😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Phuket versus $970 in Kislovodsk.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,276 in Phuket versus $1,479 in Kislovodsk.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,291 in Phuket versus $1,989 in Kislovodsk.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 30% more expensive than in Kislovodsk, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket6% lower, Kislovodsk27% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Kislovodsk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.53฿152
$9.24₽718
-50.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.36฿1,558
$38.71₽3,008
19.76%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.65฿291
$5.87₽456
47.36%
Cappuccino
$3.09฿104
$2.27₽177
36.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68฿22.79
$1.13₽87.8
-39.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿12.38
$0.52₽40.03
-28.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.42฿81.2
$1.37₽106
76.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.81฿128
$2.49₽193
53.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Kislovodsk
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.18฿73.2
$1.14₽88.7
91.23%
White Bread(500g)
$1.82฿61.1
$0.65₽50.8
180.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.18฿73.2
$1.43₽111
52.45%
Eggs
$2.24฿75.1
$1.71₽133
30.99%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.93฿670
$10.88₽846
83.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.64฿122
$4.92₽382
-26.02%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.56฿456
$8.89₽691
52.53%
Apples(1kg)
$3.29฿111
$1.81₽141
81.77%
Banana(1kg)
$1.69฿56.6
$1.88₽146
-10.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.33฿78.4
$1.99₽155
17.09%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03฿68.1
$2.80₽218
-27.50%
Potato(1kg)
$1.60฿53.8
$0.84₽65.1
90.48%
Onion(1kg)
$1.49฿50.2
$0.66₽51.5
125.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01฿34.02
$1.42₽110
-28.87%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.02
$0.72₽55.8
-33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45฿150
$2.85₽222
56.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.63฿626
$7.07₽550
163.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79฿60.0
$1.02₽79.4
75.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80฿94.0
$1.88₽146
48.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Kislovodsk
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.42฿47.69
$0.49₽37.97
189.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.33฿381
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.09฿104
$1.87₽145
65.24%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04฿35.03
$0.33₽25.60
215.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.63฿458
$6.31₽491
116.01%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31฿44.03
$0.73₽56.5
79.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.3K฿916.6K
$34.0K₽2.6M
-19.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K฿1.1M
$35.4K₽2.8M
-6.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Kislovodsk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123฿4,138
$109₽8,460
13.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.81฿464
$5.84₽454
136.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52฿622
$7.82₽608
136.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Kislovodsk
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.4฿2,028
$35.00₽2,720
72.46%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80฿564
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.89฿299
$5.21₽405
70.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Kislovodsk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$687฿23.1K
$320₽24.9K
114.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6K฿522.5K
$6,993₽543.5K
122.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Kislovodsk
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.6฿1,936
$70.8₽5,506
-18.65%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.66฿1,165
$44.52₽3,461
-22.15%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,861
$116₽8,992
-0.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.9฿2,853
$105₽8,184
-19.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Kislovodsk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$618฿20.7K
$451₽35.1K
36.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$443฿14.9K
$308₽23.9K
44.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,047฿68.8K
$759₽59.0K
169.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,506฿50.6K
$513₽39.9K
193.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,568฿119.9K
$2,284₽177.5K
56.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,511฿84.4K
$1,518₽118.0K
65.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Kislovodsk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$503฿16.9K
$805₽62.6K
-37.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
15.33
-65.23%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: July 20, 2026
Last update for Kislovodsk: July 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $618 in Phuket and $451 in Kislovodsk. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kislovodsk pays 60% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $46.00 in Phuket vs $39.00 in Kislovodsk for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $198 per month, with Kislovodsk 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 Kislovodsk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kislovodsk cheaper than Phuket?
Kislovodsk is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 30% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Kislovodsk?
On paper, salaries run 60% lower in Kislovodsk. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Kislovodsk?
Rent for a central apartment: $618 in Phuket versus $451 in Kislovodsk. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and in Kislovodsk?
Supermarket bills run roughly 47% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket and in Kislovodsk?
All in, you'll spend $1,261 per month in Phuket versus $970 in Kislovodsk – a 30% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Kislovodsk?
At $970 in Kislovodsk versus $1,261 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Kislovodsk but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Kislovodsk the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Kislovodsk more family-friendly?
For families, Kislovodsk is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Kislovodsk?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Kislovodsk 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Kislovodsk gentler on the wallet – expenses run 30% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.