🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,250 in Phuket versus $1,303 in Varazdin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,284 in Phuket versus $1,876 in Varazdin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,317 in Phuket versus $2,449 in Varazdin.
🌍Living in Phuket costs roughly 4% less than in Varazdin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket6% lower, Varazdin2% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Varazdin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.55฿153
$11.39€9.96
-60.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.18฿1,554
$67.2€58.8
-31.28%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84฿298
$11.16€9.76
-20.79%
Cappuccino
$3.06฿103
$2.27€1.99
34.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73฿24.42
$2.28€2.00
-67.98%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40฿13.40
$3.07€2.69
-86.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.43฿81.8
$3.84€3.36
-36.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78฿127
$3.44€3.01
9.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Varazdin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26฿76.0
$1.19€1.04
89.92%
White Bread(500g)
$1.81฿60.9
$1.60€1.40
13.12%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.25฿75.8
$2.97€2.60
-24.24%
Eggs
$2.25฿75.6
$3.42€3.00
-34.21%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.51฿656
$4.51€3.95
332.59%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65฿123
$8.12€7.10
-55.05%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.05฿439
$14.57€12.75
-10.43%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23฿109
$1.41€1.23
129.08%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62฿54.4
$1.42€1.24
14.08%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.38฿80.2
$1.42€1.24
67.61%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03฿68.2
$2.47€2.17
-17.81%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿51.6
$1.24€1.09
23.39%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50฿50.5
$1.18€1.03
27.12%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98฿32.93
$1.07€0.94
-8.41%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿17.40
$1.02€0.89
-49.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.44฿149
$5.95€5.20
-25.38%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.32฿616
$7.82€6.84
134.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿62.7
$0.73€0.63
154.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68฿90.2
$2.00€1.75
34.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Varazdin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.41฿47.49
$1.01€0.88
39.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.70฿394
$23.97€20.97
-51.19%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.11฿105
$3.04€2.66
2.30%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04฿35.08
$1.33€1.16
-21.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.11฿475
$8.94€7.82
57.83%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31฿44.13
$1.77€1.55
-25.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿936.0K
$38.0K€33.2K
-26.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K฿1.1M
$25.7K€22.5K
29.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Varazdin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿4,120
$152€133
-19.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.59฿457
$21.42€18.74
-36.55%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.70฿629
$33.01€28.88
-43.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Varazdin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.5฿2,035
$54.5€47.69
10.97%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.98฿572
$14.60€12.77
16.30%
Cinema Ticket
$9.07฿305
$8.33€7.29
8.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Varazdin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$706฿23.8K
$178€155
297.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8K฿531.8K
$8,195€7,169
92.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Varazdin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6฿1,970
$75.5€66.0
-22.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.36฿1,190
$34.66€30.32
2.02%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,885
$63.7€55.8
81.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.7฿2,818
$75.7€66.2
10.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Varazdin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$626฿21.1K
$580€508
7.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$445฿15.0K
$445€389
0.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,040฿68.7K
$867€758
135.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492฿50.2K
$484€424
208.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,483฿117.2K
$3,159€2,764
10.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,577฿86.7K
$2,484€2,173
3.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Varazdin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$500฿16.8K
$1,366€1,195
-63.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
4.12
29.37%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026
Last update for Varazdin: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $626 in Phuket and $580 in Varazdin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Varazdin pays 173% 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: $46.00 in Phuket vs $67.0 in Varazdin. Groceries flip the comparison at $289 vs $231, with Varazdin 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 Varazdin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Varazdin cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Varazdin?
On paper, salaries run 173% lower in Varazdin. 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 Varazdin?
Rent for a central apartment: $626 in Phuket versus $580 in Varazdin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $706 in Phuket versus $178 in Varazdin. 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 Varazdin?
Shoppers in Varazdin pay roughly 25% 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 Varazdin?
At $1,250 in Phuket versus $1,303 in Varazdin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Varazdin. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Varazdin more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Varazdin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Varazdin?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Varazdin 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 4% less than in Varazdin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.