😐A single person spends $1,253 per month in Phuket vs $936 in Kostanay, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,043 per month in Phuket vs $1,435 in Kostanay, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,833 per month in Phuket vs $1,933 in Kostanay, rent included.
😐Phuket costs about 34% more than Kostanay, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Phuket and Kostanay are more affordable than the global median – Phuket9% lower, Kostanay32% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Kostanay
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56฿150
$5.45₸2,484
-16.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.62฿1,073
$28.71₸13.1K
13.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.90฿293
$7.19₸3,276
23.78%
Cappuccino
$2.80฿92.2
$2.13₸972
31.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88฿28.94
$1.15₸522
-23.48%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49฿16.08
$0.83₸378
-40.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.39฿78.5
$1.39₸634
71.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.71฿122
$2.53₸1,151
46.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Kostanay
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.79฿58.8
$1.24₸565
44.35%
White Bread(500g)
$1.44฿47.40
$0.48₸219
200.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.58฿52.1
$1.03₸469
53.40%
Eggs
$2.13฿69.9
$2.20₸1,002
-3.18%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.92฿655
$10.03₸4,568
98.60%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.43฿113
$5.70₸2,599
-39.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.33฿372
$8.59₸3,913
31.90%
Apples(1kg)
$2.95฿97.0
$1.58₸722
86.71%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72฿56.6
$2.26₸1,032
-23.89%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.32฿76.5
$1.88₸854
23.40%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿68.4
$2.27₸1,034
-8.37%
Potato(1kg)
$1.47฿48.34
$0.54₸246
172.22%
Onion(1kg)
$1.36฿44.65
$0.62₸281
119.35%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.10฿36.13
$1.19₸541
-7.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57฿18.89
$0.92₸417
-38.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27฿140
$2.41₸1,097
77.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.42฿606
$8.05₸3,669
128.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.87฿61.5
$1.10₸500
70.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92฿96.1
$2.30₸1,047
26.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Kostanay
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.22฿73.0
$0.32₸144
593.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.90฿753
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.03฿99.6
$0.94₸427
222.34%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.07฿35.32
$1.06₸484
0.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.93฿129
$5.85₸2,664
-32.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49฿49.06
$0.54₸246
175.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.1K฿892.0K
$30.6K₸14.0M
-11.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5K฿902.6K
$29.1K₸13.3M
-5.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Kostanay
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$103฿3,380
$75.3₸34.3K
36.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.99฿361
$10.72₸4,883
2.52%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.51฿576
$15.65₸7,128
11.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Kostanay
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.5฿1,760
$46.28₸21.1K
15.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.20฿368
$19.86₸9,048
-43.61%
Cinema Ticket
$7.48฿246
$4.20₸1,913
78.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Kostanay
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$557฿18.3K
$207₸94.3K
169.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.9K฿389.7K
$6,436₸2.9M
84.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Kostanay
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.1฿2,107
$92.3₸42.0K
-30.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.07฿956
$52.7₸24.0K
-44.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.0฿3,155
$106₸48.5K
-9.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.3฿2,970
$89.3₸40.7K
1.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Kostanay
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$730฿24.0K
$388₸176.9K
88.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$500฿16.4K
$304₸138.4K
64.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,090฿68.7K
$580₸264.4K
260.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209฿39.8K
$471₸214.8K
156.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,596฿118.2K
$1,190₸541.9K
202.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,512฿82.6K
$910₸414.6K
176.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Kostanay
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$503฿16.6K
$646₸294.5K
-22.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
18.5
-69.89%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026
Last update for Kostanay: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $730 in Phuket versus $388 in Kostanay. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 28% higher in Kostanay, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Phuket versus $29.00 in Kostanay. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $273 vs $200 – making Kostanay the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Kostanay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Kostanay?
Phuket costs about 34% more than Kostanay, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Phuket and in Kostanay?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,880 per month in Phuket and $1,404 in Kostanay. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Phuket or Kostanay?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kostanay, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Phuket and in Kostanay?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Phuket and $29.00 in Kostanay. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Phuket or in Kostanay?
Groceries cost about 37% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Phuket or in Kostanay?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kostanay, where all-in costs run around $936, than in Phuket at $1,253. In Kostanay it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Kostanay?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kostanay costs $936 versus $1,253 in Phuket. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Phuket compared to Kostanay?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Phuket or to Kostanay?
If budget matters most, go with Kostanay. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.