🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $1,539 in Szczecinek.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $2,179 in Szczecinek.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $2,820 in Szczecinek.
🙂Living in Phuket costs roughly 18% less than in Szczecinek, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 6% below, Szczecinek is 15% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Szczecinek
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70฿153
$10.66zł 38.85
-55.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37฿1,482
$24.71zł 90.1
83.61%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.43฿275
$9.21zł 33.58
-8.47%
Cappuccino
$2.93฿95.6
$3.69zł 13.44
-20.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.40
$1.04zł 3.80
-33.65%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿11.99
$0.70zł 2.54
-47.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.41฿78.6
$4.19zł 15.28
-42.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿122
$1.53zł 5.60
143.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Szczecinek
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.23฿72.9
$1.11zł 4.04
100.90%
White Bread(500g)
$1.83฿59.8
$1.06zł 3.86
72.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.17฿70.8
$1.55zł 5.63
40.00%
Eggs
$2.21฿72.3
$3.40zł 12.41
-35.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.74฿645
$8.33zł 30.39
136.97%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63฿119
$7.51zł 27.38
-51.66%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.53฿442
$12.79zł 46.63
5.79%
Apples(1kg)
$3.28฿107
$1.02zł 3.72
221.57%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61฿52.6
$1.98zł 7.21
-18.69%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿78.6
$1.94zł 7.09
24.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿68.1
$3.07zł 11.18
-32.25%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿49.93
$0.93zł 3.38
64.52%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48฿48.36
$0.70zł 2.55
111.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99฿32.29
$1.55zł 5.66
-36.13%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51฿16.67
$0.69zł 2.53
-26.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41฿144
$5.43zł 19.80
-18.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.38฿633
$8.48zł 30.93
128.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿58.1
$1.11zł 4.07
60.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71฿88.6
$1.60zł 5.82
69.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Szczecinek
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.37฿44.79
$1.11zł 4.05
23.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.39฿372
$32.71zł 119
-65.18%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.02฿98.6
$2.37zł 8.63
27.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.99฿32.48
$0.77zł 2.82
28.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.10฿461
$13.61zł 49.62
3.60%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36฿44.51
$1.76zł 6.42
-22.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K฿921.1K
$34.3Kzł 124.9K
-17.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K฿1.1M
$30.2Kzł 109.9K
9.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Szczecinek
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿3,975
$361zł 1,318
-66.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57฿443
$11.75zł 42.83
15.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31฿598
$15.59zł 56.8
17.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Szczecinek
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.2฿1,967
$37.01zł 135
62.71%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14฿560
$19.41zł 70.8
-11.70%
Cinema Ticket
$8.69฿284
$7.54zł 27.51
15.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Szczecinek
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$693฿22.6K
$377zł 1,373
84.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.7K฿512.3K
$6,552zł 23.9K
139.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Szczecinek
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5฿1,944
$122zł 445
-51.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77฿1,136
$46.47zł 169
-25.18%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,743
$110zł 400
4.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3฿2,720
$90.2zł 329
-7.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Szczecinek
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$613฿20.0K
$505zł 1,843
21.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$437฿14.3K
$494zł 1,803
-11.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,094฿68.4K
$962zł 3,506
117.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,509฿49.3K
$807zł 2,944
86.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,749฿122.5K
$2,673zł 9,747
40.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,616฿85.4K
$2,552zł 9,307
2.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Szczecinek
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$508฿16.6K
$1,354zł 4,938
-62.48%
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: June 2, 2026
Last update for Szczecinek: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $613 in Phuket and $505 in Szczecinek. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Szczecinek pays 166% 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: $45.00 in Phuket vs $25.00 in Szczecinek for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $227 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 22% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Szczecinek?
On paper, Szczecinek earns 166% less. 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: $613 in Phuket versus $505 in Szczecinek. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $693 in Phuket versus $377 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 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 Phuket or Szczecinek?
At $1,265 in Phuket versus $1,539 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 22% less than in Szczecinek. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.