ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,487 in Novo Mesto.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $2,195 in Novo Mesto.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $2,902 in Novo Mesto.
ðLiving in Phuket costs roughly 17% less than in Novo Mesto, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðThe two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 8% below, Novo Mesto is 11% above.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Novo Mesto
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63āļŋ151
$11.78âŽ10.08
-60.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84āļŋ1,532
$35.18âŽ30.12
33.14%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84āļŋ289
$9.47âŽ8.10
-6.65%
Cappuccino
$3.00āļŋ98.0
$1.89âŽ1.62
58.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74āļŋ24.25
$2.34âŽ2.00
-68.38%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37āļŋ11.95
$1.61âŽ1.38
-77.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44āļŋ79.8
$3.15âŽ2.70
-22.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61āļŋ118
$2.83âŽ2.42
27.56%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Novo Mesto
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26āļŋ73.9
$1.32âŽ1.13
71.21%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84āļŋ60.1
$1.59âŽ1.36
15.72%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24āļŋ73.4
$2.96âŽ2.54
-24.32%
Eggs
$2.32āļŋ75.7
$3.46âŽ2.96
-32.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67āļŋ643
$13.66âŽ11.69
44.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65āļŋ119
$8.69âŽ7.44
-58.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10āļŋ428
$9.50âŽ8.13
37.89%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39āļŋ111
$1.78âŽ1.52
90.45%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64āļŋ53.7
$1.75âŽ1.50
-6.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41āļŋ79.0
$2.00âŽ1.71
20.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03āļŋ66.4
$3.55âŽ3.04
-42.82%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56āļŋ50.9
$1.18âŽ1.01
32.20%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50āļŋ48.94
$1.57âŽ1.35
-4.46%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02āļŋ33.50
$1.30âŽ1.11
-21.54%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49āļŋ16.00
$0.70âŽ0.60
-30.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45āļŋ145
$6.12âŽ5.23
-27.29%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88āļŋ617
$6.84âŽ5.85
176.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78āļŋ58.1
$1.39âŽ1.19
28.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75āļŋ90.1
$1.83âŽ1.57
50.27%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Novo Mesto
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40āļŋ45.81
$1.72âŽ1.47
-18.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48āļŋ376
$31.37âŽ26.85
-63.40%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12āļŋ102
$1.72âŽ1.48
81.40%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00āļŋ32.67
$1.21âŽ1.04
-17.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09āļŋ461
$28.95âŽ24.78
-51.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35āļŋ44.19
$1.61âŽ1.38
-16.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2Kāļŋ888.9K
$26.4KâŽ22.6K
3.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
$29.1KâŽ24.9K
13.20%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Novo Mesto
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125āļŋ4,087
$305âŽ261
-58.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57āļŋ444
$11.75âŽ10.06
15.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52āļŋ606
$33.80âŽ28.94
-45.21%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Novo Mesto
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5āļŋ2,010
$29.20âŽ24.99
110.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84āļŋ551
$34.16âŽ29.24
-50.70%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19āļŋ300
$8.25âŽ7.06
11.39%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Novo Mesto
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698āļŋ22.8K
$522âŽ447
33.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6Kāļŋ509.9K
$8,510âŽ7,285
83.22%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Novo Mesto
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8āļŋ1,889
$92.8âŽ79.5
-37.77%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24āļŋ1,152
$34.03âŽ29.13
3.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,699
$121âŽ104
-6.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4āļŋ2,825
$153âŽ131
-43.42%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Novo Mesto
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616āļŋ20.1K
$530âŽ454
16.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446āļŋ14.6K
$429âŽ367
3.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048āļŋ67.0K
$853âŽ731
139.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492āļŋ48.8K
$739âŽ632
102.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779āļŋ123.6K
$2,908âŽ2,489
29.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649āļŋ86.6K
$3,355âŽ2,872
-21.05%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Novo Mesto
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524āļŋ17.1K
$1,467âŽ1,255
-64.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
3.3
61.52%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Novo Mesto: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $616 in Phuket and $530 in Novo Mesto. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ð°Novo Mesto pays 180% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
ðDining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $35.00 in Novo Mesto for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $257 per month, with Novo Mesto 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 Novo Mesto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Phuket and Novo Mesto?
Phuket and Novo Mesto differ by about 21% in total monthly costs ($1,232 vs $1,487 including rent). Phuket is meaningfully more affordable â a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Novo Mesto earns 180% 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 Novo Mesto?
Rent for a central apartment: $616 in Phuket versus $530 in Novo Mesto. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Novo Mesto pay roughly 13% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket â a meal for two runs $47.00 versus $35.00 in Novo Mesto. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,487 in Novo Mesto, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Novo Mesto. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Novo Mesto?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better â the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Phuket or Novo Mesto safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Novo Mesto 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 Novo Mesto?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet â expenses run 21% less than in Novo Mesto. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.