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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,253 per month in Phuket vs $921 in Karaganda, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,043 per month in Phuket vs $1,460 in Karaganda, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,833 per month in Phuket vs $2,000 in Karaganda, rent included.

Phuket costs about 36% more than Karaganda, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Karaganda are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 9% lower, Karaganda 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.56 ฿150

$9.55 ₸4,352

-52.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.62 ฿1,072

$34.35 ₸15.6K

-5.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.90 ฿293

$5.28 ₸2,406

68.56%

Cappuccino

$2.80 ฿92.2

$1.93 ₸881

45.08%

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

$0.88 ฿28.93

$0.90 ₸410

-2.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.08

$0.59 ₸269

-16.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.39 ฿78.5

$1.33 ₸607

79.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 ฿122

$2.90 ₸1,321

27.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 ฿58.7

$1.24 ₸566

44.35%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ฿47.38

$0.44 ₸200

227.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 ฿52.1

$1.24 ₸565

27.42%

Eggs

$2.13 ฿69.9

$1.75 ₸799

21.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.92 ฿655

$12.90 ₸5,876

54.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.43 ฿113

$5.44 ₸2,477

-36.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.33 ฿372

$10.80 ₸4,922

4.91%

Apples (1kg)

$2.95 ฿96.9

$1.50 ₸682

96.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 ฿56.6

$1.93 ₸880

-10.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.32 ฿76.4

$2.76 ₸1,257

-15.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.4

$2.06 ₸938

0.97%

Potato (1kg)

$1.47 ฿48.33

$0.65 ₸296

126.15%

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 ฿44.64

$0.53 ₸242

156.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ฿36.12

$1.00 ₸458

10.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ฿18.89

$0.71 ₸325

-19.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿140

$2.19 ₸998

94.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.42 ฿605

$7.93 ₸3,613

132.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 ฿61.5

$1.32 ₸600

41.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 ฿96.0

$2.06 ₸938

41.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.22 ฿72.9

$0.21 ₸95.4

957.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.90 ฿753

$14.94 ₸6,805

53.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 ฿99.6

$1.22 ₸554

148.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.07 ฿35.31

$1.21 ₸553

-11.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.93 ฿129

$3.27 ₸1,488

20.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿49.04

$0.54 ₸247

175.93%

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

$27.1K ฿891.7K

$21.5K ₸9.8M

26.27%

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

$27.5K ฿902.3K

$31.0K ₸14.1M

-11.37%

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

$103 ฿3,379

$71.2 ₸32.4K

44.40%

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

$10.99 ฿361

$9.80 ₸4,464

12.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.51 ฿576

$11.80 ₸5,374

48.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.5 ฿1,760

$44.26 ₸20.2K

20.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.20 ฿368

$18.14 ₸8,265

-38.26%

Cinema Ticket

$7.48 ฿246

$5.18 ₸2,361

44.40%

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

$557 ฿18.3K

$129 ₸58.6K

332.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.9K ฿389.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.1 ฿2,106

$58.8 ₸26.8K

9.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.07 ฿956

$58.0 ₸26.4K

-49.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.0 ฿3,154

$75.2 ₸34.2K

27.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.3 ฿2,970

$85.9 ₸39.1K

5.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$730 ฿24.0K

$392 ₸178.3K

86.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$500 ฿16.4K

$269 ₸122.6K

85.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,090 ฿68.7K

$709 ₸323.1K

194.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,209 ฿39.7K

$533 ₸242.7K

126.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,596 ฿118.2K

$1,027 ₸467.7K

250.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,512 ฿82.6K

$706 ₸321.7K

255.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$503 ฿16.5K

$565 ₸257.4K

-10.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

19.25

-71.06%

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

Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026

Last update for Karaganda: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $730 in Phuket versus $392 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 12% 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 $33.00 in Phuket versus $34.00 in Karaganda. Groceries tell a different story – $273 in Phuket vs $210 in Karaganda – so Karaganda wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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: $1,253 in Phuket, $921 in Karaganda – roughly 36% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,880 per month in Phuket and $1,381 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 53% less in Karaganda. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $557 per month in Phuket and $129 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 $921, than in Phuket at $1,253. 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 $921 in Karaganda to $1,253 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.