Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and RakvereCost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Rakvere
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,264 in Phuket versus $1,252 in Rakvere.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,256 in Phuket versus $1,763 in Rakvere.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,248 in Phuket versus $2,274 in Rakvere.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 1% more expensive than in Rakvere, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket5% lower, Rakvere6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Rakvere
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.48฿150
$9.24€8.01
-51.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.59฿1,521
$45.52€39.42
0.15%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.76฿292
$8.14€7.05
7.62%
Cappuccino
$2.97฿99.0
$3.64€3.16
-18.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.90
$2.33€2.02
-70.39%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39฿13.04
$1.92€1.66
-79.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.53฿84.4
$4.65€4.03
-45.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75฿125
$3.94€3.42
-4.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Rakvere
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.15฿71.6
$1.08€0.94
99.07%
White Bread(500g)
$1.82฿60.6
$0.83€0.72
119.28%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.18฿72.9
$2.26€1.95
-3.54%
Eggs
$2.25฿75.0
$2.06€1.78
9.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$20.00฿667
$8.28€7.17
141.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63฿121
$6.95€6.02
-47.77%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.56฿452
$10.59€9.17
28.05%
Apples(1kg)
$3.24฿108
$1.97€1.70
64.47%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64฿54.6
$1.33€1.15
23.31%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.33฿77.8
$2.37€2.06
-1.69%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.07฿69.1
$2.46€2.13
-15.85%
Potato(1kg)
$1.55฿51.6
$1.00€0.87
55.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.46฿48.54
$1.13€0.98
29.20%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98฿32.86
$1.78€1.54
-44.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.09
$0.61€0.53
-21.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35฿145
$6.32€5.47
-31.17%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.57฿620
$10.37€8.98
79.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿61.9
$1.13€0.97
64.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65฿88.6
$1.18€1.02
124.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Rakvere
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.42฿47.28
$0.85€0.73
67.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.57฿386
$23.03€19.95
-49.76%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.17฿106
$2.85€2.47
11.23%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.03฿34.41
$0.71€0.61
45.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.89฿463
$20.22€17.51
-31.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34฿44.84
$1.85€1.61
-27.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿927.1K
$20.8K€18.0K
33.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4K฿1.1M
$25.7K€22.2K
30.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Rakvere
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123฿4,105
$274€237
-55.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77฿459
$22.76€19.71
-39.50%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.33฿611
$31.35€27.15
-41.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Rakvere
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.7฿2,025
$55.0€47.61
10.39%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.16฿573
$18.25€15.80
-5.97%
Cinema Ticket
$8.87฿296
$5.14€4.45
72.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Rakvere
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$688฿22.9K
$113€98.2
506.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8K฿526.4K
$8,147€7,056
93.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Rakvere
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3฿1,978
$119€103
-50.16%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.69฿1,157
$34.51€29.89
0.52%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,843
$63.9€55.3
80.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.8฿2,794
$81.8€70.9
2.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Rakvere
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$621฿20.7K
$340€295
82.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446฿14.9K
$286€247
56.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,034฿67.8K
$569€493
257.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,496฿49.9K
$344€298
334.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,455฿115.3K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,531฿84.4K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Rakvere
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494฿16.5K
$1,255€1,087
-60.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
2.3
131.74%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026
Last update for Rakvere: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $621 in Phuket and $340 in Rakvere. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Rakvere pays 154% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $46.00 in Phuket vs $46.00 in Rakvere. Groceries flip the comparison at $291 vs $216, with Rakvere 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 Rakvere: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rakvere cheaper than Phuket?
Rakvere is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment. The 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Rakvere?
On paper, salaries run 154% lower in Rakvere. 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 Rakvere?
Rent for a central apartment: $621 in Phuket versus $340 in Rakvere. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $688 in Phuket versus $113 in Rakvere. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and in Rakvere?
Supermarket bills run roughly 35% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Rakvere?
At $1,252 in Rakvere versus $1,264 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Rakvere but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Rakvere the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Rakvere more family-friendly?
For families, Rakvere 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 Rakvere?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Rakvere 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 Rakvere gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.