Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Tarnow

For one person, living costs are similar in Phuket and in Tarnow: $1,208 and $1,182 a month, rent and utilities included.

Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,208
/mo nomad
Tarnow
🇵🇱 Poland
$1,182
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Tarnow

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,208 in Phuket versus $1,182 in Tarnow.

  • Phuket $1,208
  • Tarnow $1,182

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,027 in Phuket versus $1,638 in Tarnow.

  • Phuket $2,027
  • Tarnow $1,638

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,845 in Phuket versus $2,093 in Tarnow.

  • Phuket $2,845
  • Tarnow $2,093

Living in Phuket is roughly 2% more expensive than in Tarnow, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 11% lower, Tarnow 13% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Tarnow
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.40 ฿147
$10.34 zł 40.16
-57.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26 ฿1,078
$25.16 zł 97.8
28.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.76 ฿293
$6.43 zł 24.96
36.24%
Cappuccino
$2.83 ฿94.5
$2.55 zł 9.91
10.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90 ฿30.14
$2.21 zł 8.57
-59.28%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 ฿15.56
$1.29 zł 5.03
-63.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.55 ฿85.2
$3.79 zł 14.73
-32.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.83 ฿128
$3.74 zł 14.54
2.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Tarnow
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.73 ฿57.7
$0.93 zł 3.60
86.02%
White Bread (500g)
$1.47 ฿49.11
$1.15 zł 4.45
27.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.51 ฿50.6
$1.25 zł 4.87
20.80%
Eggs
$2.17 ฿72.7
$2.44 zł 9.48
-11.07%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.70 ฿658
$7.86 zł 30.55
150.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.34 ฿112
$5.84 zł 22.70
-42.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ฿373
$9.78 zł 37.98
14.11%
Apples (1kg)
$2.85 ฿95.1
$0.73 zł 2.84
290.41%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 ฿56.9
$1.55 zł 6.04
9.68%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.19 ฿73.3
$1.29 zł 5.01
69.77%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.05 ฿68.4
$1.91 zł 7.42
7.33%
Potato (1kg)
$1.45 ฿48.57
$0.79 zł 3.06
83.54%
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.16
$1.02 zł 3.96
35.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ฿35.69
$1.06 zł 4.12
0.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.91
$0.75 zł 2.91
-32.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26 ฿142
$4.31 zł 16.75
-1.16%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.58 ฿621
$6.28 zł 24.41
195.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿59.7
$0.90 zł 3.50
97.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85 ฿95.2
$1.35 zł 5.26
111.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Tarnow
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.26 ฿75.6
$0.97 zł 3.76
132.99%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.10 ฿738
$30.58 zł 119
-27.73%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.01 ฿101
$1.30 zł 5.06
131.54%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.06 ฿35.34
$0.75 zł 2.92
41.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.86 ฿129
$10.45 zł 40.59
-63.06%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.45
$1.62 zł 6.31
-10.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.3K ฿879.9K
$31.2K zł 121.2K
-15.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K ฿900.4K
$24.6K zł 95.8K
9.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Tarnow
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.4 ฿3,221
$242 zł 940
-60.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.04 ฿369
$9.49 zł 36.86
16.33%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.14 ฿573
$16.41 zł 63.8
4.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Tarnow
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.2 ฿1,744
$25.48 zł 99.0
104.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.16 ฿373
$11.65 zł 45.27
-4.21%
Cinema Ticket
$7.81 ฿261
$4.52 zł 17.55
72.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Tarnow
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$556 ฿18.6K
$287 zł 1,117
93.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K ฿387.0K
$2,538 zł 9,859
356.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Tarnow
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.2 ฿2,146
$79.4 zł 309
-19.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.69 ฿959
$25.87 zł 101
10.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.4 ฿3,187
$77.5 zł 301
23.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.0 ฿2,940
$111 zł 430
-20.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Tarnow
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$737 ฿24.6K
$437 zł 1,700
68.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$462 ฿15.5K
$352 zł 1,369
31.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,095 ฿70.0K
$624 zł 2,423
235.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,201 ฿40.1K
$463 zł 1,799
159.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,488 ฿116.6K
$2,657 zł 10.3K
31.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,523 ฿84.3K
$1,750 zł 6,799
44.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Tarnow
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$501 ฿16.7K
$1,000 zł 3,884
-49.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
6.68
-16.62%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 19, 2026

Last update for Tarnow: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$462
Tarnow
$352 23.8% $110
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$269
Tarnow
$183 32% $86
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$125
Tarnow
$268 115% $143
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$124
Tarnow
$132 6.2% $7.7
Eating Out
Phuket
$121
Tarnow
$173 42.7% $52
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$68
Tarnow
$35 49.1% $33
Getting Around
Phuket
$39
Tarnow
$40 0.2% $0.1

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $737 in Phuket and $437 in Tarnow. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tarnow pays 100% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $32.00 in Phuket vs $25.00 in Tarnow for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $183 per month, with Tarnow cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇵🇱 Tarnow
🕒 Local time
05:04 5:04 AM
00:04 12:04 AM
5 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
106,748
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

PLN, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Polish Złoty exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 3.89 PLN (1 PLN = 0.257 USD). 1 EUR = 4.37 PLN (1 PLN = 0.229 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Tarnow 8,440 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Tarnow

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 Tarnow: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tarnow cheaper than Phuket?
Tarnow is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, leisure, and utilities. The 2% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Tarnow?
On paper, salaries run 100% lower in Tarnow. 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 Tarnow?
Rent for a central apartment: $737 in Phuket versus $437 in Tarnow. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $556 in Phuket versus $287 in Tarnow. 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 Tarnow?
Supermarket bills run roughly 47% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Tarnow?
At $1,182 in Tarnow versus $1,208 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Tarnow but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Tarnow the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Tarnow more family-friendly?
For families, Tarnow is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Tarnow?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Tarnow 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 Tarnow gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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