Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Vulcanesti Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Vulcanesti

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $5.52 in Vulcanesti.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $7.00 in Vulcanesti.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $8.62 in Vulcanesti.

Living in Phuket is roughly 22211% more expensive than Vulcanesti, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 8% lower, Vulcanesti 100% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.63 ฿151

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.84 ฿1,523

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.84 ฿287

Cappuccino

$3.00 ฿97.4

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 ฿24.11

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.88

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 ฿79.3

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 ฿117

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ฿73.5

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 ฿59.8

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.24 ฿73.0

Eggs

$2.32 ฿75.3

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.67 ฿639

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.65 ฿119

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.10 ฿426

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 ฿110

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.4

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.5

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 ฿66.0

Potato (1kg)

$1.56 ฿50.6

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 ฿48.66

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 ฿33.30

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿15.91

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.45 ฿145

Wine (Bottle)

$18.88 ฿614

$2.47 MDL 42.79

664.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿57.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.75 ฿89.5

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.40 ฿45.54

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.48 ฿373

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.12 ฿101

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.00 ฿32.48

$0.12 MDL 2.07

733.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.09 ฿458

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 ฿43.93

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$27.2K ฿883.7K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.9K ฿1.1M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$125 ฿4,063

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.57 ฿441

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.52 ฿602

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.5 ฿1,999

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.84 ฿547

Cinema Ticket

$9.19 ฿299

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$698 ฿22.7K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.6K ฿506.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.8 ฿1,878

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.24 ฿1,146

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 ฿3,677

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.4 ฿2,808

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$616 ฿20.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$446 ฿14.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,048 ฿66.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,492 ฿48.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,779 ฿122.8K

$871 MDL 15.1K

333.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,649 ฿86.1K

$893 MDL 15.5K

196.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$524 ฿17.0K

$728 MDL 12.6K

-28.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

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

Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026

Last update for Vulcanesti: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Vulcanesti pays 39% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

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 Vulcanesti: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Vulcanesti is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 22211% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Vulcanesti earns 39% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Supermarket bills run roughly 5814% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,232 per month in Phuket versus $5.52 in Vulcanesti – a 22211% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $5.52 in Vulcanesti versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Vulcanesti but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Vulcanesti the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Vulcanesti 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.

Safety-wise, Phuket and Vulcanesti are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Vulcanesti gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22211% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.