😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $1,068 in Stara Pazova.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,089 in Phuket versus $1,570 in Stara Pazova.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,913 in Phuket versus $2,072 in Stara Pazova.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 19% more expensive than in Stara Pazova, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket8% lower, Stara Pazova23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Stara Pazova
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.66฿154
$11.06RSD 1,115
-57.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.22฿1,065
$35.35RSD 3,563
-8.85%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.68฿287
$7.47RSD 753
16.20%
Cappuccino
$2.90฿95.8
$2.14RSD 215
35.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84฿27.89
$1.86RSD 188
-54.84%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49฿16.16
$1.17RSD 117
-58.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.48฿82.0
$2.15RSD 217
15.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73฿123
$2.69RSD 272
38.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Stara Pazova
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.89฿62.3
$1.39RSD 140
35.97%
White Bread(500g)
$1.41฿46.54
$0.64RSD 64.6
120.31%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.62฿53.6
$1.91RSD 193
-15.18%
Eggs
$2.24฿74.1
$2.53RSD 255
-11.46%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.84฿656
$9.96RSD 1,004
99.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.48฿115
$6.72RSD 678
-48.21%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.37฿376
$11.96RSD 1,205
-4.93%
Apples(1kg)
$2.90฿95.8
$1.01RSD 101
187.13%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72฿57.0
$1.71RSD 173
0.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.27฿75.1
$1.75RSD 177
29.71%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.13฿70.4
$2.04RSD 205
4.41%
Potato(1kg)
$1.47฿48.72
$1.02RSD 103
44.12%
Onion(1kg)
$1.42฿46.92
$0.97RSD 97.3
46.39%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.10฿36.25
$0.58RSD 59.0
89.66%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60฿19.76
$0.62RSD 62.5
-3.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.31฿142
$4.58RSD 461
-5.90%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.60฿615
$5.47RSD 551
240.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80฿59.5
$0.91RSD 91.5
97.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97฿98.0
$1.35RSD 136
120.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Stara Pazova
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.25฿74.2
$1.17RSD 118
92.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$23.49฿776
$25.14RSD 2,534
-6.56%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.10฿102
$1.53RSD 154
102.61%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.08฿35.56
$1.04RSD 104
3.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.87฿128
$5.43RSD 547
-28.73%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.43฿47.16
$1.87RSD 188
-23.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿918.0K
$31.9KRSD 3.2M
-12.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K฿891.5K
$27.1KRSD 2.7M
-0.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Stara Pazova
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$105฿3,462
$194RSD 19.5K
-45.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.39฿376
$20.52RSD 2,068
-44.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.54฿580
$26.08RSD 2,629
-32.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Stara Pazova
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.3฿1,795
$30.96RSD 3,121
75.52%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.44฿378
$14.16RSD 1,428
-19.21%
Cinema Ticket
$7.78฿257
$4.52RSD 456
72.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Stara Pazova
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$576฿19.0K
$182RSD 18.3K
217.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.6K฿382.7K
$3,922RSD 395.3K
195.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Stara Pazova
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.6฿2,103
$54.1RSD 5,456
17.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.10฿961
$17.05RSD 1,719
70.67%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.2฿3,179
$89.9RSD 9,062
7.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.0฿2,974
$122RSD 12.3K
-25.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Stara Pazova
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$733฿24.2K
$325RSD 32.8K
125.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$501฿16.5K
$272RSD 27.4K
83.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,126฿70.2K
$451RSD 45.5K
370.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,252฿41.4K
$375RSD 37.8K
234.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,534฿116.8K
$1,513RSD 152.5K
133.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,622฿86.6K
$1,240RSD 125.0K
111.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Stara Pazova
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$508฿16.8K
$645RSD 65.0K
-21.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
4.84
15.08%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: September 6, 2026
Last update for Stara Pazova: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $733 in Phuket and $325 in Stara Pazova. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Stara Pazova pays 27% 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 $35.00 in Stara Pazova. Groceries flip the comparison at $275 vs $203, with Stara Pazova 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 Stara Pazova: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Stara Pazova cheaper than Phuket?
Stara Pazova is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 19% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Stara Pazova?
On paper, salaries run 27% lower in Stara Pazova. 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 Stara Pazova?
Rent for a central apartment: $733 in Phuket versus $325 in Stara Pazova. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $576 in Phuket versus $182 in Stara Pazova. 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 Stara Pazova?
Supermarket bills run roughly 36% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Stara Pazova?
At $1,068 in Stara Pazova versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Stara Pazova but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Stara Pazova the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Stara Pazova more family-friendly?
For families, Stara Pazova 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 Stara Pazova?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Stara Pazova 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 Stara Pazova gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.