😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,264 in Phuket versus $1,028 in Stara Pazova.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,256 in Phuket versus $1,535 in Stara Pazova.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,248 in Phuket versus $2,042 in Stara Pazova.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 23% more expensive than in Stara Pazova, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket5% lower, Stara Pazova23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Stara Pazova
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.48฿150
$8.68RSD 891
-48.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.59฿1,525
$34.62RSD 3,553
31.69%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.76฿293
$5.75RSD 590
52.35%
Cappuccino
$2.97฿99.3
$2.01RSD 206
47.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.96
$1.97RSD 202
-64.97%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39฿13.07
$1.21RSD 124
-67.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.53฿84.7
$2.30RSD 237
10.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75฿125
$2.71RSD 278
38.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Stara Pazova
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.15฿71.8
$1.38RSD 142
55.80%
White Bread(500g)
$1.82฿60.7
$0.65RSD 67.1
180.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.18฿73.1
$1.86RSD 191
17.20%
Eggs
$2.25฿75.2
$2.62RSD 269
-14.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$20.00฿669
$9.11RSD 935
119.54%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63฿121
$6.65RSD 683
-45.41%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.56฿453
$11.08RSD 1,137
22.38%
Apples(1kg)
$3.24฿109
$1.26RSD 130
157.14%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64฿54.7
$1.57RSD 161
4.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.33฿78.0
$1.77RSD 182
31.64%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.07฿69.3
$1.72RSD 177
20.35%
Potato(1kg)
$1.55฿51.8
$0.95RSD 97.5
63.16%
Onion(1kg)
$1.46฿48.67
$0.96RSD 98.4
52.08%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98฿32.94
$0.70RSD 72.2
40.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.13
$0.65RSD 66.3
-26.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35฿146
$4.03RSD 414
7.94%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.57฿621
$5.37RSD 551
245.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿62.1
$0.80RSD 82.2
132.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65฿88.8
$1.06RSD 109
150.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Stara Pazova
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.42฿47.40
$0.91RSD 93.4
56.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.57฿387
$35.15RSD 3,608
-67.08%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.17฿106
$1.04RSD 107
204.81%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.03฿34.51
$0.69RSD 70.6
49.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.89฿465
$4.92RSD 505
182.32%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34฿44.96
$1.77RSD 181
-24.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿929.6K
$30.9KRSD 3.2M
-9.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4K฿1.1M
$26.4KRSD 2.7M
26.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Stara Pazova
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123฿4,116
$145RSD 14.9K
-15.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77฿461
$13.99RSD 1,436
-1.57%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.33฿613
$24.33RSD 2,497
-24.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Stara Pazova
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.7฿2,030
$31.12RSD 3,195
95.02%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.16฿574
$16.37RSD 1,680
4.83%
Cinema Ticket
$8.87฿297
$4.76RSD 489
86.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Stara Pazova
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$688฿23.0K
$183RSD 18.8K
275.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8K฿527.8K
$4,005RSD 411.1K
294.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Stara Pazova
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3฿1,984
$55.4RSD 5,683
7.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.69฿1,160
$14.63RSD 1,502
137.12%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,853
$100RSD 10.3K
14.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.8฿2,802
$121RSD 12.4K
-30.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Stara Pazova
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$621฿20.8K
$381RSD 39.1K
63.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446฿14.9K
$294RSD 30.2K
51.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,034฿68.0K
$571RSD 58.6K
256.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,496฿50.0K
$413RSD 42.3K
262.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,455฿115.6K
$1,489RSD 152.9K
131.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,531฿84.7K
$1,202RSD 123.4K
110.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Stara Pazova
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494฿16.5K
$645RSD 66.2K
-23.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
8
-33.38%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026
Last update for Stara Pazova: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $621 in Phuket and $381 in Stara Pazova. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Stara Pazova pays 31% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $46.00 in Phuket vs $35.00 in Stara Pazova for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $291 vs $196 per month, with Stara Pazova cheaper across the board.
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, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 23% 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 31% 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: $621 in Phuket versus $381 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 $688 in Phuket versus $183 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 49% 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 $1,028 in Stara Pazova versus $1,264 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 23% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.