😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $828 in Pyatigorsk.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,054 in Phuket versus $974 in Pyatigorsk.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,876 in Phuket versus $1,121 in Pyatigorsk.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 49% more expensive than in Pyatigorsk, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket10% lower, Pyatigorsk39% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Pyatigorsk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.41฿147
$7.78₽657
-43.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26฿1,073
$35.23₽2,977
-8.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.93฿297
$4.22₽356
111.61%
Cappuccino
$2.90฿96.3
$1.82₽154
59.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88฿29.27
$0.79₽66.9
11.39%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.00
$0.34₽28.97
41.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.35฿78.2
$1.15₽97.6
104.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿124
$1.73₽146
115.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Pyatigorsk
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.87฿62.0
$1.19₽101
57.14%
White Bread(500g)
$1.47฿48.75
$0.60₽51.1
145.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.55฿51.6
$0.61₽51.3
154.10%
Eggs
$2.10฿69.9
$1.25₽105
68.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.59฿651
$9.50₽802
106.21%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.42฿114
$4.24₽358
-19.34%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.38฿378
$10.62₽897
7.16%
Apples(1kg)
$2.98฿99.2
$1.52₽129
96.05%
Banana(1kg)
$1.68฿56.0
$1.79₽151
-6.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.21฿73.5
-
-
Tomato(1kg)
$2.16฿71.9
$2.88₽243
-25.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.52฿50.7
$0.56₽47.64
171.43%
Onion(1kg)
$1.34฿44.49
$0.35₽29.45
282.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.13฿37.53
-
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55฿18.17
$0.75₽63.0
-26.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26฿142
-
-
Wine(Bottle)
$19.09฿635
$4.74₽401
302.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿59.2
$0.80₽67.4
122.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78฿92.5
$1.45₽122
91.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Pyatigorsk
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.23฿74.1
$0.46₽38.62
384.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.74฿756
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.03฿101
$1.76₽149
72.16%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02฿34.02
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.89฿129
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49฿49.57
$0.82₽69.6
81.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K฿883.8K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K฿898.7K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Pyatigorsk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102฿3,407
$156₽13.2K
-34.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.33฿377
$6.00₽507
88.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.40฿578
$6.95₽587
150.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Pyatigorsk
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.1฿1,732
$29.79₽2,517
74.82%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07฿368
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.69฿256
$4.65₽393
65.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Pyatigorsk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$561฿18.6K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.5K฿382.6K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Pyatigorsk
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.0฿2,096
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.52฿982
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.0฿3,259
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5฿2,943
$71.0₽5,998
24.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Pyatigorsk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$738฿24.5K
$419₽35.4K
76.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$482฿16.0K
$296₽25.0K
62.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,107฿70.0K
$1,067₽90.2K
97.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,226฿40.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,617฿120.3K
$2,118₽179.0K
70.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,603฿86.5K
$1,590₽134.4K
63.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Pyatigorsk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494฿16.4K
$718₽60.7K
-31.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
20.33
-72.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026
Last update for Pyatigorsk: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $738 in Phuket and $419 in Pyatigorsk. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Pyatigorsk pays 45% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $32.00 in Phuket vs $35.00 in Pyatigorsk. Groceries flip the comparison at $274 vs $167, with Pyatigorsk cheaper for home cooking.
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 Pyatigorsk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pyatigorsk cheaper than Phuket?
Pyatigorsk is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 49% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Pyatigorsk?
On paper, salaries run 45% lower in Pyatigorsk. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Pyatigorsk?
Rent for a central apartment: $738 in Phuket versus $419 in Pyatigorsk. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and in Pyatigorsk?
Supermarket bills run roughly 63% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or in Pyatigorsk?
Dining out is cheaper in Pyatigorsk – a meal for two runs $35.00 versus $32.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Pyatigorsk?
At $828 in Pyatigorsk versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Pyatigorsk but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Pyatigorsk the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Pyatigorsk more family-friendly?
For families, Pyatigorsk is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Pyatigorsk?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Pyatigorsk are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Pyatigorsk gentler on the wallet – expenses run 49% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.