Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Poltava and Phuket

For one person, living is cheaper in Poltava: $786 a month against $1,278 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $5,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Poltava, Ukraine
Phuket, Thailand
Poltava
🇺🇦 Ukraine
$786
/mo nomad
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,278
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Poltava and in Phuket

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Poltava and in Phuket actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $786 in Poltava versus $1,278 in Phuket.

  • Poltava $786
  • Phuket $1,278

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,005 in Poltava versus $2,216 in Phuket.

  • Poltava $1,005
  • Phuket $2,216

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,225 in Poltava versus $3,154 in Phuket.

  • Poltava $1,225
  • Phuket $3,154

Living in Poltava costs roughly 39% less than in Phuket, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Poltava 42% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Poltava
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.39 ₴246
$4.47 ฿151
20.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.94 ₴1,502
$32.41 ฿1,093
1.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.71 ₴352
$8.81 ฿297
-12.49%
Cappuccino
$1.70 ₴77.7
$2.83 ฿95.4
-39.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 ₴32.82
$0.87 ฿29.40
-17.24%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 ₴24.48
$0.49 ฿16.65
10.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.95 ₴43.52
$2.56 ฿86.3
-62.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 ₴90.9
$3.68 ฿124
-45.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Poltava
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 ₴50.9
$1.66 ฿55.9
-32.53%
White Bread (500g)
$0.75 ₴34.29
$1.46 ฿49.29
-48.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.44 ₴65.4
$1.50 ฿50.5
-4.00%
Eggs
$2.04 ₴93.0
$2.09 ฿70.5
-2.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.55 ₴435
$19.07 ฿643
-49.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.28 ₴241
$3.30 ฿111
60.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.50 ₴296
$10.91 ฿368
-40.42%
Apples (1kg)
$1.21 ₴55.3
$2.93 ฿98.8
-58.70%
Banana (1kg)
$1.49 ₴67.8
$1.69 ฿57.0
-11.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.78 ₴81.0
$2.25 ฿75.7
-20.89%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.34 ₴60.9
$2.08 ฿70.0
-35.58%
Potato (1kg)
$0.42 ₴19.22
$1.51 ฿51.0
-72.19%
Onion (1kg)
$0.27 ₴12.44
$1.38 ฿46.51
-80.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.44 ₴65.5
$1.07 ฿35.95
34.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61 ₴27.77
$0.52 ฿17.50
17.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.30 ₴150
$4.20 ฿142
-21.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.81 ₴219
$18.79 ฿634
-74.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 ₴36.02
$1.82 ฿61.4
-56.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36 ₴62.1
$2.84 ฿95.8
-52.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Poltava
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.47 ₴21.35
$1.45 ฿48.97
-67.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.07 ₴1,326
$56.7 ฿1,911
-48.69%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.16 ₴98.4
$3.02 ฿102
-28.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 ₴20.70
$1.02 ฿34.32
-55.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.68 ₴214
$3.69 ฿124
26.83%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.42 ₴64.7
$1.47 ฿49.75
-3.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.1K ₴1.4M
$26.8K ฿903.2K
12.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.4K ₴1.1M
$26.7K ฿900.3K
-8.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Poltava
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$60.6 ₴2,764
$96.4 ฿3,250
-37.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.97 ₴227
$11.26 ฿380
-55.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$4.66 ₴212
$16.85 ฿568
-72.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Poltava
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$28.05 ₴1,279
$67.2 ฿2,268
-58.28%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.30 ₴333
$10.73 ฿362
-31.97%
Cinema Ticket
$3.00 ₴137
$7.50 ฿253
-60.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Poltava
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$279 ₴12.7K
$476 ฿16.1K
-41.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ₴673.7K
$11.3K ฿379.9K
31.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Poltava
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.4 ₴2,847
$62.4 ฿2,103
0.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.59 ₴1,805
$28.41 ฿958
39.35%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$64.5 ₴2,940
$94.3 ฿3,180
-31.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.3 ₴3,842
$85.8 ฿2,894
-1.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Poltava
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$303 ₴13.8K
$716 ฿24.1K
-57.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$265 ₴12.1K
$491 ฿16.6K
-45.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,927 ฿65.0K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,431 ฿48.3K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,202 ₴54.8K
$4,175 ฿140.8K
-71.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$826 ₴37.7K
$3,045 ฿102.7K
-72.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Poltava
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$416 ₴19.0K
$502 ฿16.9K
-17.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
17.88
5.57
221.01%

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

Last update for Poltava: October 24, 2026

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Poltava
$265
Phuket
$491 84.9% $225
Groceries & Markets
Poltava
$167
Phuket
$266 59.4% $99
Clothing & Footwear
Poltava
$113
Phuket
$122 8% $9
Eating Out
Poltava
$101
Phuket
$122 21.1% $21
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Poltava
$70
Phuket
$124 77.2% $54
Getting Around
Poltava
$35
Phuket
$71 99.5% $35
Sport & Entertainment
Poltava
$34
Phuket
$82 141% $48

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $303 in Poltava and $716 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Phuket pays 21% 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: $33 in Poltava vs $32 in Phuket. Groceries flip the comparison at $167 vs $266, with Poltava cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇺🇦 Poltava
🇹🇭 Phuket
🕒 Local time
17:13 5:13 PM
22:13 10:13 PM
5 h ahead of Poltava
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
297,600
79,308
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to UAH – Ukrainian Hryvnia Converter

Ukrainian Hryvnia exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 45.6 UAH (100 UAH = 2.19 USD). 1 EUR = 50.89 UAH (100 UAH = 1.97 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 33.73 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.64 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Poltava Phuket 7,470 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Poltava
  • Phuket

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Poltava vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Poltava cheaper than Phuket?
Poltava is about 39% cheaper overall, especially in groceries, leisure, and transport. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Poltava or Phuket?
On paper, salaries run 17% lower in Poltava. 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 Poltava and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $303 in Poltava versus $716 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $279 in Poltava versus $476 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 Poltava and in Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 59% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is it better to live in Poltava or in Phuket?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is safer, Poltava or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Poltava and Phuket are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
It comes down to priorities – Poltava wins on affordability, Phuket on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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