Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Quba

For one person, living is cheaper in Quba: $557 a month against $1,278 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $8,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Phuket, Thailand
Quba, Azerbaijan
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,278
/mo nomad
Quba
🇦🇿 Azerbaijan
$557
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Quba

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Phuket and in Quba actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,278 in Phuket versus $557 in Quba.

  • Phuket $1,278
  • Quba $557

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,216 in Phuket versus $891 in Quba.

  • Phuket $2,216
  • Quba $891

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,154 in Phuket versus $1,224 in Quba.

  • Phuket $3,154
  • Quba $1,224

Living in Phuket is roughly 129% more expensive than in Quba, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, Quba 59% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Quba
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.47 ฿151
$8.19 ₼13.92
-45.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.41 ฿1,092
$29.29 ₼49.78
10.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.81 ฿297
$5.86 ₼9.96
50.34%
Cappuccino
$2.83 ฿95.3
$1.16 ₼1.97
143.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 ฿29.37
$0.46 ₼0.78
89.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.64
$0.28 ₼0.47
75.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.56 ฿86.2
$1.19 ₼2.03
115.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 ฿124
$2.39 ₼4.06
53.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Quba
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 ฿55.9
$1.30 ₼2.22
27.69%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 ฿49.25
$0.35 ₼0.60
317.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.4
$1.15 ₼1.96
30.43%
Eggs
$2.09 ฿70.4
$1.12 ₼1.90
86.61%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.07 ฿642
$1.75 ₼2.97
989.71%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.30 ฿111
$2.90 ₼4.93
13.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.91 ฿368
$8.81 ₼14.97
23.84%
Apples (1kg)
$2.93 ฿98.7
$0.62 ₼1.06
372.58%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 ฿56.9
$1.27 ₼2.17
33.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 ฿75.7
$1.43 ₼2.43
57.34%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿70.0
$1.05 ₼1.78
98.10%
Potato (1kg)
$1.51 ฿50.9
$0.61 ₼1.03
147.54%
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.47
$0.52 ₼0.89
165.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ฿35.91
$0.44 ₼0.74
143.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.49
$0.59 ₼1.01
-11.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20 ฿142
$3.61 ₼6.13
16.34%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.79 ฿633
$5.25 ₼8.92
257.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 ฿61.4
$0.92 ₼1.57
97.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 ฿95.7
$1.90 ₼3.23
49.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Quba
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.45 ฿48.93
$0.27 ₼0.46
437.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$56.7 ฿1,909
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿102
$1.16 ₼1.97
160.34%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ฿34.29
$0.30 ₼0.51
240.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.69 ฿124
$2.88 ₼4.90
28.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ฿49.70
$0.62 ₼1.05
137.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K ฿902.4K
$26.9K ₼45.8K
-0.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿899.5K
$26.0K ₼44.1K
2.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Quba
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.4 ฿3,247
$33.05 ₼56.2
191.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.26 ฿380
$12.79 ₼21.74
-11.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.85 ฿568
$14.85 ₼25.23
13.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Quba
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.2 ฿2,266
$38.14 ₼64.8
76.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.73 ฿361
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.50 ฿253
$4.05 ₼6.88
85.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Quba
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$476 ฿16.0K
$274 ₼466
73.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.3K ฿379.6K
$16.1K ₼27.4K
-30.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Quba
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.4 ฿2,102
$17.73 ₼30.13
251.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.41 ฿957
$29.76 ₼50.6
-4.54%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.3 ฿3,178
$129 ₼219
-26.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.8 ฿2,892
$34.99 ₼59.5
145.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Quba
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$716 ฿24.1K
$179 ₼304
299.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$491 ฿16.5K
$116 ₼197
322.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,927 ฿64.9K
$267 ₼453
622.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,431 ฿48.2K
$177 ₼300
709.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,175 ฿140.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,045 ฿102.6K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Quba
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$502 ฿16.9K
$209 ₼354
140.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
20
-72.15%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Last update for Quba: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$491
Quba
$116 76.3% $375
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$266
Quba
$124 53.4% $142
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$124
Quba
$61 51.2% $64
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$122
Quba
$95 21.9% $27
Eating Out
Phuket
$122
Quba
$111 9% $11
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$82
Quba
$46 43.8% $36
Getting Around
Phuket
$71
Quba
$3.8 * 94.7% $67

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $716 in Phuket and $179 in Quba. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Phuket pays about 2.4 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $32 in Phuket vs $29 in Quba for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $266 vs $124 per month, with Quba cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇦🇿 Quba
🕒 Local time
12:25 12:25 PM
09:25 9:25 AM
3 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
25,400
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

AZN, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 33.7 THB (100 THB = 2.97 USD). 1 EUR = 37.52 THB (100 THB = 2.67 EUR).

Azerbaijani Manat exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 1.7 AZN (1 AZN = 0.588 USD). 1 EUR = 1.89 AZN (1 AZN = 0.529 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Quba 6,150 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Quba

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Quba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Quba cheaper than Phuket?
Quba is about 56% cheaper overall, especially in groceries, transport, and leisure. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Quba?
Average pay in Phuket is about 2.4 times higher, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Quba?
Rent for a central apartment: $716 in Phuket versus $179 in Quba. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $476 in Phuket versus $274 in Quba. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or in Quba?
Dining out is cheaper in Quba – a meal for two runs $29 versus $32 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,200 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Quba?
At $557 in Quba versus $1,278 in Phuket, a $1,200 budget is realistic in Quba but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Quba the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Phuket or in Quba?
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.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Quba?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Quba are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
It comes down to priorities – Quba wins on affordability, Phuket on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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