🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,560 in Szczecinek.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,054 in Phuket versus $2,253 in Szczecinek.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,876 in Phuket versus $2,945 in Szczecinek.
🌍Living in Phuket costs roughly 21% less than in Szczecinek, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 10% below, Szczecinek is 14% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Szczecinek
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.41฿147
$11.89zł 45.23
-62.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26฿1,077
$45.68zł 174
-29.38%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.93฿298
$9.30zł 35.35
-3.98%
Cappuccino
$2.90฿96.6
$3.63zł 13.80
-20.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88฿29.38
$1.19zł 4.53
-26.05%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.06
$0.93zł 3.53
-48.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.35฿78.5
$3.21zł 12.20
-26.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿124
$1.48zł 5.62
151.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Szczecinek
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.87฿62.3
$0.93zł 3.53
101.08%
White Bread(500g)
$1.47฿48.94
$1.25zł 4.77
17.60%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.55฿51.8
$1.42zł 5.39
9.15%
Eggs
$2.10฿70.1
$3.77zł 14.35
-44.30%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.59฿654
$7.78zł 29.60
151.80%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.42฿114
$6.18zł 23.52
-44.66%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.38฿380
$13.64zł 51.9
-16.57%
Apples(1kg)
$2.98฿99.6
$1.23zł 4.66
142.28%
Banana(1kg)
$1.68฿56.2
$1.18zł 4.49
42.37%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.21฿73.7
$1.74zł 6.61
27.01%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.16฿72.1
$2.58zł 9.80
-16.28%
Potato(1kg)
$1.52฿50.9
$0.75zł 2.87
102.67%
Onion(1kg)
$1.34฿44.67
$0.84zł 3.20
59.52%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.13฿37.67
$1.34zł 5.10
-15.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55฿18.24
$0.73zł 2.78
-24.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26฿142
$6.00zł 22.82
-29.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.09฿637
$7.94zł 30.20
140.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿59.4
$1.22zł 4.65
45.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78฿92.9
$1.48zł 5.63
87.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Szczecinek
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.23฿74.4
$1.27zł 4.84
75.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.74฿759
$33.80zł 129
-32.72%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.03฿101
$2.44zł 9.26
24.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02฿34.15
$1.05zł 3.97
-2.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.89฿130
$12.06zł 45.87
-67.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49฿49.77
$1.51zł 5.75
-1.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K฿887.3K
$31.6Kzł 120.2K
-15.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K฿902.2K
$28.1Kzł 107.0K
-3.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Szczecinek
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102฿3,420
$300zł 1,142
-65.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.33฿378
$8.30zł 31.58
36.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.40฿581
$19.19zł 73.0
-9.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Szczecinek
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.1฿1,738
$38.95zł 148
33.71%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07฿370
$24.34zł 92.6
-54.52%
Cinema Ticket
$7.69฿257
$7.89zł 29.99
-2.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Szczecinek
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$561฿18.7K
$213zł 810
163.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.5K฿384.1K
$7,927zł 30.1K
45.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Szczecinek
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.0฿2,104
$85.1zł 323
-25.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.52฿986
$38.58zł 147
-23.48%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.0฿3,272
$88.8zł 338
10.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5฿2,954
$115zł 435
-22.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Szczecinek
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$738฿24.6K
$587zł 2,231
25.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$482฿16.1K
$549zł 2,089
-12.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,107฿70.3K
$1,058zł 4,022
99.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,226฿40.9K
$911zł 3,464
34.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,617฿120.7K
$2,648zł 10.1K
36.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,603฿86.9K
$2,352zł 8,945
10.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Szczecinek
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494฿16.5K
$1,331zł 5,063
-62.93%
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: September 15, 2026
Last update for Szczecinek: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $738 in Phuket and $587 in Szczecinek. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Szczecinek pays 170% 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 Szczecinek. Groceries flip the comparison at $274 vs $214, with Szczecinek 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 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 27% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Szczecinek?
On paper, salaries run 170% 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: $738 in Phuket versus $587 in Szczecinek. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $561 in Phuket versus $213 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 28% 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 $1,232 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 27% less than in Szczecinek. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.