Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Shchelkovo

For one person, living is cheaper in Shchelkovo: $1,054 a month against $1,294 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $2,900 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
49

Cost of Living Index in Shchelkovo
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Shchelkovo Living Index

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Phuket

🇹🇭 Thailand

$1,294

/mo nomad

Shchelkovo

🇷🇺 Russia

$1,054

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Shchelkovo

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,294 in Phuket versus $1,054 in Shchelkovo.

Phuket $1,294
Shchelkovo $1,054

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,204 in Phuket versus $1,657 in Shchelkovo.

Phuket $2,204
Shchelkovo $1,657

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,115 in Phuket versus $2,260 in Shchelkovo.

Phuket $3,115
Shchelkovo $2,260

Living in Phuket is roughly 23% more expensive than in Shchelkovo, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 4% lower, Shchelkovo 22% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.39 ฿147

$6.07 ₽496

-27.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.31 ฿1,085

$37.25 ₽3,048

-13.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.70 ฿292

$7.55 ₽618

15.23%

Cappuccino

$2.72 ฿91.5

$3.12 ₽255

-12.82%

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

$0.93 ฿31.25

$1.05 ₽86.0

-11.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.78

$0.65 ₽53.0

-23.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.53 ฿85.0

$0.88 ₽72.3

187.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿122

$1.87 ₽153

94.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 ฿58.4

$1.14 ₽93.1

52.63%

White Bread (500g)

$1.45 ฿48.73

$1.04 ₽84.7

39.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.5

$2.31 ₽189

-35.06%

Eggs

$2.17 ฿73.0

$1.67 ₽136

29.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.09 ฿641

$9.65 ₽790

97.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.40 ฿114

$6.73 ₽551

-49.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿366

$11.69 ₽957

-6.76%

Apples (1kg)

$2.94 ฿98.8

$1.32 ₽108

122.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.8

$1.30 ₽107

30.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.19 ฿73.7

$1.28 ₽104

71.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.12 ฿71.4

$2.52 ₽206

-15.87%

Potato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.99

$1.01 ₽82.8

44.55%

Onion (1kg)

$1.37 ฿45.95

$0.38 ₽30.86

260.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 ฿36.14

$0.64 ₽52.5

68.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ฿18.32

$0.58 ₽47.13

-5.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.43 ฿149

$2.73 ₽223

62.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.25 ฿613

$6.33 ₽518

188.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 ฿59.5

$0.93 ₽76.3

90.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 ฿96.8

$1.89 ₽155

52.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.45 ฿48.62

$0.57 ₽46.45

154.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.9 ฿1,844

$26.43 ₽2,163

107.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.51 ฿50.8

$4.32 ₽354

-65.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.78 ฿26.06

$0.30 ₽24.15

160.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.84 ฿129

$4.83 ₽396

-20.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿49.96

$0.88 ₽72.0

69.32%

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

$26.9K ฿902.9K

$54.3K ₽4.4M

-50.51%

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

$26.3K ฿884.9K

$42.7K ₽3.5M

-38.26%

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

$97.8 ฿3,285

$109 ₽8,916

-10.22%

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

$11.29 ฿379

$4.84 ₽396

133.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.19 ฿577

$5.69 ₽466

202.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.3 ฿2,295

$33.46 ₽2,739

104.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.92 ฿367

$23.59 ₽1,930

-53.71%

Cinema Ticket

$7.43 ฿250

$6.81 ₽557

9.10%

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

$530 ฿17.8K

$215 ₽17.6K

147.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.8K ฿630.9K

$3,621 ₽296.3K

418.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.7 ฿2,072

$52.6 ₽4,307

17.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.25 ฿949

$30.62 ₽2,506

-7.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.0 ฿3,225

$141 ₽11.6K

-32.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.8 ฿2,916

$152 ₽12.4K

-42.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$721 ฿24.2K

$460 ₽37.7K

56.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$509 ฿17.1K

$359 ₽29.4K

41.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,950 ฿65.5K

$1,023 ₽83.7K

90.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,397 ฿46.9K

$670 ₽54.8K

108.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,192 ฿140.8K

$2,527 ₽206.8K

65.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,298 ฿110.8K

$1,354 ₽110.8K

143.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$492 ฿16.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-70.68%

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

Last update for Phuket: November 2, 2026

Last update for Shchelkovo: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Phuket

$509 39.3%

Shchelkovo

$359 34.1% 29.5% $150

Groceries & Markets

Phuket

$267 20.6%

Shchelkovo

$202 19.1% 24.4% $65

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Phuket

$126 9.8%

Shchelkovo

$119 11.3% 5.4% $6.8

Clothing & Footwear

Phuket

$123 9.5%

Shchelkovo

$169 16.1% 37.9% $47

Eating Out

Phuket

$120 9.2%

Shchelkovo

$124 11.7% 3.3% $4

Sport & Entertainment

Phuket

$83 6.4%

Shchelkovo

$47 4.5% 43.4% $36

Getting Around

Phuket

$66 5.1%

Shchelkovo

$35 3.3% 47.8% $32

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $721 in Phuket and $460 in Shchelkovo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $32 in Phuket vs $37 in Shchelkovo. Groceries flip the comparison at $267 vs $202, with Shchelkovo cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Phuket

🇷🇺 Shchelkovo

🕒 Local time

10:05 10:05 AM

06:05 6:05 AM

4 h behind Phuket

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

79,308

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Russian Ruble RUB ₽

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.98 USD

100 THB = 2.64 EUR

100 RUB = 1.22 USD

100 RUB = 1.09 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

RUB, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 33.59 THB (100 THB = 2.98 USD). 1 EUR = 37.81 THB (100 THB = 2.64 EUR).

Russian Ruble exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 81.84 RUB (100 RUB = 1.22 USD). 1 EUR = 92.13 RUB (100 RUB = 1.09 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Phuket Shchelkovo 7,470 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight

From you

Phuket
Shchelkovo

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 Shchelkovo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Shchelkovo is about 18% cheaper overall, especially in groceries, leisure, and transport. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You’d need roughly $1,940 in Phuket and $1,582 in Shchelkovo 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: $721 in Phuket versus $460 in Shchelkovo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $530 in Phuket versus $215 in Shchelkovo. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 32% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Either city works on $1,500 a month, though Shchelkovo gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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.