Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and NisCost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Nis
Monthly Cost of Living
😐A single person spends $1,261 per month in Phuket vs $1,024 in Nis, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,286 per month in Phuket vs $1,524 in Nis, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,310 per month in Phuket vs $2,024 in Nis, rent included.
😐Phuket costs about 23% more than Nis, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Phuket and Nis are more affordable than the global median – Phuket6% lower, Nis24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Nis
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56฿149
$7.62RSD 771
-40.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.63฿1,519
$29.33RSD 2,966
58.98%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.47฿276
$9.72RSD 983
-12.86%
Cappuccino
$3.03฿98.6
$2.00RSD 202
51.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.45
$1.89RSD 192
-63.49%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿11.92
$1.27RSD 129
-70.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.49฿81.0
$2.50RSD 253
-0.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66฿119
$2.97RSD 300
23.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Nis
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.18฿71.0
$1.34RSD 136
62.69%
White Bread(500g)
$1.90฿62.0
$0.71RSD 71.5
167.61%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.20฿71.6
$1.85RSD 187
18.92%
Eggs
$2.22฿72.4
$2.48RSD 251
-10.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.99฿651
$7.82RSD 791
155.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.66฿119
$6.75RSD 682
-45.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.25฿432
$11.83RSD 1,196
12.00%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23฿105
$1.15RSD 116
180.87%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70฿55.3
$1.73RSD 175
-1.73%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.39฿78.0
$1.50RSD 152
59.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿67.7
$1.78RSD 180
16.85%
Potato(1kg)
$1.59฿51.8
$1.08RSD 109
47.22%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48฿48.31
$1.10RSD 111
34.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03฿33.54
$0.55RSD 55.8
87.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿16.83
$0.61RSD 61.8
-14.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.25฿138
$4.19RSD 424
1.43%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.79฿612
$6.53RSD 660
187.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76฿57.2
$0.71RSD 71.7
147.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76฿89.8
$2.04RSD 206
35.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Nis
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.36฿44.32
$0.75RSD 75.9
81.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.36฿370
$26.24RSD 2,654
-56.71%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14฿102
$1.46RSD 148
115.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04฿33.74
$0.42RSD 42.88
147.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.77฿448
$6.88RSD 696
100.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34฿43.79
$1.76RSD 178
-23.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K฿901.4K
$31.0KRSD 3.1M
-10.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9K฿1.1M
$27.4KRSD 2.8M
23.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Nis
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$124฿4,025
$142RSD 14.3K
-12.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.52฿440
$16.69RSD 1,688
-18.99%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.69฿609
$22.77RSD 2,303
-17.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Nis
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.8฿2,013
$29.32RSD 2,966
110.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.25฿562
$19.33RSD 1,955
-10.76%
Cinema Ticket
$9.14฿298
$5.07RSD 513
80.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Nis
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$703฿22.9K
$234RSD 23.7K
200.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.9K฿517.0K
$5,145RSD 520.3K
208.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Nis
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5฿1,937
$88.8RSD 8,978
-33.03%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.07฿1,142
$47.06RSD 4,759
-25.48%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,754
$93.2RSD 9,422
23.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.1฿2,737
$103RSD 10.4K
-18.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Nis
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$619฿20.1K
$409RSD 41.4K
51.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$433฿14.1K
$284RSD 28.7K
52.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,062฿67.2K
$554RSD 56.0K
272.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,511฿49.2K
$406RSD 41.1K
271.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,646฿118.7K
$2,597RSD 262.7K
40.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,626฿85.5K
$1,910RSD 193.2K
37.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Nis
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$507฿16.5K
$890RSD 90.0K
-43.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
7.45
-28.46%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026
Last update for Nis: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $619 in Phuket versus $409 in Nis. 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 76% higher in Nis, 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 $29.00 in Nis. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $197 – making Nis 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 Nis: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Nis?
Phuket costs about 23% more than Nis, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Phuket vs Nis?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,892 per month in Phuket and $1,535 in Nis. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Phuket or Nis?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Nis, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Phuket compared to Nis?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,261 in Phuket and $1,024 in Nis. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Phuket vs Nis?
Public transport costs about 131% less in Nis. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Phuket or Nis?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Nis, where all-in costs run around $1,024, than in Phuket at $1,261. In Nis it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Nis?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Nis costs $1,024 versus $1,261 in Phuket. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Phuket compared to Nis?
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.
Should I move to Phuket or Nis?
If budget matters most, go with Nis. 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.