😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $995 in Kislovodsk.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,089 in Phuket versus $1,569 in Kislovodsk.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,913 in Phuket versus $2,142 in Kislovodsk.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 27% more expensive than in Kislovodsk, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket8% lower, Kislovodsk28% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Kislovodsk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.66฿153
$10.59₽902
-56.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.22฿1,060
$36.54₽3,114
-11.82%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.68฿286
$6.63₽565
30.92%
Cappuccino
$2.90฿95.4
$2.59₽221
11.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84฿27.78
$1.10₽93.8
-23.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49฿16.10
$0.55₽47.12
-10.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.48฿81.7
$1.73₽147
43.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73฿123
$3.21₽273
16.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Kislovodsk
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.89฿62.0
$1.12₽95.7
68.75%
White Bread(500g)
$1.41฿46.36
$0.76₽64.8
85.53%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.62฿53.4
$1.29₽110
25.58%
Eggs
$2.24฿73.8
$1.42₽121
57.75%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.84฿653
$11.02₽940
80.04%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.48฿114
$4.96₽423
-29.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.37฿374
$10.35₽882
9.86%
Apples(1kg)
$2.90฿95.4
$1.68₽143
72.62%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72฿56.8
$2.00₽170
-14.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.27฿74.8
$1.84₽157
23.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.13฿70.2
$2.67₽228
-20.22%
Potato(1kg)
$1.47฿48.53
$0.74₽63.5
98.65%
Onion(1kg)
$1.42฿46.73
$0.57₽48.69
149.12%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.10฿36.11
$1.47₽125
-25.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60฿19.68
$0.80₽67.9
-25.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.31฿142
$2.84₽242
51.76%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.60฿612
$7.32₽624
154.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80฿59.3
$0.98₽83.1
83.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97฿97.6
$2.03₽173
46.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Kislovodsk
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.25฿73.9
$0.53₽44.89
324.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$23.49฿773
$20.99₽1,789
11.91%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.10฿102
$2.60₽222
19.23%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.08฿35.42
$0.30₽25.17
260.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.87฿127
$5.38₽459
-28.07%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.43฿46.97
$0.78₽66.9
83.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿914.4K
$27.9K₽2.4M
-0.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K฿888.0K
$28.7K₽2.4M
-6.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Kislovodsk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$105฿3,449
$99.3₽8,460
5.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.39฿375
$6.44₽549
76.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.54฿577
$7.43₽634
136.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Kislovodsk
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.3฿1,788
$34.62₽2,951
56.96%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.44฿377
$23.33₽1,989
-50.96%
Cinema Ticket
$7.78฿256
$5.43₽463
43.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Kislovodsk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$576฿19.0K
$316₽26.9K
82.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.6K฿381.2K
$6,021₽513.2K
92.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Kislovodsk
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.6฿2,094
$70.9₽6,042
-10.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.10฿958
$48.63₽4,145
-40.16%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.2฿3,167
$127₽10.8K
-24.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.0฿2,962
$96.7₽8,240
-6.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Kislovodsk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$733฿24.1K
$519₽44.2K
41.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$501฿16.5K
$307₽26.2K
63.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,126฿70.0K
$770₽65.6K
176.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,252฿41.2K
$526₽44.8K
138.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,534฿116.3K
$2,222₽189.4K
59.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,622฿86.3K
$1,454₽123.9K
80.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Kislovodsk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$508฿16.7K
$725₽61.8K
-30.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
21
-73.48%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: September 6, 2026
Last update for Kislovodsk: September 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $733 in Phuket and $519 in Kislovodsk. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kislovodsk pays 43% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $32.00 in Phuket vs $37.00 in Kislovodsk. Groceries flip the comparison at $275 vs $202, with Kislovodsk cheaper for home cooking.
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, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 27% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Kislovodsk?
On paper, salaries run 43% 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: $733 in Phuket versus $519 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 36% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or in Kislovodsk?
Dining out is cheaper in Kislovodsk – a meal for two runs $37.00 versus $32.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Kislovodsk?
At $995 in Kislovodsk versus $1,265 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 27% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.