🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,242 in Phuket versus $1,479 in Zgorzelec.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,078 in Phuket versus $2,177 in Zgorzelec.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,913 in Phuket versus $2,875 in Zgorzelec.
🌍Living in Phuket costs roughly 16% less than in Zgorzelec, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 8% below, Zgorzelec is 9% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Zgorzelec
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.60฿153
$9.36zł 34.86
-50.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.86฿1,158
$52.1zł 194
-33.09%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.57฿285
$8.22zł 30.60
4.26%
Cappuccino
$2.82฿93.6
$3.23zł 12.02
-12.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78฿25.85
$0.96zł 3.59
-18.75%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48฿15.81
$1.71zł 6.37
-71.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.42฿80.5
$1.63zł 6.07
48.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.71฿123
$2.10zł 7.80
76.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Zgorzelec
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.79฿59.4
$1.00zł 3.74
79.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.41฿46.69
$1.28zł 4.76
10.16%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.60฿53.0
$1.45zł 5.38
10.34%
Eggs
$2.20฿73.2
$3.61zł 13.43
-39.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.64฿653
$9.38zł 34.94
109.38%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.50฿116
$6.19zł 23.03
-43.46%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.24฿374
$13.10zł 48.79
-14.20%
Apples(1kg)
$2.86฿95.1
$0.94zł 3.52
204.26%
Banana(1kg)
$1.68฿55.9
$1.64zł 6.09
2.44%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.31฿76.7
$1.76zł 6.56
31.25%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.10฿69.7
$1.64zł 6.10
28.05%
Potato(1kg)
$1.48฿49.10
$0.66zł 2.44
124.24%
Onion(1kg)
$1.35฿44.71
$1.10zł 4.11
22.73%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07฿35.72
$1.33zł 4.95
-19.55%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58฿19.15
$0.73zł 2.73
-20.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.31฿143
$5.08zł 18.91
-15.16%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.67฿621
$8.07zł 30.06
131.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79฿59.4
$0.89zł 3.32
101.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77฿92.1
$1.42zł 5.28
95.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Zgorzelec
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.19฿72.6
$1.28zł 4.75
71.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.98฿763
$27.63zł 103
-16.83%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.03฿101
$2.47zł 9.20
22.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02฿33.85
$1.05zł 3.89
-2.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.91฿130
$13.23zł 49.25
-70.45%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.43฿47.45
$1.63zł 6.06
-12.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K฿904.2K
$32.0Kzł 119.2K
-14.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K฿893.1K
$28.6Kzł 106.4K
-5.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Zgorzelec
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102฿3,396
$306zł 1,139
-66.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.95฿364
$8.14zł 30.30
34.52%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.06฿567
$20.35zł 75.8
-16.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Zgorzelec
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.2฿1,768
$39.98zł 149
33.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.11฿369
$24.28zł 90.4
-54.24%
Cinema Ticket
$7.82฿260
$7.87zł 29.31
-0.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Zgorzelec
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$552฿18.3K
$513zł 1,909
7.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.4K฿379.8K
$7,804zł 29.1K
46.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Zgorzelec
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.4฿2,072
$84.5zł 315
-26.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.98฿963
$39.11zł 146
-25.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.6฿3,244
$91.5zł 341
6.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.3฿2,935
$113zł 422
-22.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Zgorzelec
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$746฿24.8K
$712zł 2,651
4.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$480฿16.0K
$460zł 1,714
4.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,112฿70.2K
$1,171zł 4,361
80.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,195฿39.7K
$893zł 3,326
33.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,579฿118.9K
$3,437zł 12.8K
4.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,576฿85.6K
$2,017zł 7,512
27.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Zgorzelec
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$509฿16.9K
$1,405zł 5,233
-63.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
6.65
-16.24%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: August 3, 2026
Last update for Zgorzelec: August 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $746 in Phuket and $712 in Zgorzelec. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Zgorzelec pays 176% 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: $35.00 in Phuket vs $52.0 in Zgorzelec. Groceries flip the comparison at $272 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, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 19% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Zgorzelec?
On paper, salaries run 176% 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: $746 in Phuket versus $712 in Zgorzelec. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $552 in Phuket versus $513 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 $1,242 in Phuket versus $1,479 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 19% less than in Zgorzelec. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.