ðA single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $982 in Novoshakhtinsk, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $2,255 per month in Phuket vs $1,499 in Novoshakhtinsk, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $3,279 per month in Phuket vs $2,016 in Novoshakhtinsk, rent included.
ðPhuket costs about 25% more than Novoshakhtinsk, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
ðBoth Phuket and Novoshakhtinsk are more affordable than the global median â Phuket8% lower, Novoshakhtinsk27% lower.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Novoshakhtinsk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63āļŋ151
$9.32â―700
-50.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84āļŋ1,532
$38.57â―2,897
21.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84āļŋ289
$5.78â―434
52.94%
Cappuccino
$3.00āļŋ98.0
$2.34â―176
28.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74āļŋ24.25
$1.08â―81.3
-31.48%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37āļŋ11.95
$0.48â―36.39
-22.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44āļŋ79.8
$1.36â―102
79.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61āļŋ118
$2.51â―189
43.82%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Novoshakhtinsk
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26āļŋ73.9
$1.15â―86.5
96.52%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84āļŋ60.1
$0.70â―52.6
162.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24āļŋ73.4
$1.41â―106
58.87%
Eggs
$2.32āļŋ75.7
$1.74â―130
33.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67āļŋ643
$10.70â―803
83.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65āļŋ119
$5.00â―376
-27.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10āļŋ428
$8.83â―664
48.36%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39āļŋ111
$1.72â―129
97.09%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64āļŋ53.7
$1.90â―142
-13.68%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41āļŋ79.0
$1.96â―147
22.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03āļŋ66.4
$2.65â―199
-23.40%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56āļŋ50.9
$0.79â―59.5
97.47%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50āļŋ48.94
$0.72â―54.3
108.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02āļŋ33.50
$1.42â―107
-28.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49āļŋ16.00
$0.71â―53.2
-30.99%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45āļŋ145
$2.87â―216
55.05%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88āļŋ617
$7.77â―584
142.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78āļŋ58.1
$0.96â―72.4
85.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75āļŋ90.1
$1.94â―146
41.75%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Novoshakhtinsk
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40āļŋ45.81
$0.50â―37.44
180.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48āļŋ376
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12āļŋ102
$1.93â―145
61.66%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00āļŋ32.67
$0.33â―24.78
203.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09āļŋ461
$6.19â―465
127.63%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35āļŋ44.19
$0.79â―59.0
70.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2Kāļŋ888.9K
$34.0Kâ―2.6M
-19.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
$35.8Kâ―2.7M
-7.97%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Novoshakhtinsk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125āļŋ4,087
$108â―8,096
15.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57āļŋ444
$5.98â―449
126.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52āļŋ606
$7.84â―589
136.22%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Novoshakhtinsk
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5āļŋ2,010
$34.96â―2,626
75.86%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84āļŋ551
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.19āļŋ300
$5.22â―392
76.05%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Novoshakhtinsk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698āļŋ22.8K
$326â―24.5K
114.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6Kāļŋ509.9K
$7,065â―530.6K
120.71%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Novoshakhtinsk
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8āļŋ1,889
$69.7â―5,231
-17.07%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24āļŋ1,152
$44.34â―3,331
-20.52%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,699
$116â―8,745
-2.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4āļŋ2,825
$107â―8,056
-19.46%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Novoshakhtinsk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616āļŋ20.1K
$439â―33.0K
40.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446āļŋ14.6K
$305â―22.9K
46.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048āļŋ67.0K
$773â―58.1K
164.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492āļŋ48.8K
$516â―38.8K
188.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779āļŋ123.6K
$1,879â―141.1K
101.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649āļŋ86.6K
$1,601â―120.2K
65.46%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Novoshakhtinsk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524āļŋ17.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
15.33
-65.23%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Novoshakhtinsk: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $616 in Phuket versus $439 in Novoshakhtinsk. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
ðA mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket versus $39.00 in Novoshakhtinsk. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $198 â making Novoshakhtinsk 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 Novoshakhtinsk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Novoshakhtinsk cheaper than Phuket?
Yes â Phuket is pricier by about 25%, 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 $1,847 per month in Phuket and $1,473 in Novoshakhtinsk. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Novoshakhtinsk, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or Novoshakhtinsk?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket and $39.00 in Novoshakhtinsk. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafÃĐ pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and Novoshakhtinsk?
Groceries cost about 48% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Novoshakhtinsk?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Novoshakhtinsk, where all-in costs run around $982, than in Phuket at $1,232. In Novoshakhtinsk it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Phuket or Novoshakhtinsk more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Novoshakhtinsk â 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 Novoshakhtinsk?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison â central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Novoshakhtinsk. 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.