πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,006 in Pogradec versus $1,232 in Phuket.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,536 in Pogradec versus $2,255 in Phuket.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,066 in Pogradec versus $3,279 in Phuket.
πLiving in Pogradec costs roughly 18% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Pogradec25% lower, Phuket8% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Pogradec
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.03ALLΒ 656
$4.63ΰΈΏ151
73.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.74ALLΒ 3,003
$46.84ΰΈΏ1,523
-21.56%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.91ALLΒ 565
$8.84ΰΈΏ287
-21.83%
Cappuccino
$0.90ALLΒ 73.7
$3.00ΰΈΏ97.4
-70.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62ALLΒ 133
$0.74ΰΈΏ24.11
118.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73ALLΒ 59.8
$0.37ΰΈΏ11.88
97.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.42ALLΒ 116
$2.44ΰΈΏ79.3
-41.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55ALLΒ 209
$3.61ΰΈΏ117
-29.36%
π Groceries & Markets
Pogradec
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.04ALLΒ 167
$2.26ΰΈΏ73.5
-9.73%
White Bread(500g)
$0.84ALLΒ 68.7
$1.84ΰΈΏ59.8
-54.35%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.94ALLΒ 159
$2.24ΰΈΏ73.0
-13.39%
Eggs
$2.17ALLΒ 177
$2.32ΰΈΏ75.3
-6.47%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.49ALLΒ 612
$19.67ΰΈΏ639
-61.92%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.22ALLΒ 345
$3.65ΰΈΏ119
15.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10ALLΒ 1,071
$13.10ΰΈΏ426
-
Apples(1kg)
$1.15ALLΒ 94.2
$3.39ΰΈΏ110
-66.08%
Banana(1kg)
$2.45ALLΒ 201
$1.64ΰΈΏ53.4
49.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.39ALLΒ 113
$2.41ΰΈΏ78.5
-42.32%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.21ALLΒ 99.2
$2.03ΰΈΏ66.0
-40.39%
Potato(1kg)
$0.95ALLΒ 78.0
$1.56ΰΈΏ50.6
-39.10%
Onion(1kg)
$0.92ALLΒ 75.0
$1.50ΰΈΏ48.66
-38.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98ALLΒ 80.4
$1.02ΰΈΏ33.30
-3.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72ALLΒ 59.0
$0.49ΰΈΏ15.91
46.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.00ALLΒ 327
$4.45ΰΈΏ145
-10.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.21ALLΒ 834
$18.88ΰΈΏ614
-45.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20ALLΒ 97.7
$1.78ΰΈΏ57.7
-32.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79ALLΒ 147
$2.75ΰΈΏ89.5
-34.91%
π Getting Around
Pogradec
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.49ALLΒ 39.77
$1.40ΰΈΏ45.54
-65.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.07ALLΒ 1,559
$11.48ΰΈΏ373
66.11%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.52ALLΒ 288
$3.12ΰΈΏ101
12.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.54ALLΒ 126
$1.00ΰΈΏ32.48
54.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.85ALLΒ 1,459
$14.09ΰΈΏ458
26.69%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.19ALLΒ 179
$1.35ΰΈΏ43.93
62.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7KALLΒ 2.8M
$27.2KΰΈΏ883.7K
27.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7KALLΒ 2.1M
$32.9KΰΈΏ1.1M
-21.99%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pogradec
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$66.6ALLΒ 5,440
$125ΰΈΏ4,063
-46.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.43ALLΒ 1,425
$13.57ΰΈΏ441
28.45%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.65ALLΒ 1,279
$18.52ΰΈΏ602
-15.50%
π Sport & Entertainment
Pogradec
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.8ALLΒ 4,556
$61.5ΰΈΏ1,999
-9.32%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.57ALLΒ 2,089
$16.84ΰΈΏ547
51.84%
Cinema Ticket
$8.20ALLΒ 670
$9.19ΰΈΏ299
-10.77%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Pogradec
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$95.4ALLΒ 7,800
$698ΰΈΏ22.7K
-86.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$15.6KΰΈΏ506.9K
-
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Pogradec
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.50ALLΒ 3,882
$57.8ΰΈΏ1,878
-17.76%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.8ALLΒ 4,318
$35.24ΰΈΏ1,146
49.94%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.4ALLΒ 7,632
$113ΰΈΏ3,677
-17.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$140ALLΒ 11.4K
$86.4ΰΈΏ2,808
61.88%
π Accommodation & Living
Pogradec
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$442ALLΒ 36.1K
$616ΰΈΏ20.0K
-28.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$342ALLΒ 28.0K
$446ΰΈΏ14.5K
-23.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$618ALLΒ 50.5K
$2,048ΰΈΏ66.6K
-69.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$431ALLΒ 35.2K
$1,492ΰΈΏ48.5K
-71.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,599ALLΒ 130.7K
$3,779ΰΈΏ122.8K
-57.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,462ALLΒ 119.5K
$2,649ΰΈΏ86.1K
-44.80%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Pogradec
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$464ALLΒ 38.0K
$524ΰΈΏ17.0K
-11.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4
5.33
-24.95%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Pogradec: April 26, 2026
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $442 in Pogradec and $616 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Phuket pays 13% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $37.00 in Pogradec vs $47.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $208 vs $292 per month, with Pogradec 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
Pogradec vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Pogradec?
Pogradec is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment. The 22% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Pogradec or Phuket?
On paper, Phuket earns 13% 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 Pogradec and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $442 in Pogradec versus $616 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $95.4 in Pogradec versus $698 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Pogradec and Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 41% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Pogradec or Phuket?
At $1,006 in Pogradec versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Pogradec but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Pogradec the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Pogradec or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Pogradec 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, Pogradec or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Pogradec and Phuket 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 Pogradec gentler on the wallet β expenses run 22% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.