Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Resita Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Resita

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $1,024 in Resita.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $1,552 in Resita.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $2,080 in Resita.

Living in Phuket is roughly 24% more expensive than Resita, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, Resita 24% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Resita
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70 ฿154
$9.37 RON 42.43
-49.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37 ฿1,483
$45.39 RON 205
-0.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.43 ฿276
$6.82 RON 30.88
23.61%
Cappuccino
$2.93 ฿95.7
$1.86 RON 8.42
57.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ฿22.42
$2.07 RON 9.36
-66.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿12.00
$1.78 RON 8.05
-79.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.41 ฿78.7
$2.26 RON 10.21
6.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 ฿122
$3.53 RON 15.98
5.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Resita
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.23 ฿73.0
$1.37 RON 6.20
62.77%
White Bread (500g)
$1.83 ฿59.9
$1.22 RON 5.51
50.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.17 ฿70.9
$1.59 RON 7.18
36.48%
Eggs
$2.21 ฿72.4
$3.37 RON 15.27
-34.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.74 ฿645
$7.88 RON 35.67
150.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.63 ฿119
$5.99 RON 27.09
-39.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.53 ฿442
$8.65 RON 39.15
56.42%
Apples (1kg)
$3.28 ฿107
$1.15 RON 5.23
185.22%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ฿52.7
$1.54 RON 6.96
4.55%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 ฿78.7
$1.70 RON 7.71
41.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿68.1
$2.19 RON 9.91
-5.02%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿49.97
$0.70 RON 3.17
118.57%
Onion (1kg)
$1.48 ฿48.41
$0.93 RON 4.20
59.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 ฿32.32
$1.02 RON 4.61
-2.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.68
$0.93 RON 4.22
-45.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41 ฿144
$6.17 RON 27.91
-28.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.38 ฿634
$5.50 RON 24.88
252.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿58.1
$0.98 RON 4.44
81.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 ฿88.7
$1.81 RON 8.19
49.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Resita
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.37 ฿44.83
$0.72 RON 3.24
90.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.39 ฿372
$19.46 RON 88.1
-41.47%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿98.7
$0.85 RON 3.83
255.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.99 ฿32.51
$0.71 RON 3.19
39.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.10 ฿461
$9.24 RON 41.81
52.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 ฿44.55
$1.60 RON 7.26
-15.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K ฿921.9K
$28.1K RON 127.0K
0.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K ฿1.1M
$25.9K RON 117.1K
27.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Resita
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ฿3,978
$139 RON 627
-12.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 ฿444
$8.84 RON 40.01
53.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31 ฿599
$11.31 RON 51.2
61.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Resita
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.2 ฿1,969
$40.72 RON 184
47.89%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14 ฿560
$18.90 RON 85.5
-9.31%
Cinema Ticket
$8.69 ฿284
$7.11 RON 32.20
22.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Resita
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$693 ฿22.7K
$432 RON 1,956
60.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.7K ฿512.8K
$6,797 RON 30.8K
130.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Resita
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5 ฿1,946
$67.5 RON 306
-11.79%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77 ฿1,137
$37.94 RON 172
-8.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,746
$83.0 RON 376
38.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3 ฿2,723
$95.3 RON 431
-12.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Resita
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$613 ฿20.0K
$387 RON 1,753
58.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$437 ฿14.3K
$296 RON 1,338
47.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,094 ฿68.5K
$579 RON 2,622
261.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,509 ฿49.3K
$442 RON 2,002
241.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,749 ฿122.6K
$1,195 RON 5,411
213.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,616 ฿85.5K
$929 RON 4,207
181.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Resita
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$508 ฿16.6K
$844 RON 3,819
-39.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
6.5
-18.00%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Resita: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $613 in Phuket and $387 in Resita. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Resita pays 66% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $45.00 in Phuket vs $45.00 in Resita. Groceries flip the comparison at $293 vs $197, with Resita 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 Resita: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Resita cheaper than Phuket?
Resita is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 24% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Resita?
On paper, Resita earns 66% less. 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 Resita?
Rent for a central apartment: $613 in Phuket versus $387 in Resita. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $693 in Phuket versus $432 in Resita. 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 Resita?
Supermarket bills run roughly 49% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Resita?
At $1,024 in Resita versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Resita but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Resita the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Resita more family-friendly?
For families, Resita 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 Resita?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Resita 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 Resita gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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