ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $726 in Zhytomyr.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $1,136 in Zhytomyr.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $1,547 in Zhytomyr.
ðLiving in Phuket is roughly 70% more expensive than Zhytomyr, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
ðBoth cities sit below the global median: Phuket8% lower, Zhytomyr46% lower.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Zhytomyr
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63āļŋ151
$8.41âī370
-44.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84āļŋ1,523
$33.98âī1,498
37.85%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84āļŋ287
$5.87âī259
50.60%
Cappuccino
$3.00āļŋ97.4
$1.17âī51.4
156.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74āļŋ24.11
$0.62âī27.51
19.35%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37āļŋ11.88
$0.37âī16.36
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44āļŋ79.3
$0.74âī32.63
229.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61āļŋ117
$1.44âī63.3
150.69%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Zhytomyr
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26āļŋ73.5
$1.12âī49.28
101.79%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84āļŋ59.8
$0.68âī29.84
170.59%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24āļŋ73.0
$1.41âī62.0
58.87%
Eggs
$2.32āļŋ75.3
$1.78âī78.4
30.34%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67āļŋ639
$9.36âī412
110.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65āļŋ119
$3.41âī150
7.04%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10āļŋ426
$5.33âī235
145.78%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39āļŋ110
$0.79âī34.67
329.11%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64āļŋ53.4
$1.53âī67.5
7.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41āļŋ78.5
$1.61âī71.1
49.69%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03āļŋ66.0
$2.29âī101
-11.35%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56āļŋ50.6
$0.86âī37.81
81.40%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50āļŋ48.66
$0.58âī25.74
158.62%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02āļŋ33.30
$1.19âī52.3
-14.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49āļŋ15.91
$0.55âī24.09
-10.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45āļŋ145
$2.95âī130
50.85%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88āļŋ614
$3.31âī146
470.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78āļŋ57.7
$0.83âī36.77
114.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75āļŋ89.5
$1.52âī67.2
80.92%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Zhytomyr
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40āļŋ45.54
$0.34âī15.16
311.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48āļŋ373
$8.86âī391
29.57%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12āļŋ101
$1.82âī80.4
71.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00āļŋ32.48
$0.38âī16.61
163.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09āļŋ458
$4.36âī192
223.17%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35āļŋ43.93
$1.35âī59.4
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2Kāļŋ883.7K
$31.6Kâī1.4M
-13.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
$24.4Kâī1.1M
35.09%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Zhytomyr
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125āļŋ4,063
$74.3âī3,276
68.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57āļŋ441
$5.48âī242
147.63%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52āļŋ602
$4.32âī190
328.70%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Zhytomyr
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5āļŋ1,999
$28.82âī1,270
113.32%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84āļŋ547
$16.05âī707
4.92%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19āļŋ299
$4.79âī211
91.86%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Zhytomyr
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698āļŋ22.7K
$172âī7,583
305.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6Kāļŋ506.9K
$3,161âī139.3K
393.34%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Zhytomyr
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8āļŋ1,878
$59.8âī2,635
-3.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24āļŋ1,146
$32.04âī1,412
9.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,677
$89.1âī3,926
26.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4āļŋ2,808
$89.7âī3,952
-3.65%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Zhytomyr
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616āļŋ20.0K
$252âī11.1K
144.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446āļŋ14.5K
$196âī8,657
127.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048āļŋ66.6K
$418âī18.4K
389.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492āļŋ48.5K
$324âī14.3K
360.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779āļŋ122.8K
$1,133âī49.9K
233.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649āļŋ86.1K
$860âī37.9K
208.02%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Zhytomyr
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524āļŋ17.0K
$373âī16.5K
40.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
19.34
-72.44%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Zhytomyr: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $616 in Phuket and $252 in Zhytomyr. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ð°Phuket pays 40% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
ðDining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $34.00 in Zhytomyr for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $152 per month, with Zhytomyr cheaper across the board.
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 Zhytomyr: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Zhytomyr cheaper than Phuket?
Zhytomyr is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 70% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Zhytomyr?
Phuket pays 40% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Zhytomyr?
Rent for a central apartment: $616 in Phuket versus $252 in Zhytomyr. 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 $172 in Zhytomyr. 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 Zhytomyr?
Supermarket bills run roughly 93% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Phuket or Zhytomyr?
At $726 in Zhytomyr versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Zhytomyr but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Zhytomyr the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Zhytomyr more family-friendly?
For families, Zhytomyr 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 Zhytomyr?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Zhytomyr 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 Zhytomyr gentler on the wallet â expenses run 70% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.