Cost of Living Comparison Between Samsun and PhuketCost of Living Comparison Between Samsun and Phuket
Monthly Cost of Living
πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $991 in Samsun versus $1,265 in Phuket.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,509 in Samsun versus $2,297 in Phuket.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,027 in Samsun versus $3,329 in Phuket.
πLiving in Samsun costs roughly 22% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Samsun26% lower, Phuket6% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Samsun
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.65βΊ351
$4.70ΰΈΏ153
62.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.10βΊ1,153
$45.37ΰΈΏ1,482
-44.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.99βΊ413
$8.43ΰΈΏ275
6.64%
Cappuccino
$2.81βΊ129
$2.93ΰΈΏ95.6
-4.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30βΊ59.9
$0.69ΰΈΏ22.40
88.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24βΊ10.97
$0.37ΰΈΏ11.99
-35.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.84βΊ130
$2.41ΰΈΏ78.6
17.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97βΊ136
$3.72ΰΈΏ122
-20.16%
π Groceries & Markets
Samsun
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05βΊ48.41
$2.23ΰΈΏ72.9
-52.91%
White Bread(500g)
$0.40βΊ18.32
$1.83ΰΈΏ59.8
-78.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.90βΊ179
$2.17ΰΈΏ70.8
79.72%
Eggs
$1.71βΊ78.6
$2.21ΰΈΏ72.3
-22.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.10βΊ418
$19.74ΰΈΏ645
-53.90%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.02βΊ460
$3.63ΰΈΏ119
176.03%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.35βΊ889
$13.53ΰΈΏ442
43.02%
Apples(1kg)
$1.30βΊ59.6
$3.28ΰΈΏ107
-60.37%
Banana(1kg)
$1.12βΊ51.3
$1.61ΰΈΏ52.6
-30.43%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.92βΊ42.10
$2.41ΰΈΏ78.6
-61.83%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.24βΊ57.1
$2.08ΰΈΏ68.1
-40.38%
Potato(1kg)
$0.60βΊ27.70
$1.53ΰΈΏ49.93
-60.78%
Onion(1kg)
$0.60βΊ27.77
$1.48ΰΈΏ48.36
-59.46%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.73βΊ33.76
$0.99ΰΈΏ32.29
-26.26%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68βΊ31.29
$0.51ΰΈΏ16.67
33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.04βΊ93.9
$4.41ΰΈΏ144
-53.74%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.62βΊ442
$19.38ΰΈΏ633
-50.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.01βΊ92.5
$1.78ΰΈΏ58.1
12.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50βΊ115
$2.71ΰΈΏ88.6
-7.75%
π Getting Around
Samsun
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.59βΊ27.00
$1.37ΰΈΏ44.79
-56.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.66βΊ444
$11.39ΰΈΏ372
-15.19%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.26βΊ104
$3.02ΰΈΏ98.6
-25.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.61βΊ27.90
$0.99ΰΈΏ32.48
-38.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.65βΊ214
$14.10ΰΈΏ461
-67.02%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.13βΊ51.8
$1.36ΰΈΏ44.51
-16.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$42.8KβΊ2.0M
$28.2KΰΈΏ921.1K
51.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$49.6KβΊ2.3M
$32.9KΰΈΏ1.1M
50.73%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Samsun
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$49.83βΊ2,290
$122ΰΈΏ3,975
-59.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.99βΊ505
$13.57ΰΈΏ443
-19.01%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.23βΊ516
$18.31ΰΈΏ598
-38.67%
π Sport & Entertainment
Samsun
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$82.3βΊ3,780
$60.2ΰΈΏ1,967
36.63%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.14ΰΈΏ560
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.75βΊ264
$8.69ΰΈΏ284
-33.83%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Samsun
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$500βΊ23.0K
$693ΰΈΏ22.6K
-27.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,735βΊ171.6K
$15.7KΰΈΏ512.3K
-76.19%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Samsun
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.79βΊ1,736
$59.5ΰΈΏ1,944
-36.52%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.67βΊ2,098
$34.77ΰΈΏ1,136
31.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.8βΊ4,033
$115ΰΈΏ3,743
-23.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$45.24βΊ2,079
$83.3ΰΈΏ2,720
-45.68%
π Accommodation & Living
Samsun
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$500βΊ23.0K
$613ΰΈΏ20.0K
-18.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$328βΊ15.1K
$437ΰΈΏ14.3K
-25.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$724βΊ33.3K
$2,094ΰΈΏ68.4K
-65.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$523βΊ24.0K
$1,509ΰΈΏ49.3K
-65.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$795βΊ36.5K
$3,749ΰΈΏ122.5K
-78.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$429βΊ19.7K
$2,616ΰΈΏ85.4K
-83.60%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Samsun
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,006βΊ46.2K
$508ΰΈΏ16.6K
98.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
43.33
5.33
712.95%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Samsun: June 2, 2026
Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $500 in Samsun and $613 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Samsun pays 98% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
πDining out: $25.00 in Samsun vs $45.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $244 vs $293 per month, with Samsun 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
Samsun vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Samsun?
Samsun is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 28% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Samsun or Phuket?
Samsun pays 98% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Samsun and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $500 in Samsun versus $613 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $500 in Samsun versus $693 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 Samsun and Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 20% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Samsun or Phuket?
At $991 in Samsun versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Samsun but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Samsun the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Samsun or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Samsun 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, Samsun or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Samsun 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 Samsun gentler on the wallet β expenses run 28% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.