Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Szczecinek

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,278 a month against $1,475 in Szczecinek, rent and utilities included – about $2,400 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Szczecinek outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Phuket, Thailand
Szczecinek, Poland
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,278
/mo nomad
Szczecinek
🇵🇱 Poland
$1,475
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Szczecinek

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,278 in Phuket versus $1,475 in Szczecinek.

  • Phuket $1,278
  • Szczecinek $1,475

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,216 in Phuket versus $2,128 in Szczecinek.

  • Phuket $2,216
  • Szczecinek $2,128

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,154 in Phuket versus $2,780 in Szczecinek.

  • Phuket $3,154
  • Szczecinek $2,780

Living in Phuket costs roughly 13% less than in Szczecinek, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 6% below, Szczecinek is 8% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Szczecinek
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.47 ฿151
$11.46 zł 45.32
-60.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.41 ฿1,094
$43.98 zł 174
-26.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.81 ฿297
$8.70 zł 34.38
1.26%
Cappuccino
$2.83 ฿95.4
$3.46 zł 13.66
-18.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 ฿29.42
$1.10 zł 4.33
-20.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.66
$0.84 zł 3.32
-41.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.56 ฿86.3
$3.07 zł 12.12
-16.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 ฿124
$1.44 zł 5.70
155.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Szczecinek
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 ฿56.0
$0.89 zł 3.51
86.52%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 ฿49.32
$1.19 zł 4.70
22.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.5
$1.35 zł 5.35
11.11%
Eggs
$2.09 ฿70.5
$3.48 zł 13.77
-39.94%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.07 ฿643
$7.69 zł 30.41
147.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.30 ฿111
$6.10 zł 24.10
-45.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.91 ฿368
$12.92 zł 51.1
-15.56%
Apples (1kg)
$2.93 ฿98.9
$1.23 zł 4.84
138.21%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 ฿57.0
$1.12 zł 4.44
50.89%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 ฿75.8
$1.64 zł 6.49
37.20%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿70.1
$2.50 zł 9.90
-16.80%
Potato (1kg)
$1.51 ฿51.0
$0.78 zł 3.07
93.59%
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.54
$0.78 zł 3.09
76.92%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ฿35.97
$1.27 zł 5.01
-15.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.51
$0.70 zł 2.77
-25.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20 ฿142
$5.73 zł 22.65
-26.70%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.79 ฿634
$7.64 zł 30.19
145.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 ฿61.5
$1.14 zł 4.52
59.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 ฿95.9
$1.42 zł 5.60
100.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Szczecinek
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.45 ฿49.00
$1.03 zł 4.08
40.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$56.7 ฿1,912
$30.54 zł 121
85.53%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿102
$2.30 zł 9.08
31.30%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ฿34.34
$1.04 zł 4.13
-1.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.69 ฿125
$11.32 zł 44.74
-67.40%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ฿49.78
$1.44 zł 5.69
2.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K ฿903.7K
$31.1K zł 122.8K
-13.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿900.8K
$28.4K zł 112.2K
-5.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Szczecinek
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.4 ฿3,252
$295 zł 1,165
-67.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.26 ฿380
$7.67 zł 30.33
46.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.85 ฿569
$18.39 zł 72.7
-8.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Szczecinek
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.2 ฿2,269
$37.56 zł 148
78.99%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.73 ฿362
$23.63 zł 93.4
-54.59%
Cinema Ticket
$7.50 ฿253
$7.37 zł 29.14
1.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Szczecinek
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$476 ฿16.1K
$205 zł 811
131.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.3K ฿380.1K
$7,514 zł 29.7K
49.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Szczecinek
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.4 ฿2,105
$77.6 zł 307
-19.67%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.41 ฿959
$37.62 zł 149
-24.48%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.3 ฿3,182
$84.3 zł 333
11.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.8 ฿2,896
$109 zł 432
-21.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Szczecinek
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$716 ฿24.2K
$541 zł 2,138
32.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$491 ฿16.6K
$530 zł 2,096
-7.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,927 ฿65.0K
$1,031 zł 4,074
86.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,431 ฿48.3K
$852 zł 3,369
67.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,175 ฿140.9K
$2,714 zł 10.7K
53.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,045 ฿102.8K
$2,178 zł 8,611
39.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Szczecinek
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$502 ฿17.0K
$1,255 zł 4,962
-59.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
4.2
32.62%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Last update for Szczecinek: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$491
Szczecinek
$530 8% $39
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$266
Szczecinek
$206 22.8% $61
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$124
Szczecinek
$321 158% $196
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$122
Szczecinek
$139 14.1% $17
Eating Out
Phuket
$122
Szczecinek
$185 52.2% $64
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$82
Szczecinek
$52 36.4% $30
Getting Around
Phuket
$71
Szczecinek
$42 40.2% $28

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $716 in Phuket and $541 in Szczecinek. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Szczecinek pays about 2.5 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $32 in Phuket vs $44 in Szczecinek. Groceries flip the comparison at $266 vs $206, with Szczecinek cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇵🇱 Szczecinek
🕒 Local time
07:07 7:07 AM
01:07 1:07 AM
6 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
39,705
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

PLN, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.75 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.68 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

Polish Złoty exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 3.95 PLN (1 PLN = 0.253 USD). 1 EUR = 4.41 PLN (1 PLN = 0.227 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Szczecinek 8,760 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Szczecinek

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 Szczecinek: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Szczecinek?
Phuket is about 13% cheaper overall, especially in eating out and clothing. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Szczecinek?
On paper, salaries run 60% lower in Phuket. 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: $716 in Phuket versus $541 in Szczecinek. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $476 in Phuket versus $205 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 23% less for everyday groceries. It’s an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is it better to live in Phuket or in Szczecinek?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Szczecinek?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Szczecinek are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
It comes down to priorities – Phuket wins on affordability, Szczecinek on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

Phuket vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?