🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,253 in Phuket versus $1,259 in Korolyov.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,043 in Phuket versus $1,831 in Korolyov.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,833 in Phuket versus $2,403 in Korolyov.
🌍Monthly costs are close between Phuket and Korolyov; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket9% lower, Korolyov8% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Korolyov
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56฿150
$11.47₽984
-60.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.62฿1,072
$58.0₽4,974
-43.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.90฿293
$7.10₽609
25.35%
Cappuccino
$2.80฿92.2
$2.37₽203
18.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88฿28.93
$0.67₽57.5
31.34%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49฿16.08
$0.42₽36.46
16.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.39฿78.5
$0.80₽68.4
198.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.71฿122
$1.38₽118
168.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Korolyov
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.79฿58.7
$1.18₽101
51.69%
White Bread(500g)
$1.44฿47.38
$0.88₽75.6
63.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.58฿52.1
$1.14₽98.1
38.60%
Eggs
$2.13฿69.9
$1.24₽106
71.77%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.92฿655
$11.72₽1,005
69.97%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.43฿113
$5.41₽464
-36.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.33฿372
$11.77₽1,010
-3.74%
Apples(1kg)
$2.95฿96.9
$1.92₽165
53.65%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72฿56.6
$1.47₽126
17.01%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.32฿76.4
$1.77₽152
31.07%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿68.4
$2.73₽234
-23.81%
Potato(1kg)
$1.47฿48.33
$0.61₽52.5
140.98%
Onion(1kg)
$1.36฿44.64
$0.64₽54.9
112.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.10฿36.12
$0.94₽80.8
17.02%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57฿18.89
$0.81₽69.2
-29.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27฿140
$2.86₽245
49.30%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.42฿605
$9.23₽792
99.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.87฿61.5
$1.12₽96.1
66.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92฿96.0
$2.37₽203
23.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Korolyov
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.22฿72.9
$0.97₽83.6
128.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.90฿753
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.03฿99.6
$1.50₽129
102.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.07฿35.31
$0.70₽60.1
52.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.93฿129
$9.05₽777
-56.57%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49฿49.04
$0.84₽71.9
77.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.1K฿891.7K
$20.5K₽1.8M
32.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5K฿902.3K
$26.8K₽2.3M
2.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Korolyov
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$103฿3,379
$121₽10.4K
-15.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.99฿361
$4.54₽390
142.07%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.51฿576
$7.95₽682
120.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Korolyov
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.5฿1,760
$140₽12.0K
-61.80%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.20฿368
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.48฿246
$5.18₽445
44.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Korolyov
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$557฿18.3K
$758₽65.1K
-26.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.9K฿389.6K
$22.0K₽1.9M
-46.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Korolyov
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.1฿2,106
$58.2₽4,998
10.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.07฿956
$29.02₽2,490
0.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.0฿3,154
$93.9₽8,054
2.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.3฿2,970
$170₽14.6K
-46.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Korolyov
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$730฿24.0K
$517₽44.4K
41.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$500฿16.4K
$439₽37.7K
13.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,090฿68.7K
$788₽67.6K
165.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209฿39.7K
$525₽45.1K
130.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,596฿118.2K
$2,335₽200.4K
54.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,512฿82.6K
$2,066₽177.3K
21.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Korolyov
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$503฿16.5K
$954₽81.8K
-47.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
17.5
-68.17%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026
Last update for Korolyov: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $730 in Phuket and $517 in Korolyov. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Korolyov pays 89% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Phuket vs $58.0 in Korolyov. Groceries flip the comparison at $273 vs $212, with Korolyov 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 Korolyov: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Are salaries higher in Phuket or in Korolyov?
On paper, salaries run 89% lower in Korolyov. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Phuket compared to Korolyov?
Rent for a central apartment: $730 in Phuket versus $517 in Korolyov. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Phuket or in Korolyov?
Shoppers in Korolyov pay roughly 29% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How do dining costs compare in Phuket and in Korolyov?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $58.0 in Korolyov. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Phuket or in Korolyov?
At $1,253 in Phuket versus $1,259 in Korolyov, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Korolyov. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Korolyov?
Both work as nomad bases, but Phuket delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,253 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Phuket hard to pass up.
How safe is Phuket compared to Korolyov?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Korolyov are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Should I move to Phuket or to Korolyov?
It comes down to priorities – Phuket wins on affordability, Korolyov on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.