🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,250 in Phuket versus $1,405 in Szczecin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,284 in Phuket versus $2,031 in Szczecin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,317 in Phuket versus $2,657 in Szczecin.
🌍Living in Phuket costs roughly 11% less than in Szczecin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 6% below, Szczecin is 5% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Szczecin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.55฿153
$9.39zł 35.68
-51.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.18฿1,554
$48.78zł 185
-5.33%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84฿298
$8.52zł 32.36
3.76%
Cappuccino
$3.06฿103
$3.35zł 12.72
-8.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73฿24.42
$1.85zł 7.01
-60.54%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40฿13.40
$1.42zł 5.39
-71.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.43฿81.8
$3.29zł 12.48
-26.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78฿127
$3.19zł 12.12
18.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Szczecin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26฿76.0
$0.96zł 3.65
135.42%
White Bread(500g)
$1.81฿60.9
$1.33zł 5.05
36.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.25฿75.8
$0.99zł 3.77
127.27%
Eggs
$2.25฿75.6
$3.28zł 12.46
-31.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.51฿656
$9.42zł 35.76
107.11%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65฿123
$6.36zł 24.15
-42.61%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.05฿439
$12.98zł 49.28
0.54%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23฿109
$0.89zł 3.39
262.92%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62฿54.4
$1.79zł 6.78
-9.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.38฿80.2
$1.39zł 5.27
71.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03฿68.2
$2.15zł 8.17
-5.58%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿51.6
$0.89zł 3.40
71.91%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50฿50.5
$1.08zł 4.09
38.89%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98฿32.93
$1.02zł 3.87
-3.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿17.40
$0.56zł 2.14
-7.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.44฿149
$5.40zł 20.49
-17.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.32฿616
$6.41zł 24.35
185.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿62.7
$1.09zł 4.14
70.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68฿90.2
$1.44zł 5.47
86.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Szczecin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.41฿47.49
$0.79zł 3.01
78.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.70฿394
$27.49zł 104
-57.44%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.11฿105
$2.15zł 8.15
44.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04฿35.08
$1.01zł 3.84
2.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.11฿475
$13.67zł 51.9
3.22%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31฿44.13
$1.75zł 6.64
-25.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿936.0K
$33.4Kzł 126.9K
-16.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K฿1.1M
$30.8Kzł 117.2K
7.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Szczecin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿4,120
$257zł 976
-52.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.59฿457
$10.70zł 40.64
27.01%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.70฿629
$17.65zł 67.1
5.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Szczecin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.5฿2,035
$30.13zł 114
100.76%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.98฿572
$16.53zł 62.8
2.72%
Cinema Ticket
$9.07฿305
$6.85zł 26.00
32.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Szczecin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$706฿23.8K
$376zł 1,427
88.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8K฿531.8K
$8,122zł 30.8K
94.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Szczecin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6฿1,970
$56.9zł 216
2.83%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.36฿1,190
$30.91zł 117
14.40%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,885
$74.2zł 282
55.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.7฿2,818
$84.2zł 320
-0.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Szczecin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$626฿21.1K
$658zł 2,500
-4.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$445฿15.0K
$527zł 2,003
-15.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,040฿68.7K
$981zł 3,725
107.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492฿50.2K
$817zł 3,103
82.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,483฿117.2K
$3,435zł 13.0K
1.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,577฿86.7K
$2,448zł 9,299
5.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Szczecin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$500฿16.8K
$1,622zł 6,162
-69.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
6.36
-16.19%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026
Last update for Szczecin: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $626 in Phuket and $658 in Szczecin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Szczecin pays 225% 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: $46.00 in Phuket vs $49.00 in Szczecin. Groceries flip the comparison at $289 vs $207, with Szczecin 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 Szczecin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Szczecin cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Getting Around. 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 225% 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: $626 in Phuket versus $658 in Szczecin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $706 in Phuket versus $376 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 39% 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 $1,250 in Phuket versus $1,405 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.