😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,264 in Phuket versus $904 in Tutrakan.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,256 in Phuket versus $1,393 in Tutrakan.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,248 in Phuket versus $1,882 in Tutrakan.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 40% more expensive than in Tutrakan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket5% lower, Tutrakan32% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Tutrakan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.48฿150
$8.69BGN 14.46
-48.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.59฿1,521
$35.07BGN 58.4
30.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.76฿292
$8.90BGN 14.81
-1.57%
Cappuccino
$2.97฿99.0
$1.89BGN 3.15
57.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.90
$1.31BGN 2.18
-47.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39฿13.04
$0.89BGN 1.49
-56.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.53฿84.4
$1.72BGN 2.86
47.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75฿125
$2.40BGN 4.00
56.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Tutrakan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.15฿71.6
$1.66BGN 2.77
29.52%
White Bread(500g)
$1.82฿60.6
$0.96BGN 1.60
89.58%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.18฿72.9
$1.89BGN 3.15
15.34%
Eggs
$2.25฿75.0
$3.20BGN 5.32
-29.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$20.00฿667
$9.56BGN 15.91
109.21%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63฿121
$7.47BGN 12.44
-51.41%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.56฿452
$11.71BGN 19.48
15.80%
Apples(1kg)
$3.24฿108
$1.50BGN 2.50
116.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64฿54.6
$1.94BGN 3.22
-15.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.33฿77.8
$1.80BGN 2.99
29.44%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.07฿69.1
$2.23BGN 3.71
-7.17%
Potato(1kg)
$1.55฿51.6
$1.01BGN 1.67
53.47%
Onion(1kg)
$1.46฿48.54
$1.01BGN 1.69
44.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98฿32.86
$1.00BGN 1.67
-2.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.09
$0.69BGN 1.15
-30.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35฿145
$3.49BGN 5.81
24.64%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.57฿620
$6.67BGN 11.09
178.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿61.9
$1.04BGN 1.73
78.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65฿88.6
$1.66BGN 2.76
59.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Tutrakan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.42฿47.28
$0.91BGN 1.52
56.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.57฿386
$26.92BGN 44.79
-57.02%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.17฿106
$1.20BGN 2.00
164.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.03฿34.41
$0.63BGN 1.04
63.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.89฿463
$10.47BGN 17.42
32.66%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34฿44.84
$1.48BGN 2.45
-9.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿927.1K
$32.1KBGN 53.4K
-13.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4K฿1.1M
$26.9KBGN 44.7K
24.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Tutrakan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123฿4,105
$98.3BGN 164
25.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77฿459
$16.55BGN 27.53
-16.80%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.33฿611
$13.45BGN 22.37
36.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Tutrakan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.7฿2,025
$30.01BGN 49.93
102.23%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.16฿573
$14.63BGN 24.34
17.29%
Cinema Ticket
$8.87฿296
$7.20BGN 11.98
23.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Tutrakan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$688฿22.9K
$329BGN 548
108.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8K฿526.4K
$5,463BGN 9,088
188.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Tutrakan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3฿1,978
$52.6BGN 87.4
12.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.69฿1,157
$29.94BGN 49.82
15.87%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,843
$81.1BGN 135
42.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.8฿2,794
$74.7BGN 124
12.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Tutrakan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$621฿20.7K
$288BGN 479
115.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446฿14.9K
$228BGN 380
95.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,034฿67.8K
$472BGN 786
330.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,496฿49.9K
$353BGN 588
323.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,455฿115.3K
$1,350BGN 2,246
155.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,531฿84.4K
$1,093BGN 1,818
131.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Tutrakan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494฿16.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
4.49
18.71%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026
Last update for Tutrakan: July 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $621 in Phuket and $288 in Tutrakan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $46.00 in Phuket vs $35.00 in Tutrakan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $291 vs $224 per month, with Tutrakan 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 Tutrakan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tutrakan cheaper than Phuket?
Tutrakan is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 40% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,896 in Phuket and $1,355 in Tutrakan to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Tutrakan?
Rent for a central apartment: $621 in Phuket versus $288 in Tutrakan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $688 in Phuket versus $329 in Tutrakan. 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 Tutrakan?
Supermarket bills run roughly 30% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Tutrakan?
At $904 in Tutrakan versus $1,264 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Tutrakan but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Tutrakan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Tutrakan more family-friendly?
For families, Tutrakan 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 Tutrakan?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Tutrakan 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 Tutrakan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 40% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.