ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,026 in Yuzhnouralsk.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $1,617 in Yuzhnouralsk.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $2,209 in Yuzhnouralsk.
ðLiving in Phuket is roughly 20% more expensive than Yuzhnouralsk, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
ðBoth cities sit below the global median: Phuket8% lower, Yuzhnouralsk23% lower.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Yuzhnouralsk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63āļŋ151
$13.48â―1,012
-65.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84āļŋ1,532
$51.7â―3,883
-9.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84āļŋ289
$6.20â―465
42.58%
Cappuccino
$3.00āļŋ98.0
$2.85â―214
5.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74āļŋ24.25
$0.67â―50.0
10.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37āļŋ11.95
$0.37â―27.50
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44āļŋ79.8
$1.91â―144
27.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61āļŋ118
$2.16â―162
67.13%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Yuzhnouralsk
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26āļŋ73.9
$1.12â―83.8
101.79%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84āļŋ60.1
$0.71â―53.5
159.15%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24āļŋ73.4
$1.40â―105
60.00%
Eggs
$2.32āļŋ75.7
$1.68â―126
38.10%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67āļŋ643
$12.24â―919
60.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65āļŋ119
$4.56â―343
-19.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10āļŋ428
$11.53â―866
13.62%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39āļŋ111
$2.02â―151
67.82%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64āļŋ53.7
$1.90â―143
-13.68%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41āļŋ79.0
$2.42â―182
-0.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03āļŋ66.4
$2.97â―223
-31.65%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56āļŋ50.9
$0.74â―55.6
110.81%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50āļŋ48.94
$0.75â―56.3
100.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02āļŋ33.50
$1.41â―106
-27.66%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49āļŋ16.00
$0.71â―53.2
-30.99%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45āļŋ145
$2.60â―195
71.15%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88āļŋ617
$8.16â―613
131.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78āļŋ58.1
$1.20â―90.0
48.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75āļŋ90.1
$2.40â―180
14.58%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Yuzhnouralsk
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40āļŋ45.81
$0.50â―37.23
180.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48āļŋ376
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12āļŋ102
$2.45â―184
27.35%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00āļŋ32.67
$0.32â―24.39
212.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09āļŋ461
$6.68â―502
110.93%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35āļŋ44.19
$0.78â―58.3
73.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2Kāļŋ888.9K
$32.0Kâ―2.4M
-15.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
$47.8Kâ―3.6M
-31.08%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Yuzhnouralsk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125āļŋ4,087
$126â―9,458
-0.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57āļŋ444
$7.20â―541
88.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52āļŋ606
$9.35â―702
98.07%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Yuzhnouralsk
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5āļŋ2,010
$35.76â―2,686
71.92%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84āļŋ551
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.19āļŋ300
$5.45â―409
68.62%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Yuzhnouralsk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698āļŋ22.8K
$457â―34.3K
52.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6Kāļŋ509.9K
$8,948â―672.1K
74.25%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Yuzhnouralsk
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8āļŋ1,889
$69.2â―5,195
-16.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24āļŋ1,152
$45.80â―3,440
-23.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,699
$101â―7,599
11.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4āļŋ2,825
$73.0â―5,481
18.36%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Yuzhnouralsk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616āļŋ20.1K
$445â―33.4K
38.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446āļŋ14.6K
$311â―23.3K
43.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048āļŋ67.0K
$757â―56.8K
170.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492āļŋ48.8K
$507â―38.1K
194.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779āļŋ123.6K
$1,847â―138.7K
104.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649āļŋ86.6K
$1,446â―108.6K
83.23%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Yuzhnouralsk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524āļŋ17.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
13
-59.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Yuzhnouralsk: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $616 in Phuket and $445 in Yuzhnouralsk. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ðDining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $52.0 in Yuzhnouralsk. Groceries flip the comparison at $292 vs $216, with Yuzhnouralsk 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 Yuzhnouralsk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Yuzhnouralsk cheaper than Phuket?
Yuzhnouralsk is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 20% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,847 in Phuket and $1,539 in Yuzhnouralsk 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 Yuzhnouralsk?
Rent for a central apartment: $616 in Phuket versus $445 in Yuzhnouralsk. 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 $457 in Yuzhnouralsk. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or Yuzhnouralsk?
Dining out is cheaper in Yuzhnouralsk â a meal for two runs $52.0 versus $47.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Phuket or Yuzhnouralsk?
At $1,026 in Yuzhnouralsk versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Yuzhnouralsk but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Yuzhnouralsk the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Yuzhnouralsk more family-friendly?
For families, Yuzhnouralsk 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 Yuzhnouralsk?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Yuzhnouralsk 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 Yuzhnouralsk gentler on the wallet â expenses run 20% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.