Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Karaganda Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Karaganda

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $752 in Karaganda, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,297 per month in Phuket vs $1,187 in Karaganda, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,329 per month in Phuket vs $1,623 in Karaganda, rent included.

Phuket costs about 68% more than Karaganda, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Karaganda are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Karaganda 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.70 ฿153

$8.53 ₸4,180

-44.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.37 ฿1,482

$29.67 ₸14.5K

52.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.43 ฿275

$4.97 ₸2,437

69.62%

Cappuccino

$2.93 ฿95.6

$1.85 ₸907

58.38%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 ฿22.40

$0.70 ₸343

-1.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.99

$0.47 ₸228

-21.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$0.95 ₸467

153.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿122

$3.01 ₸1,473

23.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 ฿72.9

$0.94 ₸463

137.23%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 ฿59.8

$0.44 ₸215

315.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ฿70.8

$1.30 ₸638

66.92%

Eggs

$2.21 ฿72.3

$1.73 ₸845

27.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.74 ฿645

$9.48 ₸4,644

108.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿119

$4.24 ₸2,079

-14.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.53 ฿442

$7.25 ₸3,555

86.62%

Apples (1kg)

$3.28 ฿107

$1.32 ₸646

148.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ฿52.6

$1.45 ₸711

11.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$1.89 ₸929

27.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.1

$1.98 ₸971

5.05%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.93

$0.56 ₸273

173.21%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.36

$0.41 ₸200

260.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ฿32.29

$0.99 ₸486

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.67

$0.76 ₸372

-32.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 ฿144

$1.79 ₸878

146.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.38 ฿633

$7.87 ₸3,857

146.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

$0.99 ₸487

79.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ฿88.6

$1.65 ₸807

64.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.37 ฿44.79

$0.22 ₸108

522.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.39 ฿372

$11.56 ₸5,666

-1.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿98.6

$1.78 ₸872

69.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 ฿32.48

$0.45 ₸222

120.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.10 ฿461

$4.38 ₸2,148

221.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 ฿44.51

$0.45 ₸219

202.22%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$28.2K ฿921.1K

$19.0K ₸9.3M

48.37%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.9K ฿1.1M

$25.1K ₸12.3M

31.06%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$122 ฿3,975

$53.9 ₸26.4K

125.79%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.57 ฿443

$8.04 ₸3,941

68.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.31 ฿598

$13.00 ₸6,372

40.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.2 ฿1,967

$32.29 ₸15.8K

86.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 ฿560

$11.76 ₸5,764

45.75%

Cinema Ticket

$8.69 ฿284

$4.47 ₸2,191

94.41%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$693 ฿22.6K

$240 ₸117.4K

189.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K ฿512.3K

$4,875 ₸2.4M

221.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,944

$55.6 ₸27.2K

7.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.77 ฿1,136

$35.64 ₸17.5K

-2.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,743

$86.6 ₸42.5K

32.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.3 ฿2,720

$83.9 ₸41.1K

-0.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$613 ฿20.0K

$333 ₸163.0K

84.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$437 ฿14.3K

$210 ₸102.9K

108.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,094 ฿68.4K

$569 ₸279.0K

267.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,509 ฿49.3K

$400 ₸195.8K

277.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,749 ฿122.5K

$977 ₸478.5K

283.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,616 ฿85.4K

$653 ₸319.8K

300.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.6K

$523 ₸256.2K

-2.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

16.12

-66.94%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Karaganda: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $613 in Phuket versus $333 in Karaganda. 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 3% higher in Karaganda, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Phuket versus $30.00 in Karaganda. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $170 – making Karaganda the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Karaganda: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,265 in Phuket, $752 in Karaganda – roughly 68% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,898 per month in Phuket and $1,127 in Karaganda. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Karaganda, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 1% less in Karaganda. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $693 per month in Phuket and $240 in Karaganda. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Karaganda, where all-in costs run around $752, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Karaganda it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $752 in Karaganda to $1,265 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Karaganda. 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.