Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Kurgan Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Kurgan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,264 per month in Phuket vs $986 in Kurgan, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,256 per month in Phuket vs $1,520 in Kurgan, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,248 per month in Phuket vs $2,053 in Kurgan, rent included.

Phuket costs about 28% more than Kurgan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Kurgan are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 5% lower, Kurgan 26% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.48 ฿150

$6.30 ₽501

-28.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.59 ฿1,521

$43.59 ₽3,469

4.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.76 ฿292

$5.56 ₽442

57.55%

Cappuccino

$2.97 ฿99.0

$2.36 ₽188

25.85%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 ฿22.90

$1.27 ₽101

-45.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 ฿13.04

$0.36 ₽28.88

8.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.53 ฿84.4

$0.90 ₽71.8

181.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 ฿125

$1.86 ₽148

101.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 ฿71.6

$1.04 ₽82.6

106.73%

White Bread (500g)

$1.82 ฿60.6

$0.56 ₽44.92

225.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.18 ฿72.9

$1.38 ₽110

57.97%

Eggs

$2.25 ฿75.0

$1.33 ₽106

69.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$20.00 ฿667

$10.34 ₽823

93.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿121

$7.03 ₽560

-48.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.56 ฿452

$11.33 ₽902

19.68%

Apples (1kg)

$3.24 ฿108

$1.87 ₽149

73.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ฿54.6

$2.04 ₽162

-19.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.33 ฿77.8

$2.05 ₽163

13.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.07 ฿69.1

$3.48 ₽277

-40.52%

Potato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.6

$1.08 ₽86.1

43.52%

Onion (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.54

$0.73 ₽58.4

100.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ฿32.86

$0.58 ₽46.24

68.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.09

$0.54 ₽42.81

-11.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.35 ฿145

$2.57 ₽204

69.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.57 ฿620

$5.25 ₽418

253.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿61.9

$0.90 ₽71.6

106.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 ฿88.6

$1.66 ₽132

59.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.42 ฿47.28

$0.52 ₽41.72

173.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.57 ฿386

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 ฿106

$1.87 ₽149

69.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.03 ฿34.41

$0.33 ₽26.00

212.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.89 ฿463

$5.30 ₽422

162.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ฿44.84

$0.74 ₽58.7

81.08%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$27.8K ฿927.1K

$62.0K ₽4.9M

-55.15%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$33.4K ฿1.1M

$32.0K ₽2.5M

4.21%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$123 ฿4,105

$139 ₽11.1K

-11.38%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.77 ฿459

$5.23 ₽416

163.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.33 ฿611

$7.95 ₽633

130.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.7 ฿2,025

$35.43 ₽2,820

71.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.16 ฿573

Cinema Ticket

$8.87 ฿296

$3.75 ₽299

136.53%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$688 ฿22.9K

$436 ₽34.7K

57.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K ฿526.4K

$4,366 ₽347.4K

261.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.3 ฿1,978

$26.16 ₽2,082

126.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.69 ฿1,157

$16.53 ₽1,315

109.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,843

$164 ₽13.1K

-29.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.8 ฿2,794

$186 ₽14.8K

-55.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$621 ฿20.7K

$448 ₽35.7K

38.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$446 ฿14.9K

$303 ₽24.1K

47.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,034 ฿67.8K

$757 ₽60.3K

168.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,496 ฿49.9K

$515 ₽41.0K

190.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,455 ฿115.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,531 ฿84.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿16.5K

$694 ₽55.2K

-28.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

13.45

-60.37%

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

Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026

Last update for Kurgan: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $621 in Phuket versus $448 in Kurgan. 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 41% higher in Kurgan, 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 $46.00 in Phuket versus $44.00 in Kurgan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $291 vs $206 – making Kurgan 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 Kurgan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 28%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,896 per month in Phuket and $1,480 in Kurgan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Kurgan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,264 in Phuket and $986 in Kurgan. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $688 per month in Phuket and $436 in Kurgan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kurgan, where all-in costs run around $986, than in Phuket at $1,264. In Kurgan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Kurgan – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Kurgan. 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.