Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Ukhta

For one person, living is cheaper in Ukhta: $1,114 a month against $1,208 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $1,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,208
/mo nomad
Ukhta
🇷🇺 Russia
$1,114
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Ukhta

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,208 in Phuket versus $1,114 in Ukhta.

  • Phuket $1,208
  • Ukhta $1,114

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,027 in Phuket versus $1,675 in Ukhta.

  • Phuket $2,027
  • Ukhta $1,675

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,845 in Phuket versus $2,236 in Ukhta.

  • Phuket $2,845
  • Ukhta $2,236

Living in Phuket is roughly 8% more expensive than in Ukhta, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 11% lower, Ukhta 18% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Ukhta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.40 ฿147
$12.41 ₽1,036
-64.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26 ฿1,078
$36.18 ₽3,019
-10.83%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.76 ฿293
$5.77 ₽482
51.82%
Cappuccino
$2.83 ฿94.5
$2.63 ₽219
7.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90 ฿30.14
$1.22 ₽102
-26.23%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 ฿15.56
$0.63 ₽52.5
-25.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.55 ฿85.2
$1.91 ₽160
33.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.83 ฿128
$3.03 ₽253
26.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Ukhta
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.73 ฿57.7
$1.31 ₽109
32.06%
White Bread (500g)
$1.47 ฿49.11
$0.71 ₽59.6
107.04%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.51 ฿50.6
$1.20 ₽100
25.83%
Eggs
$2.17 ฿72.7
$1.64 ₽137
32.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.70 ฿658
$10.36 ₽864
90.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.34 ฿112
$5.63 ₽470
-40.67%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ฿373
$13.02 ₽1,086
-14.29%
Apples (1kg)
$2.85 ฿95.1
$1.93 ₽161
47.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 ฿56.9
$1.94 ₽162
-12.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.19 ฿73.3
$1.69 ₽141
29.59%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.05 ฿68.4
$2.70 ₽226
-24.07%
Potato (1kg)
$1.45 ฿48.57
$0.80 ₽66.9
81.25%
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.16
$0.56 ₽46.71
146.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ฿35.69
$1.45 ₽121
-26.21%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.91
$0.63 ₽52.5
-19.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26 ฿142
$2.99 ₽250
42.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.58 ฿621
$8.14 ₽680
128.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿59.7
$0.98 ₽81.4
81.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85 ฿95.2
$1.93 ₽161
47.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Ukhta
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.26 ฿75.6
$0.59 ₽49.43
283.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.10 ฿738
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.01 ฿101
$2.33 ₽194
29.18%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.06 ฿35.34
$0.41 ₽34.04
158.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.86 ฿129
$5.13 ₽428
-24.76%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.45
$0.77 ₽64.1
88.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.3K ฿879.9K
$56.8K ₽4.7M
-53.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K ฿900.4K
$39.6K ₽3.3M
-31.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Ukhta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.4 ฿3,221
$126 ₽10.5K
-23.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.04 ฿369
$6.03 ₽503
83.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.14 ฿573
$8.53 ₽712
100.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Ukhta
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.2 ฿1,744
$36.26 ₽3,026
43.91%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.16 ฿373
$24.65 ₽2,057
-54.73%
Cinema Ticket
$7.81 ฿261
$6.59 ₽550
18.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Ukhta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$556 ฿18.6K
$367 ₽30.6K
51.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K ฿387.0K
$6,377 ₽532.2K
81.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Ukhta
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.2 ฿2,146
$82.8 ₽6,909
-22.45%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.69 ฿959
$56.3 ₽4,700
-49.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.4 ฿3,187
$131 ₽10.9K
-27.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.0 ฿2,940
$117 ₽9,731
-24.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Ukhta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$737 ฿24.6K
$503 ₽42.0K
46.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$462 ฿15.5K
$359 ₽30.0K
28.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,095 ฿70.0K
$796 ₽66.4K
163.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,201 ฿40.1K
$532 ₽44.4K
125.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,488 ฿116.6K
$2,256 ₽188.3K
54.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,523 ฿84.3K
$1,394 ₽116.3K
80.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Ukhta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$501 ฿16.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
21.45
-74.03%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 19, 2026

Last update for Ukhta: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$462
Ukhta
$359 22.3% $103
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$269
Ukhta
$213 20.6% $55
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$125
Ukhta
$140 12.6% $16
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$124
Ukhta
$174 40% $50
Eating Out
Phuket
$121
Ukhta
$171 41.2% $50
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$68
Ukhta
$49 27.1% $18
Getting Around
Phuket
$39
Ukhta
$6.7 * 82.9% $33

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $737 in Phuket and $503 in Ukhta. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $32.00 in Phuket vs $36.00 in Ukhta. Groceries flip the comparison at $269 vs $213, with Ukhta cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇷🇺 Ukhta
🕒 Local time
05:14 5:14 AM
01:14 1:14 AM
4 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
98,293
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

RUB, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 23, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Russian Ruble exchange rates as of October 23, 2026: 1 USD = 83.46 RUB (100 RUB = 1.2 USD). 1 EUR = 93.83 RUB (100 RUB = 1.07 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Ukhta 7,130 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Ukhta

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 Ukhta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ukhta cheaper than Phuket?
Ukhta is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, leisure, and transport. The 8% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,813 in Phuket and $1,672 in Ukhta 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 Ukhta?
Rent for a central apartment: $737 in Phuket versus $503 in Ukhta. 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 $367 in Ukhta. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or in Ukhta?
Dining out is cheaper in Ukhta – a meal for two runs $36.00 versus $32.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Ukhta?
At $1,114 in Ukhta versus $1,208 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Ukhta but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Ukhta the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Ukhta more family-friendly?
For families, Ukhta 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 Ukhta?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Ukhta 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 Ukhta gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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