Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Szczecin

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,190 a month against $1,331 in Szczecin, rent and utilities included – about $1,700 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Szczecin outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,190
/mo nomad
Szczecin
🇵🇱 Poland
$1,331
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Szczecin

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,190 in Phuket versus $1,331 in Szczecin.

  • Phuket $1,190
  • Szczecin $1,331

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,006 in Phuket versus $1,974 in Szczecin.

  • Phuket $2,006
  • Szczecin $1,974

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,822 in Phuket versus $2,618 in Szczecin.

  • Phuket $2,822
  • Szczecin $2,618

Living in Phuket costs roughly 11% less than in Szczecin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 11% lower, Szczecin 1% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Szczecin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.35 ฿146
$8.71 zł 34.04
-50.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.45 ฿1,087
$45.79 zł 179
-29.13%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.42 ฿282
$8.32 zł 32.50
1.20%
Cappuccino
$2.81 ฿94.0
$2.93 zł 11.44
-4.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 ฿29.29
$1.80 zł 7.05
-51.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ฿15.39
$1.41 zł 5.52
-67.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.59 ฿86.6
$2.98 zł 11.64
-13.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.64 ฿122
$3.09 zł 12.09
17.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Szczecin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 ฿57.2
$0.92 zł 3.61
85.87%
White Bread (500g)
$1.45 ฿48.42
$1.25 zł 4.90
16.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 ฿52.3
$1.06 zł 4.16
47.17%
Eggs
$2.10 ฿70.3
$3.24 zł 12.68
-35.19%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.53 ฿654
$9.39 zł 36.70
107.99%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.40 ฿114
$6.25 zł 24.43
-45.60%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.14 ฿373
$13.00 zł 50.8
-14.31%
Apples (1kg)
$2.83 ฿94.8
$0.96 zł 3.77
194.79%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 ฿54.3
$1.64 zł 6.39
-1.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.22 ฿74.5
$1.58 zł 6.19
40.51%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.15 ฿71.9
$2.34 zł 9.14
-8.12%
Potato (1kg)
$1.49 ฿49.95
$0.85 zł 3.32
75.29%
Onion (1kg)
$1.33 ฿44.40
$1.07 zł 4.20
24.30%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ฿35.72
$1.12 zł 4.36
-4.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿17.01
$0.59 zł 2.33
-13.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.38 ฿147
$5.28 zł 20.64
-17.05%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.77 ฿629
$6.49 zł 25.38
189.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 ฿58.3
$1.07 zł 4.17
62.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ฿92.9
$1.46 zł 5.70
90.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Szczecin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.17 ฿72.6
$0.74 zł 2.90
193.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.28 ฿746
$25.11 zł 98.2
-11.27%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿101
$1.97 zł 7.69
53.30%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.06 ฿35.43
$0.94 zł 3.67
12.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.71 ฿124
$12.96 zł 50.7
-71.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.43 ฿47.88
$1.65 zł 6.44
-13.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.3K ฿882.1K
$30.2K zł 118.0K
-12.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K ฿877.3K
$28.4K zł 111.2K
-7.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Szczecin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.7 ฿3,236
$243 zł 949
-60.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.41 ฿382
$12.39 zł 48.42
-7.91%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.11 ฿573
$18.74 zł 73.3
-8.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Szczecin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.8 ฿1,768
$30.15 zł 118
75.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07 ฿371
$49.87 zł 195
-77.80%
Cinema Ticket
$7.65 ฿256
$6.42 zł 25.09
19.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Szczecin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$555 ฿18.6K
$329 zł 1,287
68.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.3K ฿377.7K
$7,675 zł 30.0K
46.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Szczecin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.4 ฿2,123
$69.8 zł 273
-9.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.61 ฿958
$35.71 zł 140
-19.88%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.7 ฿3,238
$80.3 zł 314
20.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.6 ฿2,967
$89.6 zł 350
-1.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Szczecin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$735 ฿24.6K
$616 zł 2,407
19.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$458 ฿15.3K
$485 zł 1,894
-5.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,102 ฿70.4K
$1,153 zł 4,506
82.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,187 ฿39.7K
$815 zł 3,184
45.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,493 ฿116.9K
$3,349 zł 13.1K
4.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,491 ฿83.4K
$2,339 zł 9,142
6.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Szczecin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$501 ฿16.8K
$1,622 zł 6,339
-69.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
6.82
-18.33%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 4, 2026

Last update for Szczecin: October 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$458
Szczecin
$485 5.8% $27
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$268
Szczecin
$208 22.5% $60
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$125
Szczecin
$274 119% $149
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$125
Szczecin
$124 0.7% $0.9
Eating Out
Phuket
$119
Szczecin
$164 37.2% $44
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$68
Szczecin
$43 36.9% $25
Getting Around
Phuket
$39
Szczecin
$35 11.5% $4.5

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $735 in Phuket and $616 in Szczecin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Szczecin pays 224% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $32.00 in Phuket vs $46.00 in Szczecin. Groceries flip the comparison at $268 vs $208, with Szczecin cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇵🇱 Szczecin
🕒 Local time
18:58 6:58 PM
13:58 1:58 PM
5 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
387,700
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

PLN, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 33.48 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.52 THB (100 THB = 2.67 EUR).

Polish Złoty exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 3.91 PLN (1 PLN = 0.256 USD). 1 EUR = 4.38 PLN (1 PLN = 0.228 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Szczecin 8,890 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Szczecin

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 Szczecin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Szczecin cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in eating out and utilities. The 12% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Szczecin?
On paper, salaries run 224% lower in Szczecin. 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 Szczecin?
Rent for a central apartment: $735 in Phuket versus $616 in Szczecin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $555 in Phuket versus $329 in Szczecin. 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 Szczecin?
Shoppers in Szczecin pay roughly 29% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Szczecin?
At $1,190 in Phuket versus $1,331 in Szczecin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Szczecin. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Szczecin more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Szczecin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Szczecin?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Szczecin 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 Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Szczecin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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