🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $540 in Samarkand versus $1,261 in Phuket.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $884 in Samarkand versus $2,286 in Phuket.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,228 in Samarkand versus $3,310 in Phuket.
🙂Living in Samarkand costs roughly 57% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Samarkand60% lower, Phuket6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Samarkand
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.52UZS 54.5K
$4.56฿150
-0.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.65UZS 212.6K
$46.63฿1,536
-62.15%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.30UZS 51.8K
$8.47฿279
-49.23%
Cappuccino
$1.75UZS 21.1K
$3.03฿99.7
-42.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42UZS 5,078
$0.69฿22.71
-39.13%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25UZS 3,001
$0.37฿12.05
-32.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.30UZS 15.6K
$2.49฿82.0
-47.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01UZS 24.2K
$3.66฿121
-45.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Samarkand
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.01UZS 12.1K
$2.18฿71.9
-53.67%
White Bread(500g)
$0.41UZS 4,926
$1.90฿62.7
-78.42%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.58UZS 19.0K
$2.20฿72.4
-28.18%
Eggs
$1.32UZS 15.9K
$2.22฿73.2
-40.54%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.65UZS 92.2K
$19.99฿659
-61.73%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.71UZS 44.7K
$3.66฿121
1.37%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.75UZS 105.4K
$13.25฿437
-33.96%
Apples(1kg)
$0.76UZS 9,206
$3.23฿107
-76.47%
Banana(1kg)
$1.69UZS 20.4K
$1.70฿55.9
-0.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.62UZS 19.5K
$2.39฿78.9
-32.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.52UZS 18.4K
$2.08฿68.5
-26.92%
Potato(1kg)
$0.48UZS 5,794
$1.59฿52.5
-69.81%
Onion(1kg)
$0.16UZS 1,932
$1.48฿48.87
-89.19%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.25UZS 3,029
$1.03฿33.93
-75.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.40UZS 4,837
$0.52฿17.03
-23.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.59UZS 19.2K
$4.25฿140
-62.59%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.37UZS 40.6K
$18.79฿619
-82.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.97UZS 11.7K
$1.76฿57.9
-44.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99UZS 24.0K
$2.76฿90.8
-27.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Samarkand
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.25UZS 3,016
$1.36฿44.83
-81.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$3.18UZS 38.3K
$11.36฿374
-72.01%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.38UZS 4,539
$3.14฿104
-87.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.19UZS 2,317
$1.04฿34.13
-81.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.34UZS 28.1K
$13.77฿454
-83.01%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.95UZS 11.5K
$1.34฿44.30
-29.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.1KUZS 241.9M
$27.7K฿912.0K
-27.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.2KUZS 304.1M
$33.9K฿1.1M
-25.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Samarkand
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$38.86UZS 468.2K
$124฿4,072
-68.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.67UZS 44.3K
$13.52฿446
-72.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.65UZS 140.4K
$18.69฿616
-37.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Samarkand
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.09UZS 434.9K
$61.8฿2,037
-41.62%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.13UZS 73.9K
$17.25฿568
-64.46%
Cinema Ticket
$2.88UZS 34.7K
$9.14฿301
-68.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Samarkand
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$117UZS 1.4M
$703฿23.2K
-83.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,734UZS 57.0M
$15.9K฿523.0K
-70.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Samarkand
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.72UZS 237.6K
$59.5฿1,959
-66.83%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.41UZS 474.8K
$35.07฿1,156
12.38%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$71.3UZS 858.7K
$115฿3,798
-38.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$54.6UZS 658.2K
$84.1฿2,769
-35.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Samarkand
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$230UZS 2.8M
$619฿20.4K
-62.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$129UZS 1.6M
$433฿14.3K
-70.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$440UZS 5.3M
$2,062฿67.9K
-78.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$296UZS 3.6M
$1,511฿49.8K
-80.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,229UZS 14.8M
$3,646฿120.1K
-66.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$533UZS 6.4M
$2,626฿86.5K
-79.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Samarkand
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$306UZS 3.7M
$507฿16.7K
-39.59%
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: June 8, 2026
Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $230 in Samarkand and $619 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Phuket pays 66% 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 $47.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $145 vs $293 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 134% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Samarkand or Phuket?
On paper, Phuket earns 66% 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 Samarkand and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $230 in Samarkand versus $619 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $117 in Samarkand versus $703 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 Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 102% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Samarkand or Phuket?
At $540 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 134% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.