😐A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $979 in Makhachkala, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,297 per month in Phuket vs $1,491 in Makhachkala, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,329 per month in Phuket vs $2,002 in Makhachkala, rent included.
😐Phuket costs about 29% more than Makhachkala, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Phuket and Makhachkala are more affordable than the global median – Phuket6% lower, Makhachkala27% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Makhachkala
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70฿153
$15.31₽1,125
-69.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37฿1,482
$38.77₽2,848
17.02%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.43฿275
$5.20₽382
62.12%
Cappuccino
$2.93฿95.6
$3.12₽229
-6.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.40
$0.84₽62.0
-17.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿11.99
$0.35₽25.81
5.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.41฿78.6
$1.36₽99.6
77.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿122
$2.50₽184
48.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Makhachkala
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.23฿72.9
$1.51₽111
47.68%
White Bread(500g)
$1.83฿59.8
$0.60₽44.23
205.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.17฿70.8
$1.38₽101
57.25%
Eggs
$2.21฿72.3
$1.37₽101
61.31%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.74฿645
$2.97₽218
564.65%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63฿119
$4.80₽353
-24.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.53฿442
$4.92₽361
175.00%
Apples(1kg)
$3.28฿107
$1.74₽128
88.51%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61฿52.6
$1.75₽129
-8.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿78.6
$2.72₽200
-11.40%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿68.1
$1.89₽139
10.05%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿49.93
$0.88₽64.5
73.86%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48฿48.36
$0.49₽35.84
202.04%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99฿32.29
$2.36₽173
-58.05%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51฿16.67
$0.59₽43.05
-13.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41฿144
$3.19₽234
38.24%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.38฿633
$4.22₽310
359.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿58.1
$1.04₽76.4
71.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71฿88.6
$1.85₽136
46.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Makhachkala
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.37฿44.79
$0.43₽31.44
218.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.39฿372
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.02฿98.6
$2.22₽163
36.04%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.99฿32.48
$0.21₽15.53
371.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.10฿461
$6.18₽454
128.16%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36฿44.51
$0.70₽51.3
94.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K฿921.1K
$35.3K₽2.6M
-20.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K฿1.1M
$30.3K₽2.2M
8.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Makhachkala
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿3,975
$54.9₽4,033
121.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57฿443
$6.13₽450
121.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31฿598
$9.84₽723
86.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Makhachkala
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.2฿1,967
$46.58₽3,421
29.28%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14฿560
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.69฿284
$5.02₽369
73.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Makhachkala
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$693฿22.6K
$166₽12.2K
317.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.7K฿512.3K
$7,077₽519.9K
121.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Makhachkala
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5฿1,944
$106₽7,777
-43.77%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77฿1,136
$44.24₽3,250
-21.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,743
$105₽7,704
9.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3฿2,720
$145₽10.7K
-42.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Makhachkala
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$613฿20.0K
$501₽36.8K
22.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$437฿14.3K
$305₽22.4K
43.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,094฿68.4K
$698₽51.2K
200.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,509฿49.3K
$399₽29.3K
277.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,749฿122.5K
$1,789₽131.4K
109.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,616฿85.4K
$1,289₽94.7K
103.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Makhachkala
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$508฿16.6K
$860₽63.1K
-40.88%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
11.33
-52.96%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026
Last update for Makhachkala: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $613 in Phuket versus $501 in Makhachkala. 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 69% higher in Makhachkala, 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 $45.00 in Phuket versus $39.00 in Makhachkala. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $157 – making Makhachkala 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 Makhachkala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Makhachkala cheaper than Phuket?
Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 29%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,898 per month in Phuket and $1,468 in Makhachkala. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Makhachkala, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket vs Makhachkala?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,265 in Phuket and $979 in Makhachkala. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $693 per month in Phuket and $166 in Makhachkala. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Makhachkala?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Makhachkala, where all-in costs run around $979, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Makhachkala it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Phuket or Makhachkala more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Makhachkala – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Makhachkala?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Makhachkala. 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.