😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,250 in Phuket versus $1,145 in Yekaterinburg.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,284 in Phuket versus $1,827 in Yekaterinburg.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,317 in Phuket versus $2,509 in Yekaterinburg.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 9% more expensive than in Yekaterinburg, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket6% lower, Yekaterinburg14% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Yekaterinburg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.55฿153
$13.30₽1,039
-65.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.18฿1,550
$51.6₽4,029
-10.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84฿297
$6.50₽508
36.00%
Cappuccino
$3.06฿103
$2.82₽220
8.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73฿24.36
$1.36₽107
-46.32%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40฿13.37
$0.65₽51.1
-38.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.43฿81.6
$1.85₽145
31.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78฿127
$2.25₽176
68.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Yekaterinburg
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26฿75.8
$1.10₽86.2
105.45%
White Bread(500g)
$1.81฿60.8
$0.66₽51.7
174.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.25฿75.7
$1.34₽105
67.91%
Eggs
$2.25฿75.4
$1.62₽127
38.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.51฿655
$12.54₽979
55.58%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65฿122
$4.68₽365
-22.01%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.05฿438
$11.78₽920
10.78%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23฿109
$1.97₽154
63.96%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62฿54.3
$1.93₽151
-16.06%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.38฿80.0
$2.45₽192
-2.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03฿68.0
$2.96₽231
-31.42%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿51.5
$0.68₽52.9
125.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50฿50.4
$0.79₽61.7
89.87%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98฿32.85
$1.37₽107
-28.47%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿17.36
$0.73₽56.7
-28.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.44฿149
$2.48₽194
79.03%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.32฿615
$7.91₽618
131.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿62.6
$1.15₽89.9
61.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68฿90.0
$2.46₽192
8.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Yekaterinburg
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.41฿47.37
$0.43₽33.80
227.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.70฿393
$25.23₽1,971
-53.63%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.11฿104
$2.49₽195
24.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04฿35.00
$0.35₽27.42
197.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.11฿474
$6.91₽539
104.20%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31฿44.02
$0.73₽56.8
79.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿933.8K
$31.4K₽2.4M
-11.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K฿1.1M
$46.7K₽3.6M
-28.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Yekaterinburg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿4,110
$130₽10.1K
-5.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.59฿456
$6.91₽540
96.67%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.70฿628
$9.22₽720
102.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Yekaterinburg
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.5฿2,031
$40.12₽3,134
50.77%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.98฿570
$19.27₽1,505
-11.88%
Cinema Ticket
$9.07฿305
$5.56₽434
63.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Yekaterinburg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$706฿23.7K
$463₽36.2K
52.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8K฿530.5K
$8,822₽689.2K
79.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Yekaterinburg
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6฿1,965
$68.5₽5,353
-14.55%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.36฿1,187
$45.70₽3,570
-22.63%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,876
$98.8₽7,720
16.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.7฿2,811
$74.0₽5,780
13.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Yekaterinburg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$626฿21.0K
$587₽45.9K
6.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$445฿14.9K
$386₽30.2K
15.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,040฿68.5K
$1,117₽87.2K
82.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492฿50.1K
$779₽60.9K
91.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,483฿116.9K
$2,795₽218.4K
24.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,577฿86.5K
$1,865₽145.7K
38.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Yekaterinburg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$500฿16.8K
$967₽75.5K
-48.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
16.39
-67.48%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026
Last update for Yekaterinburg: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $626 in Phuket and $587 in Yekaterinburg. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Yekaterinburg pays 93% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $46.00 in Phuket vs $52.0 in Yekaterinburg. Groceries flip the comparison at $289 vs $216, with Yekaterinburg 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 Yekaterinburg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Yekaterinburg cheaper than Phuket?
Yekaterinburg is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 9% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Yekaterinburg?
On paper, salaries run 93% lower in Yekaterinburg. 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 Yekaterinburg?
Rent for a central apartment: $626 in Phuket versus $587 in Yekaterinburg. 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 $463 in Yekaterinburg. 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 Yekaterinburg?
Supermarket bills run roughly 34% 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 Yekaterinburg?
At $1,145 in Yekaterinburg versus $1,250 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Yekaterinburg but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Yekaterinburg the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Yekaterinburg more family-friendly?
For families, Yekaterinburg 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 Yekaterinburg?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Yekaterinburg 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 Yekaterinburg gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.