ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,270 in Phuket versus $979 in Kislovodsk.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $2,304 in Phuket versus $1,509 in Kislovodsk.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,339 in Phuket versus $2,039 in Kislovodsk.
ðLiving in Phuket is roughly 30% more expensive than Kislovodsk, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
ðBoth cities sit below the global median: Phuket5% lower, Kislovodsk27% lower.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Kislovodsk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.66āļŋ150
$9.64â―723
-51.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.44āļŋ1,496
$37.83â―2,838
22.76%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.68āļŋ280
$5.84â―438
48.63%
Cappuccino
$2.95āļŋ95.0
$2.33â―175
26.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70āļŋ22.52
$1.12â―84.3
-37.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39āļŋ12.70
$0.52â―39.14
-25.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.53āļŋ81.6
$1.36â―102
86.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78āļŋ122
$2.50â―187
51.20%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Kislovodsk
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.22āļŋ71.5
$1.11â―83.5
100.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.80āļŋ57.8
$0.66â―49.50
172.73%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.19āļŋ70.4
$1.42â―107
54.23%
Eggs
$2.31āļŋ74.5
$1.73â―130
33.53%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.34āļŋ623
$11.01â―826
75.66%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.77āļŋ121
$4.89â―367
-22.90%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.22āļŋ426
$8.98â―674
47.22%
Apples(1kg)
$3.33āļŋ107
$1.74â―131
91.38%
Banana(1kg)
$1.65āļŋ53.1
$1.87â―141
-11.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.29āļŋ73.7
$1.96â―147
16.84%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.99āļŋ64.1
$2.66â―200
-25.19%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53āļŋ49.24
$0.78â―58.8
96.15%
Onion(1kg)
$1.51āļŋ48.77
$0.72â―54.3
109.72%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03āļŋ33.12
$1.40â―105
-26.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51āļŋ16.57
$0.67â―50.4
-23.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41āļŋ142
$2.98â―224
47.99%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.41āļŋ625
$6.77â―508
186.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80āļŋ58.0
$0.95â―71.2
89.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68āļŋ86.4
$1.94â―145
38.14%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Kislovodsk
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.43āļŋ46.11
$0.53â―39.57
169.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.70āļŋ377
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.04āļŋ97.9
$1.93â―145
57.51%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04āļŋ33.37
$0.33â―24.70
215.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.68āļŋ441
$6.22â―467
119.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30āļŋ41.85
$0.77â―57.5
68.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9Kāļŋ898.9K
$34.9Kâ―2.6M
-19.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0Kāļŋ1.1M
$35.0Kâ―2.6M
-5.54%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Kislovodsk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123āļŋ3,962
$111â―8,354
10.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.82āļŋ445
$5.81â―436
137.87%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.86āļŋ608
$7.68â―576
145.57%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Kislovodsk
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.2āļŋ1,970
$35.59â―2,670
71.82%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.81āļŋ541
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.87āļŋ286
$5.13â―385
72.90%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Kislovodsk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$696āļŋ22.4K
$329â―24.7K
111.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.1Kāļŋ517.4K
$6,969â―522.9K
130.43%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Kislovodsk
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3āļŋ1,910
$70.3â―5,274
-15.65%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.85āļŋ1,123
$44.97â―3,374
-22.50%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,646
$114â―8,574
-0.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.1āļŋ2,740
$105â―7,905
-19.26%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Kislovodsk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$615āļŋ19.8K
$453â―34.0K
35.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$448āļŋ14.4K
$299â―22.4K
50.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,085āļŋ67.2K
$749â―56.2K
178.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,496āļŋ48.2K
$512â―38.4K
192.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,734āļŋ120.3K
$2,109â―158.2K
77.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,662āļŋ85.8K
$1,482â―111.2K
79.61%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Kislovodsk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$534āļŋ17.2K
$836â―62.7K
-36.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
15.33
-65.23%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 20, 2026
Last update for Kislovodsk: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $615 in Phuket and $453 in Kislovodsk. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ð°Kislovodsk pays 57% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
ðDining out: $46 in Phuket vs $38 in Kislovodsk for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $291 vs $195 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, Kislovodsk earns 57% less. 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: $615 in Phuket versus $453 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 Kislovodsk?
Supermarket bills run roughly 49% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket vs Kislovodsk?
All in, you'll spend $1,270 per month in Phuket versus $979 in Kislovodsk â a 30% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Kislovodsk?
At $979 in Kislovodsk versus $1,270 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 â expenses run 30% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.