😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,223 in Phuket versus $981 in Stary Oskol.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,237 in Phuket versus $1,483 in Stary Oskol.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,251 in Phuket versus $1,985 in Stary Oskol.
😐Living in Phuket is roughly 25% more expensive than Stary Oskol, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket8% lower, Stary Oskol26% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Stary Oskol
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.51฿147
$9.26₽671
-51.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.62฿1,515
$38.45₽2,786
21.25%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.49฿276
$5.60₽406
51.61%
Cappuccino
$3.08฿100
$2.30₽167
33.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68฿22.07
$1.11₽80.6
-38.74%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36฿11.75
$0.48₽34.74
-25.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.43฿78.8
$1.42₽103
71.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63฿118
$2.56₽186
41.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Stary Oskol
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.19฿71.1
$1.11₽80.6
97.30%
White Bread(500g)
$1.81฿59.0
$0.70₽51.0
158.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.23฿72.5
$1.39₽101
60.43%
Eggs
$2.24฿72.7
$1.70₽123
31.76%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.60฿637
$10.73₽778
82.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.72฿121
$4.78₽347
-22.18%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.47฿438
$8.94₽648
50.67%
Apples(1kg)
$3.36฿109
$1.75₽127
92.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62฿52.5
$1.81₽131
-10.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿78.3
$1.90₽138
26.84%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.99฿64.6
$2.74₽199
-27.37%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿49.76
$0.79₽56.9
93.67%
Onion(1kg)
$1.45฿47.19
$0.72₽52.1
101.39%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01฿32.96
$1.40₽101
-27.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48฿15.73
$0.70₽51.0
-31.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27฿139
$2.99₽216
42.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.12฿621
$6.27₽455
204.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84฿59.7
$0.94₽67.9
95.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74฿89.1
$1.88₽137
45.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Stary Oskol
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.42฿46.06
$0.50₽35.95
184.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.72฿381
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.00฿97.6
$1.95₽141
53.85%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.05฿34.00
$0.36₽25.86
191.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.90฿452
$6.44₽467
115.84%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.29฿41.94
$0.71₽51.7
81.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K฿911.1K
$34.4K₽2.5M
-18.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.5K฿1.1M
$36.2K₽2.6M
-7.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Stary Oskol
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿3,964
$108₽7,792
13.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.93฿453
$5.83₽422
138.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.87฿613
$7.70₽558
145.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Stary Oskol
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.3฿1,992
$36.03₽2,611
70.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84฿547
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.89฿289
$5.05₽366
76.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Stary Oskol
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$691฿22.5K
$323₽23.4K
113.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.2K฿525.2K
$6,994₽506.8K
131.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Stary Oskol
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8฿1,878
$69.3₽5,020
-16.58%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.39฿1,150
$44.66₽3,236
-20.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113฿3,685
$113₽8,159
0.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.0฿2,698
$106₽7,695
-21.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Stary Oskol
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$607฿19.7K
$443₽32.1K
36.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$448฿14.6K
$305₽22.1K
46.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,029฿66.0K
$755₽54.7K
168.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,493฿48.5K
$509₽36.9K
193.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,585฿116.5K
$2,269₽164.4K
57.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,585฿84.0K
$1,864₽135.1K
38.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Stary Oskol
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$505฿16.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
15.33
-65.23%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 13, 2026
Last update for Stary Oskol: June 16, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $607 in Phuket and $443 in Stary Oskol. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $38.00 in Stary Oskol for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $193 per month, with Stary Oskol 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 Stary Oskol: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Stary Oskol cheaper than Phuket?
Stary Oskol is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 25% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,835 in Phuket and $1,471 in Stary Oskol 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.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Stary Oskol?
Rent for a central apartment: $607 in Phuket versus $443 in Stary Oskol. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $691 in Phuket versus $323 in Stary Oskol. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or Stary Oskol?
Dining out is cheaper in Stary Oskol – a meal for two runs $38.00 versus $47.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Stary Oskol?
At $981 in Stary Oskol versus $1,223 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Stary Oskol but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Stary Oskol the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Stary Oskol more family-friendly?
For families, Stary Oskol 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 Stary Oskol?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Stary Oskol 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 Stary Oskol gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.