Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Zgorzelec Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Zgorzelec

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,481 in Zgorzelec.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,054 in Phuket versus $2,181 in Zgorzelec.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,876 in Phuket versus $2,882 in Zgorzelec.

Living in Phuket costs roughly 17% less than in Zgorzelec, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 10% below, Zgorzelec is 8% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Zgorzelec
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.41 ฿147
$9.22 zł 35.00
-52.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26 ฿1,074
$52.8 zł 200
-38.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.93 ฿297
$8.11 zł 30.81
10.11%
Cappuccino
$2.90 ฿96.4
$3.23 zł 12.25
-10.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 ฿29.30
$0.95 zł 3.60
-7.37%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 ฿16.01
$1.66 zł 6.29
-71.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.35 ฿78.3
$1.58 zł 6.00
48.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 ฿124
$2.11 zł 8.03
76.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Zgorzelec
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.87 ฿62.1
$0.96 zł 3.63
94.79%
White Bread (500g)
$1.47 ฿48.81
$1.31 zł 4.96
12.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.55 ฿51.7
$1.47 zł 5.58
5.44%
Eggs
$2.10 ฿70.0
$3.82 zł 14.52
-45.03%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.59 ฿652
$8.92 zł 33.85
119.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.42 ฿114
$6.28 zł 23.85
-45.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.38 ฿379
$13.64 zł 51.8
-16.57%
Apples (1kg)
$2.98 ฿99.3
$0.90 zł 3.41
231.11%
Banana (1kg)
$1.68 ฿56.1
$1.58 zł 6.00
6.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.21 ฿73.5
$1.77 zł 6.73
24.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.16 ฿72.0
$1.62 zł 6.15
33.33%
Potato (1kg)
$1.52 ฿50.8
$0.70 zł 2.65
117.14%
Onion (1kg)
$1.34 ฿44.55
$1.04 zł 3.95
28.85%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 ฿37.57
$1.29 zł 4.89
-12.40%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿18.19
$0.72 zł 2.72
-23.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26 ฿142
$4.85 zł 18.41
-12.16%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.09 ฿635
$7.96 zł 30.21
139.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿59.2
$0.90 zł 3.43
97.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ฿92.6
$1.47 zł 5.58
89.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Zgorzelec
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.23 ฿74.2
$1.08 zł 4.10
106.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.74 ฿757
$26.70 zł 101
-14.83%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.03 ฿101
$2.42 zł 9.20
25.21%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ฿34.06
$1.08 zł 4.09
-5.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.89 ฿130
$13.15 zł 49.92
-70.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 ฿49.63
$1.62 zł 6.14
-8.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K ฿884.9K
$31.3K zł 118.7K
-14.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K ฿899.8K
$28.2K zł 107.2K
-4.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Zgorzelec
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$102 ฿3,411
$299 zł 1,134
-65.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.33 ฿377
$7.93 zł 30.12
42.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.40 ฿579
$19.91 zł 75.6
-12.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Zgorzelec
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.1 ฿1,734
$39.24 zł 149
32.72%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07 ฿369
$23.18 zł 88.0
-52.24%
Cinema Ticket
$7.69 ฿256
$7.96 zł 30.24
-3.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Zgorzelec
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$561 ฿18.7K
$512 zł 1,945
9.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.5K ฿383.0K
$7,726 zł 29.3K
48.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Zgorzelec
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.0 ฿2,098
$82.4 zł 313
-23.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.52 ฿983
$38.68 zł 147
-23.68%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.0 ฿3,263
$89.4 zł 339
9.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5 ฿2,946
$112 zł 424
-20.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Zgorzelec
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$738 ฿24.6K
$716 zł 2,717
3.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$482 ฿16.1K
$492 zł 1,866
-1.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,107 ฿70.1K
$1,165 zł 4,421
80.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,226 ฿40.8K
$766 zł 2,909
59.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,617 ฿120.4K
$3,113 zł 11.8K
16.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,603 ฿86.7K
$2,189 zł 8,309
18.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Zgorzelec
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$494 ฿16.4K
$1,426 zł 5,414
-65.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
6.63
-15.99%

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

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Last update for Zgorzelec: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $738 in Phuket and $716 in Zgorzelec. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Zgorzelec pays 189% 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: $32.00 in Phuket vs $53.0 in Zgorzelec. Groceries flip the comparison at $274 vs $213, with Zgorzelec 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 Zgorzelec: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Zgorzelec cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out. The 20% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Zgorzelec?
On paper, salaries run 189% lower in Zgorzelec. 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 Zgorzelec?
Rent for a central apartment: $738 in Phuket versus $716 in Zgorzelec. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $561 in Phuket versus $512 in Zgorzelec. 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 Zgorzelec?
Shoppers in Zgorzelec pay roughly 28% 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 Zgorzelec?
At $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,481 in Zgorzelec, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Zgorzelec. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Zgorzelec more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Zgorzelec, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Zgorzelec?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Zgorzelec 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 20% less than in Zgorzelec. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Phuket vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities