Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Korolyov Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Korolyov

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,250 in Phuket versus $997 in Korolyov.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,284 in Phuket versus $1,403 in Korolyov.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,317 in Phuket versus $1,808 in Korolyov.

Living in Phuket is roughly 25% more expensive than in Korolyov, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, Korolyov 25% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Korolyov
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.55 ฿153
$8.84 ₽694
-48.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.18 ฿1,553
$20.46 ₽1,607
125.71%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.84 ฿297
$5.27 ₽414
67.74%
Cappuccino
$3.06 ฿103
$2.04 ₽160
50.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 ฿24.40
$0.86 ₽67.2
-15.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40 ฿13.39
$0.39 ₽30.70
2.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.43 ฿81.8
$4.15 ₽326
-41.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78 ฿127
$1.85 ₽145
104.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Korolyov
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.26 ฿76.0
$1.19 ₽93.7
89.92%
White Bread (500g)
$1.81 ฿60.9
$0.42 ₽32.80
330.95%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.25 ฿75.8
$1.31 ₽103
71.76%
Eggs
$2.25 ฿75.5
$1.62 ₽127
38.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.51 ฿656
$11.81 ₽928
65.20%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.65 ฿123
$5.49 ₽431
-33.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.05 ฿439
$7.98 ₽627
63.53%
Apples (1kg)
$3.23 ฿109
$1.94 ₽152
66.49%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 ฿54.4
$1.69 ₽132
-4.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.38 ฿80.1
$2.37 ₽186
0.42%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 ฿68.1
$3.99 ₽313
-49.12%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿51.6
$0.41 ₽32.19
273.17%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.5
$0.84 ₽66.0
78.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.98 ฿32.91
$1.65 ₽129
-40.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.39
$0.52 ₽41.12
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.44 ฿149
$2.46 ₽193
80.49%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.32 ฿616
$10.46 ₽822
75.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 ฿62.7
$1.08 ₽84.8
72.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 ฿90.1
$1.47 ₽115
82.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Korolyov
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.41 ฿47.46
$0.75 ₽58.7
88.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.70 ฿393
$22.46 ₽1,764
-47.91%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.11 ฿105
$2.58 ₽202
20.54%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.04 ฿35.06
$0.47 ₽36.97
121.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.11 ฿474
$7.91 ₽622
78.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 ฿44.10
$0.77 ₽60.7
70.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K ฿935.4K
$37.6K ₽3.0M
-26.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K ฿1.1M
$20.6K ₽1.6M
61.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Korolyov
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ฿4,118
$123 ₽9,683
-0.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.59 ฿457
$5.53 ₽434
145.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.70 ฿629
$7.91 ₽621
136.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Korolyov
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.5 ฿2,034
$31.58 ₽2,481
91.55%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.98 ฿571
$15.51 ₽1,219
9.48%
Cinema Ticket
$9.07 ฿305
$5.34 ₽420
69.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Korolyov
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$706 ฿23.8K
$691 ₽54.3K
2.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.8K ฿531.5K
$14.4K ₽1.1M
9.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Korolyov
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6 ฿1,969
$57.9 ₽4,547
1.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.36 ฿1,189
$25.60 ₽2,011
38.12%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,883
$38.34 ₽3,012
201.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.7 ฿2,816
$57.6 ₽4,523
45.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Korolyov
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$626 ฿21.0K
$450 ₽35.3K
39.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$445 ฿15.0K
$367 ₽28.8K
21.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,040 ฿68.6K
$698 ₽54.8K
192.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,492 ฿50.2K
$488 ₽38.3K
205.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,483 ฿117.1K
$2,644 ₽207.7K
31.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,577 ฿86.7K
$2,315 ₽181.9K
11.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Korolyov
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$500 ฿16.8K
$1,055 ₽82.8K
-52.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
15
-64.47%

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

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Last update for Korolyov: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $626 in Phuket and $450 in Korolyov. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Korolyov pays 111% 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 $20.00 in Korolyov for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $289 vs $209 per month, with Korolyov 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 Korolyov: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Korolyov?
Korolyov wins on cost – living expenses run 25% lower than in Phuket. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Korolyov the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Phuket or in Korolyov?
On paper, salaries run 111% 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: $626 in Phuket versus $450 in Korolyov. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Phuket compared to Korolyov?
A monthly transit pass in Korolyov runs roughly 92% less than in Phuket. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Phuket and in Korolyov?
Childcare runs $706 in Phuket versus $691 in Korolyov. 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 Korolyov?
At $997 in Korolyov versus $1,250 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Korolyov but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Korolyov the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Korolyov?
Both work as nomad bases, but Korolyov delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $997 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Korolyov 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Korolyov gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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