🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $632 in Samarkand versus $1,265 in Phuket.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,023 in Samarkand versus $2,089 in Phuket.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,413 in Samarkand versus $2,913 in Phuket.
🌍Living in Samarkand costs roughly 50% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Samarkand54% lower, Phuket8% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Samarkand
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.91UZS 81.2K
$4.66฿154
48.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.86UZS 233.6K
$32.22฿1,065
-38.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.78UZS 56.2K
$8.68฿287
-44.93%
Cappuccino
$2.47UZS 29.1K
$2.90฿95.8
-14.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69UZS 8,116
$0.84฿27.89
-17.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.19UZS 2,217
$0.49฿16.16
-61.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.50UZS 17.6K
$2.48฿82.0
-39.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23UZS 26.2K
$3.73฿123
-40.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Samarkand
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08UZS 12.8K
$1.89฿62.3
-42.86%
White Bread(500g)
$0.33UZS 3,834
$1.41฿46.54
-76.60%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63UZS 19.2K
$1.62฿53.6
0.62%
Eggs
$1.39UZS 16.3K
$2.24฿74.1
-37.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.28UZS 97.4K
$19.84฿656
-58.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.38UZS 51.5K
$3.48฿115
25.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.63UZS 125.0K
$11.37฿376
-6.51%
Apples(1kg)
$0.81UZS 9,513
$2.90฿95.8
-72.07%
Banana(1kg)
$1.83UZS 21.5K
$1.72฿57.0
6.40%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.75UZS 20.6K
$2.27฿75.1
-22.91%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.73UZS 20.3K
$2.13฿70.4
-18.78%
Potato(1kg)
$0.49UZS 5,748
$1.47฿48.72
-66.67%
Onion(1kg)
$0.17UZS 2,013
$1.42฿46.92
-88.03%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.24UZS 2,814
$1.10฿36.25
-78.18%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.40UZS 4,720
$0.60฿19.76
-33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.67UZS 19.7K
$4.31฿142
-61.25%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.32UZS 39.0K
$18.60฿615
-82.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.99UZS 11.7K
$1.80฿59.5
-45.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14UZS 25.1K
$2.97฿98.0
-27.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Samarkand
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.26UZS 3,066
$2.25฿74.2
-88.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$3.32UZS 39.1K
$23.49฿776
-85.87%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.37UZS 4,311
$3.10฿102
-88.06%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.32UZS 3,804
$1.08฿35.56
-70.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.40UZS 39.9K
$3.87฿128
-12.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.10UZS 12.9K
$1.43฿47.16
-23.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.9KUZS 198.4M
$27.8K฿918.0K
-39.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.2KUZS 284.8M
$27.0K฿891.5K
-10.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Samarkand
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$43.06UZS 506.4K
$105฿3,462
-58.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.86UZS 45.4K
$11.39฿376
-66.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.68UZS 160.9K
$17.54฿580
-22.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Samarkand
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.94UZS 469.7K
$54.3฿1,795
-26.50%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.94UZS 81.6K
$11.44฿378
-39.34%
Cinema Ticket
$3.22UZS 37.8K
$7.78฿257
-58.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Samarkand
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$331UZS 3.9M
$576฿19.0K
-42.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,569UZS 89.0M
$11.6K฿382.7K
-34.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Samarkand
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.85UZS 245.2K
$63.6฿2,103
-67.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.23UZS 508.4K
$29.10฿961
48.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.5UZS 899.8K
$96.2฿3,179
-20.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$59.5UZS 699.3K
$90.0฿2,974
-33.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Samarkand
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$250UZS 2.9M
$733฿24.2K
-65.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$166UZS 2.0M
$501฿16.5K
-66.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$469UZS 5.5M
$2,126฿70.2K
-77.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$319UZS 3.8M
$1,252฿41.4K
-74.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,263UZS 14.9M
$3,534฿116.8K
-64.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$558UZS 6.6M
$2,622฿86.6K
-78.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Samarkand
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$311UZS 3.7M
$508฿16.8K
-38.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
23.31
5.57
318.49%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Samarkand: September 7, 2026
Last update for Phuket: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $250 in Samarkand and $733 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Phuket pays 63% 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: $20.00 in Samarkand vs $32.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $159 vs $275 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 100% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Samarkand or Phuket?
On paper, salaries run 63% 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: $250 in Samarkand versus $733 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $331 in Samarkand versus $576 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 73% 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 $632 in Samarkand versus $1,265 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 100% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.