ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $693 in Sumgayit.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $1,058 in Sumgayit.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $1,424 in Sumgayit.
ðLiving in Phuket is roughly 78% more expensive than Sumgayit, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
ðBoth cities sit below the global median: Phuket8% lower, Sumgayit48% lower.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Sumgayit
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63āļŋ151
$7.81âž13.27
-40.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84āļŋ1,532
$29.93âž50.9
56.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84āļŋ289
$5.98âž10.17
47.83%
Cappuccino
$3.00āļŋ98.0
$2.66âž4.53
12.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74āļŋ24.25
$0.79âž1.35
-6.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37āļŋ11.95
$0.43âž0.73
-13.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44āļŋ79.8
$1.20âž2.04
103.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61āļŋ118
$2.29âž3.90
57.64%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Sumgayit
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26āļŋ73.9
$1.29âž2.20
75.19%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84āļŋ60.1
$0.35âž0.59
425.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24āļŋ73.4
$2.29âž3.89
-2.18%
Eggs
$2.32āļŋ75.7
$1.28âž2.18
81.25%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67āļŋ643
$2.82âž4.80
597.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65āļŋ119
$4.61âž7.83
-20.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10āļŋ428
$8.61âž14.64
52.15%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39āļŋ111
$0.61âž1.03
455.74%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64āļŋ53.7
$1.58âž2.69
3.80%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41āļŋ79.0
$1.27âž2.16
89.76%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03āļŋ66.4
$1.05âž1.78
93.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56āļŋ50.9
$0.60âž1.02
160.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50āļŋ48.94
$0.49âž0.83
206.12%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02āļŋ33.50
$0.42âž0.72
142.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49āļŋ16.00
$0.59âž1.00
-16.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45āļŋ145
$3.43âž5.83
29.74%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88āļŋ617
$5.42âž9.22
248.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78āļŋ58.1
$0.93âž1.57
91.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75āļŋ90.1
$1.95âž3.32
41.03%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Sumgayit
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40āļŋ45.81
$0.30âž0.51
366.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48āļŋ376
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12āļŋ102
$0.30âž0.52
940.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00āļŋ32.67
$0.62âž1.05
61.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09āļŋ461
$3.62âž6.16
289.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35āļŋ44.19
$0.59âž1.00
128.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2Kāļŋ888.9K
$20.1Kâž34.2K
35.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
$21.8Kâž37.0K
51.24%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Sumgayit
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125āļŋ4,087
$32.95âž56.0
279.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57āļŋ444
$11.68âž19.85
16.18%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52āļŋ606
$11.67âž19.84
58.70%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Sumgayit
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5āļŋ2,010
$28.96âž49.23
112.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84āļŋ551
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.19āļŋ300
$5.78âž9.83
59.00%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Sumgayit
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698āļŋ22.8K
$206âž351
238.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6Kāļŋ509.9K
$3,507âž5,962
344.56%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Sumgayit
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8āļŋ1,889
$58.0âž98.6
-0.43%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24āļŋ1,152
$53.6âž91.0
-34.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,699
$93.6âž159
20.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4āļŋ2,825
$61.6âž105
40.32%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Sumgayit
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616āļŋ20.1K
$307âž521
100.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446āļŋ14.6K
$219âž372
103.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048āļŋ67.0K
$324âž550
532.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492āļŋ48.8K
$298âž506
400.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779āļŋ123.6K
$1,211âž2,059
211.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649āļŋ86.6K
$753âž1,279
251.98%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Sumgayit
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524āļŋ17.1K
$355âž604
47.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
7
-23.86%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Sumgayit: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $616 in Phuket and $307 in Sumgayit. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ð°Phuket pays 47% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
ðDining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $30.00 in Sumgayit for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $142 per month, with Sumgayit 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 Sumgayit: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sumgayit cheaper than Phuket?
Sumgayit is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 78% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Sumgayit?
Phuket pays 47% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Sumgayit?
Rent for a central apartment: $616 in Phuket versus $307 in Sumgayit. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $698 in Phuket versus $206 in Sumgayit. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or Sumgayit?
Dining out is cheaper in Sumgayit â a meal for two runs $30.00 versus $47.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Phuket or Sumgayit?
At $693 in Sumgayit versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Sumgayit but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Sumgayit the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Sumgayit more family-friendly?
For families, Sumgayit 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 Sumgayit?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Sumgayit 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 Sumgayit gentler on the wallet â expenses run 78% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.