ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $685 in Volzhsky.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $1,077 in Volzhsky.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $1,470 in Volzhsky.
ðLiving in Phuket is roughly 80% more expensive than Volzhsky, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
ðBoth cities sit below the global median: Phuket8% lower, Volzhsky49% lower.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Volzhsky
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63āļŋ151
$6.21â―467
-25.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84āļŋ1,523
$38.72â―2,909
20.97%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84āļŋ287
$4.52â―340
95.58%
Cappuccino
$3.00āļŋ97.4
$1.95â―147
53.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74āļŋ24.11
$0.91â―68.2
-18.68%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37āļŋ11.88
$0.24â―17.89
54.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44āļŋ79.3
$1.07â―80.1
128.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61āļŋ117
$1.74â―131
107.47%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Volzhsky
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26āļŋ73.5
$0.93â―70.2
143.01%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84āļŋ59.8
$0.62â―46.23
196.77%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24āļŋ73.0
$0.84â―63.2
166.67%
Eggs
$2.32āļŋ75.3
$1.80â―135
28.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67āļŋ639
$11.59â―871
69.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65āļŋ119
$6.43â―483
-43.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10āļŋ426
$8.10â―608
61.73%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39āļŋ110
$1.56â―117
117.31%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64āļŋ53.4
$1.62â―122
1.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41āļŋ78.5
$1.64â―123
46.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03āļŋ66.0
$1.24â―93.2
63.71%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56āļŋ50.6
$1.15â―86.7
35.65%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50āļŋ48.66
$1.17â―87.8
28.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02āļŋ33.30
$0.64â―48.29
59.38%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49āļŋ15.91
$0.73â―54.6
-32.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45āļŋ145
$1.60â―121
178.13%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88āļŋ614
$3.98â―299
374.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78āļŋ57.7
$0.78â―58.8
128.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75āļŋ89.5
$1.49â―112
84.56%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Volzhsky
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40āļŋ45.54
$0.62â―46.50
125.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48āļŋ373
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12āļŋ101
$1.12â―84.0
178.57%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00āļŋ32.48
$0.33â―24.45
203.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09āļŋ458
$2.28â―171
517.98%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35āļŋ43.93
$1.03â―77.5
31.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2Kāļŋ883.7K
$33.6Kâ―2.5M
-19.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
$35.2Kâ―2.6M
-6.58%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Volzhsky
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125āļŋ4,063
$110â―8,251
13.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57āļŋ441
$3.91â―294
247.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52āļŋ602
$3.79â―285
388.65%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Volzhsky
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5āļŋ1,999
$19.04â―1,430
222.90%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84āļŋ547
$20.42â―1,534
-17.53%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19āļŋ299
$4.47â―336
105.59%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Volzhsky
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698āļŋ22.7K
$327â―24.6K
113.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6Kāļŋ506.9K
$6,990â―525.2K
123.05%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Volzhsky
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8āļŋ1,878
$70.6â―5,304
-18.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24āļŋ1,146
$31.56â―2,371
11.66%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,677
$50.3â―3,776
125.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4āļŋ2,808
$57.2â―4,297
51.01%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Volzhsky
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616āļŋ20.0K
$194â―14.6K
217.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446āļŋ14.5K
$150â―11.3K
197.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048āļŋ66.6K
$315â―23.7K
550.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492āļŋ48.5K
$256â―19.3K
482.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779āļŋ122.8K
$1,287â―96.7K
193.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649āļŋ86.1K
$1,139â―85.6K
132.49%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Volzhsky
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524āļŋ17.0K
$365â―27.4K
43.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
10.5
-49.24%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Volzhsky: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $616 in Phuket and $194 in Volzhsky. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ð°Phuket pays 44% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
ðDining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $39.00 in Volzhsky for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $179 per month, with Volzhsky 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 Volzhsky: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Volzhsky cheaper than Phuket?
Volzhsky is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 80% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Volzhsky?
Phuket pays 44% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Volzhsky?
Rent for a central apartment: $616 in Phuket versus $194 in Volzhsky. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $698 in Phuket versus $327 in Volzhsky. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or Volzhsky?
Dining out is cheaper in Volzhsky â a meal for two runs $39.00 versus $47.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Phuket or Volzhsky?
At $685 in Volzhsky versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Volzhsky but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Volzhsky the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Volzhsky more family-friendly?
For families, Volzhsky 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 Volzhsky?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Volzhsky 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 Volzhsky gentler on the wallet â expenses run 80% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.