😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Phuket versus $1,242 in Lyubertsy.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,286 in Phuket versus $1,884 in Lyubertsy.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,310 in Phuket versus $2,525 in Lyubertsy.
😐Living in Phuket is roughly 2% more expensive than Lyubertsy, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket6% lower, Lyubertsy8% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Lyubertsy
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56฿149
$12.57₽911
-63.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.63฿1,519
$39.94₽2,894
16.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.47฿276
$6.18₽448
37.06%
Cappuccino
$3.03฿98.6
$2.48₽180
22.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.45
$0.72₽52.4
-4.17%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿11.92
$0.31₽22.47
19.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.49฿81.0
$1.39₽101
79.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66฿119
$2.27₽164
61.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Lyubertsy
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.18฿71.0
$1.27₽92.3
71.65%
White Bread(500g)
$1.90฿62.0
$0.83₽60.2
128.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.20฿71.6
$1.66₽120
32.53%
Eggs
$2.22฿72.4
$1.85₽134
20.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.99฿651
$13.26₽961
50.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.66฿119
$5.98₽434
-38.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.25฿432
$12.17₽882
8.87%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23฿105
$1.87₽136
72.73%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70฿55.3
$2.14₽155
-20.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.39฿78.0
$2.37₽172
0.84%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿67.7
$4.08₽296
-49.02%
Potato(1kg)
$1.59฿51.8
$1.02₽74.1
55.88%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48฿48.31
$0.85₽61.8
74.12%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03฿33.54
$1.69₽122
-39.05%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿16.83
$0.75₽54.6
-30.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.25฿138
$3.19₽231
33.23%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.79฿612
$8.60₽623
118.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76฿57.2
$1.07₽77.3
64.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76฿89.8
$2.45₽177
12.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Lyubertsy
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.36฿44.32
$0.58₽42.28
134.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.36฿370
$16.71₽1,211
-32.02%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14฿102
$2.47₽179
27.13%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04฿33.74
$0.44₽31.96
136.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.77฿448
$8.11₽587
69.79%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34฿43.79
$0.76₽55.0
76.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K฿901.4K
$38.2K₽2.8M
-27.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9K฿1.1M
$36.1K₽2.6M
-6.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Lyubertsy
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$124฿4,025
$148₽10.7K
-16.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.52฿440
$7.46₽541
81.23%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.69฿609
$7.80₽565
139.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Lyubertsy
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.8฿2,013
$31.53₽2,285
96.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.25฿562
$25.33₽1,836
-31.90%
Cinema Ticket
$9.14฿298
$5.69₽413
60.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Lyubertsy
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$703฿22.9K
$697₽50.5K
0.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.9K฿517.0K
$14.3K₽1.0M
10.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Lyubertsy
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5฿1,937
$86.7₽6,281
-31.40%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.07฿1,142
$51.9₽3,759
-32.39%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,754
$134₽9,695
-13.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.1฿2,737
$155₽11.3K
-45.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Lyubertsy
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$619฿20.1K
$505₽36.6K
22.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$433฿14.1K
$406₽29.4K
6.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,062฿67.2K
$763₽55.3K
170.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,511฿49.2K
$647₽46.9K
133.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,646฿118.7K
$2,036₽147.5K
79.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,626฿85.5K
$1,871₽135.6K
40.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Lyubertsy
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$507฿16.5K
$651₽47.2K
-22.10%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
13.5
-60.52%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026
Last update for Lyubertsy: June 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $619 in Phuket and $505 in Lyubertsy. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lyubertsy pays 28% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $40.00 in Lyubertsy for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $241 per month, with Lyubertsy 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 Lyubertsy: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Phuket and Lyubertsy?
Phuket and Lyubertsy differ by about 2% in total monthly costs ($1,261 vs $1,242 including rent). Lyubertsy is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Lyubertsy earns 28% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Phuket and Lyubertsy?
Rent for a central apartment: $619 in Phuket versus $505 in Lyubertsy. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 21% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Lyubertsy – a meal for two runs $40.00 versus $47.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,242 in Lyubertsy versus $1,261 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Lyubertsy but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Lyubertsy the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Lyubertsy?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Phuket or Lyubertsy safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Lyubertsy are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Phuket or Lyubertsy?
Expats usually find Lyubertsy gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.