🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $552 in Samarkand versus $1,261 in Phuket.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $900 in Samarkand versus $2,276 in Phuket.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,247 in Samarkand versus $3,291 in Phuket.
🌍Living in Samarkand costs roughly 56% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Samarkand59% lower, Phuket6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Samarkand
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.71UZS 56.5K
$4.53฿152
3.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.70UZS 211.9K
$46.36฿1,558
-61.82%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.45UZS 53.3K
$8.65฿291
-48.55%
Cappuccino
$1.75UZS 21.0K
$3.09฿104
-43.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42UZS 5,036
$0.68฿22.79
-38.24%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25UZS 2,990
$0.37฿12.38
-32.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.24UZS 14.8K
$2.42฿81.2
-48.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93UZS 23.1K
$3.81฿128
-49.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Samarkand
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.01UZS 12.1K
$2.18฿73.2
-53.67%
White Bread(500g)
$0.40UZS 4,847
$1.82฿61.1
-78.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57UZS 18.9K
$2.18฿73.2
-27.98%
Eggs
$1.25UZS 15.0K
$2.24฿75.1
-44.20%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.80UZS 93.4K
$19.93฿670
-60.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.71UZS 44.4K
$3.64฿122
1.92%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.34UZS 99.9K
$13.56฿456
-38.50%
Apples(1kg)
$0.81UZS 9,746
$3.29฿111
-75.38%
Banana(1kg)
$1.74UZS 20.9K
$1.69฿56.6
2.96%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.54UZS 18.5K
$2.33฿78.4
-33.91%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.47UZS 17.5K
$2.03฿68.1
-27.59%
Potato(1kg)
$0.46UZS 5,486
$1.60฿53.8
-71.25%
Onion(1kg)
$0.18UZS 2,108
$1.49฿50.2
-87.92%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.23UZS 2,735
$1.01฿34.02
-77.23%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41UZS 4,897
$0.48฿16.02
-14.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.57UZS 18.8K
$4.45฿150
-64.72%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.36UZS 40.2K
$18.63฿626
-81.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.99UZS 11.8K
$1.79฿60.0
-44.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99UZS 23.9K
$2.80฿94.0
-28.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Samarkand
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.23UZS 2,739
$1.42฿47.69
-83.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$3.13UZS 37.5K
$11.33฿381
-72.37%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.38UZS 4,534
$3.09฿104
-87.70%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.17UZS 2,024
$1.04฿35.03
-83.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.40UZS 28.8K
$13.63฿458
-82.39%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.97UZS 11.7K
$1.31฿44.03
-25.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.1KUZS 241.2M
$27.3K฿916.6K
-26.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9KUZS 297.9M
$33.2K฿1.1M
-25.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Samarkand
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$39.92UZS 478.0K
$123฿4,138
-67.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.50UZS 41.9K
$13.81฿464
-74.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.96UZS 143.2K
$18.52฿622
-35.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Samarkand
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.43UZS 436.2K
$60.4฿2,028
-39.65%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.40UZS 76.6K
$16.80฿564
-61.90%
Cinema Ticket
$2.87UZS 34.4K
$8.89฿299
-67.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Samarkand
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$119UZS 1.4M
$687฿23.1K
-82.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,691UZS 56.2M
$15.6K฿522.5K
-69.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Samarkand
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.78UZS 236.9K
$57.6฿1,936
-65.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.17UZS 469.0K
$34.66฿1,165
13.01%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$70.6UZS 845.9K
$115฿3,861
-38.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$54.5UZS 652.5K
$84.9฿2,853
-35.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Samarkand
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$230UZS 2.8M
$618฿20.7K
-62.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$130UZS 1.6M
$443฿14.9K
-70.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$433UZS 5.2M
$2,047฿68.8K
-78.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$300UZS 3.6M
$1,506฿50.6K
-80.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,231UZS 14.7M
$3,568฿119.9K
-65.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$532UZS 6.4M
$2,511฿84.4K
-78.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Samarkand
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$299UZS 3.6M
$503฿16.9K
-40.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
22.07
5.33
314.07%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Samarkand: July 22, 2026
Last update for Phuket: July 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $230 in Samarkand and $618 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Phuket pays 68% 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: $18.00 in Samarkand vs $46.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $144 vs $292 per month, with Samarkand 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
Samarkand vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Samarkand?
Samarkand is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 128% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Samarkand or Phuket?
On paper, salaries run 68% lower in Phuket. 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 Samarkand and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $230 in Samarkand versus $618 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $119 in Samarkand versus $687 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 Samarkand and in Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 103% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Samarkand or in Phuket?
At $552 in Samarkand versus $1,261 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Samarkand but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Samarkand the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Samarkand or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Samarkand 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, Samarkand or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Samarkand 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 Samarkand gentler on the wallet – expenses run 128% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.