Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and KrakowCost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Krakow
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,250 in Phuket versus $1,773 in Krakow.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,284 in Phuket versus $2,539 in Krakow.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,317 in Phuket versus $3,305 in Krakow.
🌍Living in Phuket costs roughly 30% less than in Krakow, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 6% below, Krakow is 33% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Krakow
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.55฿153
$10.91zł 41.39
-58.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.18฿1,553
$53.7zł 204
-14.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84฿297
$9.55zł 36.22
-7.43%
Cappuccino
$3.06฿103
$3.98zł 15.09
-23.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73฿24.40
$2.21zł 8.40
-66.97%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40฿13.39
$2.26zł 8.59
-82.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.43฿81.8
$4.16zł 15.79
-41.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78฿127
$4.04zł 15.34
-6.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Krakow
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26฿76.0
$1.16zł 4.39
94.83%
White Bread(500g)
$1.81฿60.9
$1.45zł 5.51
24.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.25฿75.8
$1.46zł 5.54
54.11%
Eggs
$2.25฿75.5
$3.61zł 13.68
-37.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.51฿656
$8.98zł 34.07
117.26%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65฿123
$6.51zł 24.68
-43.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.05฿439
$11.52zł 43.69
13.28%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23฿109
$1.25zł 4.75
158.40%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62฿54.4
$1.74zł 6.61
-6.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.38฿80.1
$1.80zł 6.83
32.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03฿68.1
$3.03zł 11.50
-33.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿51.6
$1.02zł 3.86
50.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50฿50.5
$1.06zł 4.01
41.51%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98฿32.91
$1.30zł 4.94
-24.62%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿17.39
$0.71zł 2.68
-26.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.44฿149
$5.59zł 21.19
-20.57%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.32฿616
$6.44zł 24.45
184.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿62.7
$1.23zł 4.67
51.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68฿90.1
$1.70zł 6.44
57.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Krakow
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.41฿47.46
$1.11zł 4.23
27.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.70฿393
$39.41zł 150
-70.31%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.11฿105
$2.51zł 9.53
23.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04฿35.06
$0.99zł 3.74
5.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.11฿474
$13.03zł 49.43
8.29%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31฿44.10
$1.69zł 6.42
-22.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿935.4K
$33.1Kzł 125.7K
-16.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K฿1.1M
$32.5Kzł 123.2K
2.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Krakow
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿4,118
$278zł 1,056
-56.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.59฿457
$9.20zł 34.89
47.72%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.70฿629
$16.58zł 62.9
12.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Krakow
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.5฿2,034
$38.22zł 145
58.27%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.98฿571
$22.23zł 84.3
-23.62%
Cinema Ticket
$9.07฿305
$8.05zł 30.54
12.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Krakow
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$706฿23.8K
$437zł 1,657
61.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8K฿531.5K
$12.9Kzł 48.9K
22.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Krakow
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6฿1,969
$76.7zł 291
-23.66%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.36฿1,189
$45.54zł 173
-22.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,883
$101zł 384
14.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.7฿2,816
$113zł 428
-25.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Krakow
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$626฿21.0K
$904zł 3,430
-30.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$445฿15.0K
$757zł 2,873
-41.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,040฿68.6K
$1,601zł 6,073
27.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492฿50.2K
$1,154zł 4,379
29.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,483฿117.1K
$5,725zł 21.7K
-39.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,577฿86.7K
$3,721zł 14.1K
-30.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Krakow
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$500฿16.8K
$1,883zł 7,146
-73.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
7.77
-31.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026
Last update for Krakow: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $626 in Phuket and $904 in Krakow. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Krakow pays 277% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $46.00 in Phuket vs $54.0 in Krakow. Groceries flip the comparison at $289 vs $221, with Krakow 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 Krakow: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Krakow?
Phuket wins on cost – living expenses run 42% lower than in Krakow. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Phuket the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Phuket or in Krakow?
On paper, salaries run 277% lower in Krakow. 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 Krakow?
Rent for a central apartment: $626 in Phuket versus $904 in Krakow. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Phuket or in Krakow?
Shoppers in Krakow pay roughly 31% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How do dining costs compare in Phuket and in Krakow?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket – a meal for two runs $46.00 versus $54.0 in Krakow. 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 Krakow?
At $1,250 in Phuket versus $1,773 in Krakow, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Krakow. 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 Krakow?
Both work as nomad bases, but Phuket delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,250 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 Krakow?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Krakow 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 Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 42% less than in Krakow. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.