Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Sakarya

For one person, living is cheaper in Sakarya: $949 a month against $1,208 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $3,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,208
/mo nomad
Sakarya
🇹🇷 Turkey
$949
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Sakarya

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 Sakarya actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,208 in Phuket versus $949 in Sakarya.

  • Phuket $1,208
  • Sakarya $949

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,027 in Phuket versus $1,457 in Sakarya.

  • Phuket $2,027
  • Sakarya $1,457

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,845 in Phuket versus $1,965 in Sakarya.

  • Phuket $2,845
  • Sakarya $1,965

Living in Phuket is roughly 27% more expensive than in Sakarya, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 11% lower, Sakarya 30% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Sakarya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.40 ฿147
$6.89 ₺341
-36.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26 ฿1,078
$29.75 ₺1,473
8.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.76 ฿293
$7.20 ₺356
21.67%
Cappuccino
$2.83 ฿94.5
$3.59 ₺178
-21.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90 ฿30.14
$0.96 ₺47.49
-6.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 ฿15.56
$0.40 ₺19.72
17.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.55 ฿85.2
$1.85 ₺91.7
37.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.83 ฿128
$2.39 ₺118
60.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Sakarya
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.73 ฿57.7
$0.91 ₺44.97
90.11%
White Bread (500g)
$1.47 ฿49.11
$0.95 ₺47.15
54.74%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.51 ฿50.6
$2.16 ₺107
-30.09%
Eggs
$2.17 ฿72.7
$2.05 ₺102
5.85%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.70 ฿658
$7.64 ₺378
157.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.34 ฿112
$2.84 ₺141
17.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ฿373
$17.67 ₺875
-36.84%
Apples (1kg)
$2.85 ฿95.1
$1.93 ₺95.5
47.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 ฿56.9
$1.87 ₺92.4
-9.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.19 ฿73.3
$0.84 ₺41.39
160.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.05 ฿68.4
$1.29 ₺64.1
58.91%
Potato (1kg)
$1.45 ฿48.57
$0.53 ₺26.45
173.58%
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.16
$0.30 ₺15.04
360.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ฿35.69
$0.75 ₺37.14
42.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.91
$0.74 ₺36.87
-31.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26 ฿142
$2.00 ₺99.1
113.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.58 ฿621
$14.22 ₺704
30.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿59.7
$1.94 ₺95.9
-8.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85 ฿95.2
$3.61 ₺179
-21.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Sakarya
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.26 ฿75.6
$0.43 ₺21.38
425.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.10 ฿738
$60.3 ₺2,983
-63.32%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.01 ฿101
$1.04 ₺51.6
189.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.06 ฿35.34
$1.09 ₺54.2
-2.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.86 ฿129
$4.18 ₺207
-7.66%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.45
$1.31 ₺65.1
10.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.3K ฿879.9K
$43.1K ₺2.1M
-38.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K ฿900.4K
$40.0K ₺2.0M
-32.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Sakarya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.4 ฿3,221
$44.60 ₺2,208
116.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.04 ฿369
$9.95 ₺492
10.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.14 ฿573
$14.02 ₺694
22.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Sakarya
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.2 ฿1,744
$40.33 ₺1,997
29.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.16 ฿373
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.81 ฿261
$6.19 ₺306
26.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Sakarya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$556 ฿18.6K
$904 ₺44.7K
-38.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K ฿387.0K
$14.9K ₺737.0K
-22.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Sakarya
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.2 ฿2,146
$37.62 ₺1,863
70.65%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.69 ฿959
$42.00 ₺2,079
-31.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.4 ฿3,187
$83.6 ₺4,137
14.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.0 ฿2,940
$69.2 ₺3,426
27.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Sakarya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$737 ฿24.6K
$400 ₺19.8K
84.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$462 ฿15.5K
$300 ₺14.9K
54.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,095 ฿70.0K
$762 ₺37.7K
175.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,201 ฿40.1K
$496 ₺24.5K
142.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,488 ฿116.6K
$1,230 ₺60.9K
183.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,523 ฿84.3K
$677 ₺33.5K
272.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Sakarya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$501 ฿16.7K
$877 ₺43.4K
-42.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
39.8
-86.01%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 19, 2026

Last update for Sakarya: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$462
Sakarya
$300 35.1% $162
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$269
Sakarya
$216 19.7% $53
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$125
Sakarya
$69 45% $56
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$124
Sakarya
$105 15.9% $20
Eating Out
Phuket
$121
Sakarya
$139 14.9% $18
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$68
Sakarya
$53 22.3% $15
Getting Around
Phuket
$39
Sakarya
$68 73.7% $29

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $737 in Phuket and $400 in Sakarya. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sakarya pays 75% 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 $30.00 in Sakarya for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $216 per month, with Sakarya cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇹🇷 Sakarya
🕒 Local time
10:18 10:18 AM
06:18 6:18 AM
4 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
1,094,481
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

TRY, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Turkish Lira exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 49.51 TRY (100 TRY = 2.02 USD). 1 EUR = 55.66 TRY (100 TRY = 1.8 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Sakarya 7,590 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Sakarya

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 Sakarya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sakarya cheaper than Phuket?
Sakarya is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and leisure. The 27% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Sakarya?
On paper, salaries run 75% lower in Sakarya. 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 Sakarya?
Rent for a central apartment: $737 in Phuket versus $400 in Sakarya. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $556 in Phuket versus $904 in Sakarya. 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 Sakarya?
Supermarket bills run roughly 25% 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 Sakarya?
At $949 in Sakarya versus $1,208 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Sakarya but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Sakarya the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Sakarya more family-friendly?
For families, Sakarya 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 Sakarya?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Sakarya 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 Sakarya gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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