Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and NiksicCost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Niksic
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $966 in Niksic.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $1,481 in Niksic.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $1,996 in Niksic.
😐Living in Phuket is roughly 28% more expensive than Niksic, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket8% lower, Niksic28% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Niksic
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63฿151
$7.91€6.77
-41.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84฿1,532
$31.82€27.24
47.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84฿289
$5.88€5.03
50.34%
Cappuccino
$3.00฿98.0
$1.69€1.45
77.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74฿24.25
$1.89€1.62
-60.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿11.95
$1.13€0.97
-67.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44฿79.8
$2.06€1.76
18.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61฿118
$2.38€2.04
51.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Niksic
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26฿73.9
$1.12€0.96
101.79%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84฿60.1
$0.91€0.78
102.20%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24฿73.4
$2.05€1.75
9.27%
Eggs
$2.32฿75.7
$3.10€2.65
-25.16%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67฿643
$7.50€6.42
162.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65฿119
$6.21€5.32
-41.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10฿428
$10.60€9.08
23.58%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39฿111
$1.25€1.07
171.20%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64฿53.7
$1.38€1.18
18.84%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿79.0
$1.50€1.29
60.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03฿66.4
$2.09€1.79
-2.87%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56฿50.9
$1.04€0.89
50.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50฿48.94
$1.09€0.93
37.61%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02฿33.50
$1.08€0.93
-5.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49฿16.00
$0.85€0.73
-42.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45฿145
$4.22€3.61
5.45%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88฿617
$5.13€4.39
268.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿58.1
$0.97€0.83
83.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75฿90.1
$1.16€0.99
137.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Niksic
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40฿45.81
$1.19€1.02
17.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48฿376
$35.33€30.24
-67.51%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12฿102
$0.60€0.52
420.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00฿32.67
$0.53€0.46
88.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09฿461
$7.41€6.35
90.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35฿44.19
$1.69€1.45
-20.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K฿888.9K
$21.6K€18.5K
25.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K฿1.1M
$27.1K€23.2K
21.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Niksic
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125฿4,087
$126€108
-1.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57฿444
$23.97€20.52
-43.39%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52฿606
$24.81€21.24
-25.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Niksic
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5฿2,010
$34.51€29.54
78.15%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84฿551
$10.66€9.13
57.97%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19฿300
$5.66€4.84
62.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Niksic
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698฿22.8K
$85.4€73.1
717.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6K฿509.9K
$4,696€4,020
232.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Niksic
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8฿1,889
$84.3€72.2
-31.52%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24฿1,152
$32.42€27.75
8.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113฿3,699
$94.0€80.5
20.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4฿2,825
$115€98.3
-24.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Niksic
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616฿20.1K
$374€320
64.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446฿14.6K
$230€197
94.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048฿67.0K
$540€462
279.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492฿48.8K
$370€317
303.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779฿123.6K
$1,372€1,175
175.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649฿86.6K
$989€847
167.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Niksic
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524฿17.1K
$833€713
-37.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
5.5
-3.09%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Niksic: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $616 in Phuket and $374 in Niksic. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Niksic pays 59% 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 $32.00 in Niksic for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $195 per month, with Niksic 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 Niksic: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Phuket and Niksic?
Phuket and Niksic differ by about 28% in total monthly costs ($1,232 vs $966 including rent). Niksic is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Niksic earns 59% 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 Niksic?
Rent for a central apartment: $616 in Phuket versus $374 in Niksic. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Phuket or Niksic?
All in, you'll spend $1,232 per month in Phuket versus $966 in Niksic – a 28% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Phuket and Niksic?
A monthly transit pass in Niksic runs roughly 208% less than in Phuket. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $966 in Niksic versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Niksic but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Niksic the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Niksic?
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 Niksic safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Niksic 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 Niksic?
Expats usually find Niksic gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.