Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Kholmsk

For one person, living is cheaper in Kholmsk: $1,073 a month against $1,278 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $2,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Phuket, Thailand
Kholmsk, Russia
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,278
/mo nomad
Kholmsk
🇷🇺 Russia
$1,073
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Kholmsk

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 Kholmsk actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,278 in Phuket versus $1,073 in Kholmsk.

  • Phuket $1,278
  • Kholmsk $1,073

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,216 in Phuket versus $1,672 in Kholmsk.

  • Phuket $2,216
  • Kholmsk $1,672

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,154 in Phuket versus $2,271 in Kholmsk.

  • Phuket $3,154
  • Kholmsk $2,271

Living in Phuket is roughly 19% more expensive than in Kholmsk, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, Kholmsk 21% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Kholmsk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.47 ฿151
$11.32 ₽913
-60.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.41 ฿1,094
$37.66 ₽3,037
-13.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.81 ฿297
$6.24 ₽503
41.19%
Cappuccino
$2.83 ฿95.5
$2.85 ₽230
-0.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 ฿29.43
$1.10 ₽89.0
-20.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.67
$0.59 ₽47.53
-16.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.56 ฿86.4
$1.77 ₽143
44.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 ฿124
$2.95 ₽238
24.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Kholmsk
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 ฿56.0
$1.12 ₽90.7
48.21%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 ฿49.35
$0.74 ₽60.0
97.30%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.6
$1.37 ₽111
9.49%
Eggs
$2.09 ฿70.5
$1.63 ₽132
28.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.07 ฿644
$11.48 ₽926
66.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.30 ฿111
$5.25 ₽423
-37.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.91 ฿368
$11.56 ₽933
-5.62%
Apples (1kg)
$2.93 ฿99.0
$1.72 ₽138
70.35%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 ฿57.1
$1.77 ₽143
-4.52%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 ฿75.8
$1.77 ₽143
27.12%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿70.1
$2.78 ₽224
-25.18%
Potato (1kg)
$1.51 ฿51.0
$0.84 ₽68.1
79.76%
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.56
$0.58 ₽46.67
137.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ฿35.99
$1.30 ₽105
-17.69%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.52
$0.77 ₽61.7
-32.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20 ฿142
$3.05 ₽246
37.70%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.79 ฿634
$7.82 ₽631
140.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 ฿61.5
$1.07 ₽86.5
70.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 ฿95.9
$2.06 ₽166
37.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Kholmsk
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.45 ฿49.03
$0.56 ₽45.31
158.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$56.7 ฿1,913
$25.46 ₽2,053
122.55%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿102
$2.44 ₽197
23.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ฿34.36
$0.35 ₽28.14
191.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.69 ฿125
$5.74 ₽463
-35.71%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ฿49.81
$0.80 ₽64.6
83.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K ฿904.3K
$52.1K ₽4.2M
-48.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿901.3K
$40.2K ₽3.2M
-33.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Kholmsk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.4 ฿3,254
$121 ₽9,737
-20.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.26 ฿380
$6.40 ₽516
75.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.85 ฿569
$8.31 ₽670
102.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Kholmsk
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.2 ฿2,270
$35.44 ₽2,858
89.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.73 ฿362
$24.21 ₽1,953
-55.68%
Cinema Ticket
$7.50 ฿253
$6.25 ₽504
20.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Kholmsk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$476 ฿16.1K
$349 ₽28.1K
36.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.3K ฿380.4K
$6,381 ₽514.6K
76.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Kholmsk
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.4 ฿2,106
$81.3 ₽6,553
-23.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.41 ฿959
$52.3 ₽4,216
-45.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.3 ฿3,184
$120 ₽9,681
-21.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.8 ฿2,898
$104 ₽8,347
-17.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Kholmsk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$716 ฿24.2K
$475 ₽38.3K
50.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$491 ฿16.6K
$323 ₽26.0K
52.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,927 ฿65.1K
$906 ₽73.0K
112.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,431 ฿48.3K
$574 ₽46.3K
149.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,175 ฿141.0K
$2,280 ₽183.9K
83.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,045 ฿102.8K
$1,469 ₽118.5K
107.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Kholmsk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$502 ฿17.0K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
21.45
-74.03%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Last update for Kholmsk: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$491
Kholmsk
$323 34.3% $168
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$266
Kholmsk
$209 21.3% $57
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$124
Kholmsk
$135 8.8% $11
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$122
Kholmsk
$161 31.8% $39
Eating Out
Phuket
$122
Kholmsk
$165 35.6% $43
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$82
Kholmsk
$48 41.7% $34
Getting Around
Phuket
$71
Kholmsk
$32 54.8% $39

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $716 in Phuket and $475 in Kholmsk. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $32 in Phuket vs $38 in Kholmsk. Groceries flip the comparison at $266 vs $209, with Kholmsk cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇷🇺 Kholmsk
🕒 Local time
03:22 3:22 AM
07:22 7:22 AM
4 h ahead of Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
27,954
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

RUB, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 33.77 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.59 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Russian Ruble exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 80.65 RUB (100 RUB = 1.24 USD). 1 EUR = 89.78 RUB (100 RUB = 1.11 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Kholmsk 6,000 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Kholmsk

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 Kholmsk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Kholmsk?
Kholmsk wins on cost – living expenses run 16% lower than in Phuket. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Kholmsk the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Phuket and in Kholmsk?
You’d need roughly $1,917 in Phuket and $1,610 in Kholmsk to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Phuket compared to Kholmsk?
Rent for a central apartment: $716 in Phuket versus $475 in Kholmsk. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Phuket compared to Kholmsk?
A monthly transit pass in Kholmsk runs roughly 55% less than in Phuket. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Phuket and in Kholmsk?
Childcare runs $476 in Phuket versus $349 in Kholmsk. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Phuket or in Kholmsk?
Both cities are expensive relative to $1,000. Kholmsk is the more realistic option, but even there you’ll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Phuket or Kholmsk?
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.

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