴16.03
122.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.84 ฿128
$4.25 ₴194
-9.65%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 ฿49.65
$1.33 ₴60.5
12.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.9K ฿897.3K
$34.0K ₴1.6M
-20.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K ฿879.4K
$21.4K ₴979.4K
22.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Kalush
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$97.8 ฿3,265
$84.3 ₴3,849
16.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.29 ฿377
$4.77 ₴218
136.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.19 ฿574
$3.86 ₴176
345.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Kalush
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.3 ฿2,281
$26.19 ₴1,196
160.90%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.92 ฿365
$15.23 ₴696
-28.30%
Cinema Ticket
$7.43 ฿248
$4.35 ₴199
70.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Kalush
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$530 ฿17.7K
$280 ₴12.8K
89.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.8K ฿626.9K
$4,084 ₴186.5K
359.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Kalush
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.7 ฿2,059
$53.7 ₴2,454
14.78%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.25 ฿943
$36.34 ₴1,659
-22.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.0 ฿3,204
$74.6 ₴3,407
28.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.8 ฿2,898
$74.6 ₴3,408
16.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Kalush
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$721 ฿24.1K
$129 ₴5,897
458.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$509 ฿17.0K
$87.5 ₴3,994
481.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,950 ฿65.1K
$249 ₴11.4K
682.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,397 ฿46.6K
$319 ₴14.6K
337.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,192 ฿139.9K
$1,130 ₴51.6K
271.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,298 ฿110.1K
$850 ₴38.8K
288.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Kalush
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$492 ฿16.4K
$261 ₴11.9K
88.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
17.6
-68.35%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Phuket: November 2, 2026

Last update for Kalush: October 31, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$509
Kalush
$87 82.8% $421
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$267
Kalush
$159 40.3% $107
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$126
Kalush
$93 26.4% $33
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$123
Kalush
$108 12.3% $15
Eating Out
Phuket
$120
Kalush
$92 23.2% $28
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$83
Kalush
$35 58.1% $48
Getting Around
Phuket
$66
Kalush
$19 71% $47

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $721 in Phuket versus $129 in Kalush. 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 88% 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 $32 in Phuket versus $12 in Kalush. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $267 vs $159 – making Kalush the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇺🇦 Kalush
🕒 Local time
02:24 2:24 AM
21:24 9:24 PM
5 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
67,559
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

UAH, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 33.38 THB (100 THB = 3 USD). 1 EUR = 37.47 THB (100 THB = 2.67 EUR).

Ukrainian Hryvnia exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 45.67 UAH (100 UAH = 2.19 USD). 1 EUR = 51.26 UAH (100 UAH = 1.95 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Kalush 8,180 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Kalush

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Kalush: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kalush cheaper than Phuket?
Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 118%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,940 per month in Phuket and $890 in Kalush. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kalush, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $129 there versus $721 in Phuket.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or in Kalush?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $32 in Phuket and $12 in Kalush. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket and in Kalush?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,294 in Phuket and $593 in Kalush. That makes Kalush about 54% cheaper.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Kalush?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kalush, where all-in costs run around $593, than in Phuket at $1,294. In Kalush it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Phuket or Kalush more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Kalush – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Kalush. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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