🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,250 in Phuket versus $1,560 in Szczecinek.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,284 in Phuket versus $2,175 in Szczecinek.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,317 in Phuket versus $2,789 in Szczecinek.
🌍Living in Phuket costs roughly 20% less than in Szczecinek, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 6% below, Szczecinek is 17% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Szczecinek
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.55฿153
$10.90zł 41.35
-58.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.18฿1,553
$24.52zł 93.0
88.34%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84฿297
$9.36zł 35.50
-5.56%
Cappuccino
$3.06฿103
$3.64zł 13.82
-15.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73฿24.40
$1.03zł 3.91
-29.13%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40฿13.39
$0.70zł 2.67
-42.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.43฿81.8
$4.12zł 15.62
-41.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78฿127
$1.51zł 5.73
150.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Szczecinek
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26฿76.0
$1.06zł 4.02
113.21%
White Bread(500g)
$1.81฿60.9
$1.09zł 4.15
66.06%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.25฿75.8
$1.58zł 6.01
42.41%
Eggs
$2.25฿75.5
$3.46zł 13.11
-34.97%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.51฿656
$8.18zł 31.02
138.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65฿123
$7.24zł 27.47
-49.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.05฿439
$13.18zł 50.0
-0.99%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23฿109
$1.05zł 4.00
207.62%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62฿54.4
$1.99zł 7.56
-18.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.38฿80.1
$1.88zł 7.12
26.60%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03฿68.1
$3.03zł 11.49
-33.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿51.6
$0.87zł 3.32
75.86%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50฿50.5
$0.67zł 2.54
123.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98฿32.91
$1.51zł 5.73
-35.10%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿17.39
$0.72zł 2.74
-27.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.44฿149
$5.36zł 20.34
-17.16%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.32฿616
$7.83zł 29.70
133.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿62.7
$1.06zł 4.03
75.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68฿90.1
$1.66zł 6.28
61.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Szczecinek
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.41฿47.46
$1.06zł 4.01
33.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.70฿393
$32.83zł 125
-64.36%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.11฿105
$2.28zł 8.65
36.40%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04฿35.06
$0.76zł 2.89
36.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.11฿474
$13.51zł 51.3
4.44%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31฿44.10
$1.67zł 6.34
-21.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿935.4K
$33.3Kzł 126.3K
-16.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K฿1.1M
$30.0Kzł 113.9K
10.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Szczecinek
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿4,118
$367zł 1,393
-66.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.59฿457
$11.59zł 43.96
17.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.70฿629
$16.07zł 61.0
16.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Szczecinek
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.5฿2,034
$36.83zł 140
64.24%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.98฿571
$19.35zł 73.4
-12.25%
Cinema Ticket
$9.07฿305
$7.43zł 28.20
22.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Szczecinek
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$706฿23.8K
$370zł 1,404
90.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8K฿531.5K
$6,626zł 25.1K
138.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Szczecinek
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6฿1,969
$121zł 460
-51.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.36฿1,189
$45.21zł 172
-21.79%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,883
$110zł 417
5.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.7฿2,816
$90.7zł 344
-7.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Szczecinek
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$626฿21.0K
$507zł 1,922
23.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$445฿15.0K
$491zł 1,864
-9.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,040฿68.6K
$965zł 3,661
111.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492฿50.2K
$802zł 3,042
86.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,483฿117.1K
$2,936zł 11.1K
18.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,577฿86.7K
$2,296zł 8,713
12.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Szczecinek
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$500฿16.8K
$1,317zł 4,995
-62.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
4.2
26.90%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026
Last update for Szczecinek: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $626 in Phuket and $507 in Szczecinek. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Szczecinek pays 163% 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 $25.00 in Szczecinek for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $289 vs $225 per month, with Szczecinek 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 Szczecinek: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Szczecinek cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around. The 25% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Szczecinek?
On paper, salaries run 163% lower in Szczecinek. 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 Szczecinek?
Rent for a central apartment: $626 in Phuket versus $507 in Szczecinek. 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 $370 in Szczecinek. 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 Szczecinek?
Shoppers in Szczecinek 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 Szczecinek?
At $1,250 in Phuket versus $1,560 in Szczecinek, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Szczecinek. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Szczecinek more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Szczecinek, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Szczecinek?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Szczecinek 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 25% less than in Szczecinek. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.