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: $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,064 in Resita.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,054 in Phuket versus $1,562 in Resita.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,876 in Phuket versus $2,060 in Resita.

Living in Phuket is roughly 16% more expensive than in Resita, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 10% lower, Resita 22% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Resita
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.41 ฿147
$7.77 RON 35.59
-43.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26 ฿1,074
$37.90 RON 174
-14.88%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.93 ฿297
$7.55 RON 34.58
18.28%
Cappuccino
$2.90 ฿96.4
$1.72 RON 7.88
68.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 ฿29.30
$2.34 RON 10.74
-62.39%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 ฿16.01
$1.91 RON 8.77
-74.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.35 ฿78.3
$2.25 RON 10.33
4.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 ฿124
$3.61 RON 16.55
3.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Resita
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.87 ฿62.1
$1.16 RON 5.29
61.21%
White Bread (500g)
$1.47 ฿48.81
$0.87 RON 3.97
68.97%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.55 ฿51.7
$1.48 RON 6.80
4.73%
Eggs
$2.10 ฿70.0
$3.61 RON 16.52
-41.83%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.59 ฿652
$7.46 RON 34.19
162.60%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.42 ฿114
$6.83 RON 31.31
-49.93%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.38 ฿379
$12.03 RON 55.1
-5.40%
Apples (1kg)
$2.98 ฿99.3
$1.03 RON 4.71
189.32%
Banana (1kg)
$1.68 ฿56.1
$1.51 RON 6.91
11.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.21 ฿73.5
$1.53 RON 7.02
44.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.16 ฿72.0
$1.89 RON 8.67
14.29%
Potato (1kg)
$1.52 ฿50.8
$0.82 RON 3.77
85.37%
Onion (1kg)
$1.34 ฿44.55
$0.88 RON 4.03
52.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 ฿37.57
$0.73 RON 3.33
54.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿18.19
$0.75 RON 3.44
-26.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26 ฿142
$6.15 RON 28.15
-30.73%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.09 ฿635
$5.68 RON 26.02
236.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿59.2
$0.68 RON 3.13
161.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ฿92.6
$1.14 RON 5.20
143.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Resita
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.23 ฿74.2
$0.67 RON 3.08
232.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.74 ฿757
$22.31 RON 102
1.93%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.03 ฿101
$0.64 RON 2.95
373.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ฿34.06
$0.64 RON 2.91
59.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.89 ฿130
$6.80 RON 31.14
-42.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 ฿49.63
$1.51 RON 6.94
-1.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K ฿884.9K
$29.8K RON 136.5K
-10.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K ฿899.8K
$26.8K RON 123.0K
0.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Resita
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$102 ฿3,411
$199 RON 913
-48.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.33 ฿377
$10.51 RON 48.16
7.80%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.40 ฿579
$11.47 RON 52.5
51.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Resita
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.1 ฿1,734
$40.51 RON 186
28.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07 ฿369
$21.08 RON 96.6
-47.49%
Cinema Ticket
$7.69 ฿256
$7.78 RON 35.66
-1.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Resita
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$561 ฿18.7K
$349 RON 1,599
60.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.5K ฿383.0K
$8,711 RON 39.9K
32.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Resita
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.0 ฿2,098
$44.89 RON 206
40.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.52 ฿983
$50.4 RON 231
-41.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.0 ฿3,263
$78.3 RON 359
25.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5 ฿2,946
$66.0 RON 302
34.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Resita
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$738 ฿24.6K
$400 RON 1,830
84.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$482 ฿16.1K
$305 RON 1,395
58.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,107 ฿70.1K
$634 RON 2,904
232.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,226 ฿40.8K
$474 RON 2,169
158.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,617 ฿120.4K
$1,894 RON 8,678
90.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,603 ฿86.7K
$1,420 RON 6,504
83.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Resita
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$494 ฿16.4K
$855 RON 3,918
-42.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
6.84
-18.57%

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

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Last update for Resita: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $738 in Phuket and $400 in Resita. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Resita pays 73% 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 $38.00 in Resita. Groceries flip the comparison at $274 vs $196, 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, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 16% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Resita?
On paper, salaries run 73% lower in Resita. 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: $738 in Phuket versus $400 in Resita. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $561 in Phuket versus $349 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 in Resita?
Supermarket bills run roughly 39% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Resita?
At $1,064 in Resita versus $1,232 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 16% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Phuket vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities