Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Murmansk Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Murmansk

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,261 per month in Phuket vs $998 in Murmansk, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,286 per month in Phuket vs $1,523 in Murmansk, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,310 per month in Phuket vs $2,048 in Murmansk, rent included.

Phuket costs about 26% more than Murmansk, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Murmansk are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Murmansk 26% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.56 ฿150

$9.47 ₽681

-51.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.63 ฿1,535

$38.66 ₽2,779

20.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.47 ฿279

$5.44 ₽391

55.70%

Cappuccino

$3.03 ฿99.7

$1.92 ₽138

57.81%

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

$0.69 ฿22.69

$0.86 ₽62.0

-19.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿12.04

$0.66 ₽47.23

-43.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.49 ฿81.9

$1.41 ₽101

76.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿120

$2.53 ₽182

44.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.18 ฿71.8

$1.22 ₽87.9

78.69%

White Bread (500g)

$1.90 ฿62.6

$0.76 ₽54.3

150.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.20 ฿72.4

$1.48 ₽106

48.65%

Eggs

$2.22 ฿73.2

$2.23 ₽160

-0.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.99 ฿658

$10.76 ₽774

85.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.66 ฿121

$4.74 ₽341

-22.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.25 ฿436

$8.67 ₽624

52.83%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.93 ₽139

67.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.9

$1.86 ₽133

-8.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 ฿78.8

$2.30 ₽166

3.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.4

$5.22 ₽375

-60.15%

Potato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿52.4

$0.99 ₽71.2

60.61%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.83

$0.67 ₽47.93

120.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 ฿33.90

$1.36 ₽97.5

-24.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.01

$1.38 ₽99.2

-62.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.25 ฿140

$3.52 ₽253

20.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.79 ฿618

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 ฿57.8

$1.00 ₽72.2

76.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 ฿90.8

$1.93 ₽139

43.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 ฿44.79

$0.64 ₽46.14

112.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.36 ฿374

$16.84 ₽1,211

-32.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 ฿103

$2.04 ₽147

53.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿34.10

$2.07 ₽149

-49.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.77 ฿453

$4.45 ₽320

209.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ฿44.26

$0.79 ₽56.8

69.62%

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

$27.7K ฿911.1K

$34.4K ₽2.5M

-19.51%

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

$33.9K ฿1.1M

$35.4K ₽2.5M

-4.27%

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

$124 ฿4,069

$108 ₽7,765

14.44%

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

$13.52 ฿445

$5.80 ₽417

133.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.69 ฿615

$11.60 ₽834

61.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 ฿2,035

$35.21 ₽2,532

75.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.25 ฿568

Cinema Ticket

$9.14 ฿301

$4.08 ₽294

124.02%

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

$703 ฿23.1K

$327 ₽23.5K

115.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K ฿522.5K

$6,870 ₽493.9K

131.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,958

$53.2 ₽3,825

11.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.07 ฿1,154

$45.01 ₽3,236

-22.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,795

$115 ₽8,256

0.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.1 ฿2,767

$105 ₽7,562

-20.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$619 ฿20.4K

$450 ₽32.3K

37.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$433 ฿14.2K

$314 ₽22.6K

37.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,062 ฿67.9K

$630 ₽45.3K

227.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,511 ฿49.7K

$451 ₽32.4K

235.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,646 ฿120.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,626 ฿86.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$507 ฿16.7K

$1,137 ₽81.8K

-55.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

17.17

-68.96%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026

Last update for Murmansk: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $619 in Phuket versus $450 in Murmansk. 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 124% higher in Murmansk, 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 $47.00 in Phuket versus $39.00 in Murmansk. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $208 – making Murmansk 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 Murmansk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,261 in Phuket, $998 in Murmansk – roughly 26% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,892 per month in Phuket and $1,497 in Murmansk. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Murmansk, 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 $1,261 in Phuket and $998 in Murmansk. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 48% less in Murmansk. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Murmansk, where all-in costs run around $998, than in Phuket at $1,261. In Murmansk it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $998 in Murmansk to $1,261 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Murmansk. 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.