Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Semey

For one person, living is cheaper in Semey: $712 a month against $1,278 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $6,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

62

Cost of Living Index in Phuket
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Phuket Living Index
34

Cost of Living Index in Semey
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Semey Living Index

Jump to prices

Phuket

🇹🇭 Thailand

$1,278

/mo nomad

Semey

🇰🇿 Kazakhstan

$712

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Semey

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,278 in Phuket versus $712 in Semey.

Phuket $1,278
Semey $712

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,216 in Phuket versus $1,148 in Semey.

Phuket $2,216
Semey $1,148

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,154 in Phuket versus $1,584 in Semey.

Phuket $3,154
Semey $1,584

Living in Phuket is roughly 80% more expensive than in Semey, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, Semey 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.47 ฿151

$4.93 ₸2,235

-9.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.41 ฿1,094

$21.82 ₸9,898

48.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.81 ฿297

$5.49 ₸2,491

60.47%

Cappuccino

$2.83 ฿95.4

$1.70 ₸771

66.47%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 ฿29.42

$0.76 ₸345

14.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.66

$0.48 ₸216

2.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.56 ฿86.3

$0.91 ₸412

181.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 ฿124

$1.35 ₸614

172.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ฿56.0

$1.03 ₸469

61.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 ฿49.32

$0.37 ₸167

294.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.5

$1.86 ₸845

-19.35%

Eggs

$2.09 ฿70.5

$1.53 ₸693

36.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.07 ฿643

$5.36 ₸2,432

255.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.30 ฿111

$3.86 ₸1,751

-14.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.91 ฿368

$5.43 ₸2,461

100.92%

Apples (1kg)

$2.93 ฿98.9

$1.23 ₸559

138.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 ฿57.0

$1.65 ₸748

2.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 ฿75.8

$1.72 ₸781

30.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿70.1

$1.69 ₸768

23.08%

Potato (1kg)

$1.51 ฿51.0

$0.39 ₸176

287.18%

Onion (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$0.60 ₸274

130.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 ฿35.97

$1.02 ₸461

4.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.51

$0.99 ₸448

-47.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.20 ฿142

$2.46 ₸1,116

70.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.79 ฿634

$7.24 ₸3,282

159.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 ฿61.5

$1.31 ₸596

38.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿95.9

$2.20 ₸998

29.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.45 ฿49.00

$0.25 ₸114

480.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$56.7 ฿1,912

$15.69 ₸7,119

261.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿102

$1.29 ₸586

134.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ฿34.34

$1.14 ₸515

-10.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.69 ฿125

$6.54 ₸2,968

-43.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ฿49.78

$0.65 ₸293

126.15%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.8K ฿903.7K

$32.4K ₸14.7M

-17.28%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.7K ฿900.8K

$26.3K ₸11.9M

1.57%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$96.4 ฿3,252

$33.66 ₸15.3K

186.24%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$11.26 ฿380

$9.01 ₸4,088

24.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.85 ฿569

$18.84 ₸8,544

-10.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.2 ฿2,269

$42.36 ₸19.2K

58.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.73 ฿362

$11.23 ₸5,095

-4.45%

Cinema Ticket

$7.50 ฿253

$4.39 ₸1,993

70.84%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$476 ฿16.1K

$132 ₸60.0K

259.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.3K ฿380.1K

$4,406 ₸2.0M

155.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.4 ฿2,105

$28.90 ₸13.1K

115.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.41 ฿959

$25.47 ₸11.6K

11.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,182

$100 ₸45.4K

-5.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.8 ฿2,896

$76.6 ₸34.7K

12.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$716 ฿24.2K

$339 ₸153.5K

111.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$491 ฿16.6K

$229 ₸103.8K

114.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,927 ฿65.0K

$611 ₸276.9K

215.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,431 ฿48.3K

$489 ₸221.6K

192.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,175 ฿140.9K

$1,205 ₸546.7K

246.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,045 ฿102.8K

$739 ₸335.4K

311.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$502 ฿17.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

19.25

-71.06%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Last update for Semey: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Phuket

$491 38.4%

Semey

$229 32.2% 53.4% $262

Groceries & Markets

Phuket

$266 20.8%

Semey

$154 21.7% 42% $112

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Phuket

$124 9.7%

Semey

$62 8.6% 50.6% $63

Clothing & Footwear

Phuket

$122 9.5%

Semey

$104 14.6% 14.7% $18

Eating Out

Phuket

$122 9.5%

Semey

$88 12.4% 27.3% $33

Sport & Entertainment

Phuket

$82 6.4%

Semey

$51 7.2% 37.8% $31

Getting Around

Phuket

$71 5.5%

Semey

$24 3.3% 66.5% $47

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $716 in Phuket and $339 in Semey. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $32 in Phuket vs $22 in Semey for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $266 vs $154 per month, with Semey cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Phuket

🇰🇿 Semey

🕒 Local time

16:55 4:55 PM

14:55 2:55 PM

2 h behind Phuket

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

79,308

310,456

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Kazakhstani Tenge KZT ₸

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

1,000 KZT = 2.2 USD

1,000 KZT = 1.98 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

KZT, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.75 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.66 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Kazakhstani Tenge exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 454 KZT (1,000 KZT = 2.2 USD). 1 EUR = 506 KZT (1,000 KZT = 1.98 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Phuket Semey 5,020 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight

From you

Phuket
Semey

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 Semey: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Semey is about 44% cheaper overall, especially in groceries, transport, and eating out. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You’d need roughly $1,917 in Phuket and $1,068 in Semey to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $716 in Phuket versus $339 in Semey. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $476 in Phuket versus $132 in Semey. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 72% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $712 in Semey versus $1,278 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Semey but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Semey the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Expats usually find Semey gentler on the wallet – expenses run 44% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.