😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Phuket versus $972 in Zonguldak.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,286 in Phuket versus $1,537 in Zonguldak.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,310 in Phuket versus $2,102 in Zonguldak.
😐Living in Phuket is roughly 30% more expensive than Zonguldak, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket6% lower, Zonguldak28% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Zonguldak
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56฿149
$3.88₺179
17.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.63฿1,519
$38.04₺1,760
22.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.47฿276
$7.56₺350
12.04%
Cappuccino
$3.03฿98.6
$3.11₺144
-2.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.45
$0.74₺34.27
-6.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿11.92
$0.24₺11.02
54.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.49฿81.0
$1.99₺92.3
25.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66฿119
$2.09₺96.7
75.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Zonguldak
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.18฿71.0
$0.58₺26.87
275.86%
White Bread(500g)
$1.90฿62.0
$0.37₺16.95
413.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.20฿71.6
$2.32₺107
-5.17%
Eggs
$2.22฿72.4
$2.34₺108
-5.13%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.99฿651
$9.36₺433
113.57%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.66฿119
$6.00₺278
-39.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.25฿432
$19.49₺901
-32.02%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23฿105
$1.52₺70.4
112.50%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70฿55.3
$2.31₺107
-26.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.39฿78.0
$1.27₺58.9
88.19%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿67.7
$1.52₺70.4
36.84%
Potato(1kg)
$1.59฿51.8
$0.73₺33.71
117.81%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48฿48.31
$0.60₺27.92
146.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03฿33.54
$1.07₺49.47
-3.74%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿16.83
$0.40₺18.47
30.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.25฿138
$1.93₺89.1
120.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.79฿612
$10.92₺505
72.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76฿57.2
$1.96₺90.6
-10.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76฿89.8
$2.01₺92.8
37.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Zonguldak
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.36฿44.32
$0.63₺28.92
115.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.36฿370
$30.48₺1,410
-62.73%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14฿102
$0.92₺42.69
241.30%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04฿33.74
$0.65₺29.99
60.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.77฿448
$6.39₺296
115.49%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34฿43.79
$1.08₺50.1
24.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K฿901.4K
$43.4K₺2.0M
-36.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9K฿1.1M
$44.3K₺2.1M
-23.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Zonguldak
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$124฿4,025
$27.39₺1,267
351.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.52฿440
$9.03₺418
49.72%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.69฿609
$10.32₺478
81.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Zonguldak
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.8฿2,013
$42.94₺1,987
43.97%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.25฿562
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.14฿298
$3.22₺149
183.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Zonguldak
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$703฿22.9K
$611₺28.3K
14.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.9K฿517.0K
$13.6K₺626.9K
17.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Zonguldak
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5฿1,937
$17.73₺820
235.36%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.07฿1,142
$44.31₺2,050
-20.85%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,754
$44.80₺2,072
157.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.1฿2,737
$98.8₺4,572
-14.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Zonguldak
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$619฿20.1K
$520₺24.1K
18.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$433฿14.1K
$391₺18.1K
10.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,062฿67.2K
$886₺41.0K
132.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,511฿49.2K
$711₺32.9K
112.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,646฿118.7K
$1,243₺57.5K
193.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,626฿85.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Zonguldak
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$507฿16.5K
$896₺41.5K
-43.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
48.4
-88.99%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026
Last update for Zonguldak: June 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $619 in Phuket and $520 in Zonguldak. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Zonguldak pays 77% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $38.00 in Zonguldak for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $227 per month, with Zonguldak 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 Zonguldak: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Zonguldak cheaper than Phuket?
Zonguldak is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 30% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Zonguldak?
On paper, Zonguldak earns 77% less. 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 Zonguldak?
Rent for a central apartment: $619 in Phuket versus $520 in Zonguldak. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $703 in Phuket versus $611 in Zonguldak. 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 Zonguldak?
Supermarket bills run roughly 29% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Phuket or Zonguldak?
At $972 in Zonguldak versus $1,261 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Zonguldak but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Zonguldak the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Zonguldak more family-friendly?
For families, Zonguldak 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 Zonguldak?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Zonguldak 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 Zonguldak gentler on the wallet – expenses run 30% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.