🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $839 in Sfantu Gheorghe versus $1,265 in Phuket.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,355 in Sfantu Gheorghe versus $2,089 in Phuket.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,870 in Sfantu Gheorghe versus $2,913 in Phuket.
🌍Living in Sfantu Gheorghe costs roughly 34% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Sfantu Gheorghe39% lower, Phuket8% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sfantu Gheorghe
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.60RON 38.81
$4.66฿153
84.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.65RON 202
$32.22฿1,057
38.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.70RON 34.76
$8.68฿285
-11.29%
Cappuccino
$2.61RON 11.78
$2.90฿95.1
-10.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34RON 6.05
$0.84฿27.69
59.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08RON 4.88
$0.49฿16.05
120.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.59RON 11.71
$2.48฿81.5
4.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25RON 10.14
$3.73฿122
-39.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sfantu Gheorghe
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.46RON 6.58
$1.89฿61.9
-22.75%
White Bread(500g)
$1.17RON 5.27
$1.41฿46.21
-17.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.47RON 6.64
$1.62฿53.2
-9.26%
Eggs
$3.53RON 15.93
$2.24฿73.5
57.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.10RON 36.59
$19.84฿651
-59.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.80RON 21.69
$3.48฿114
37.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.36RON 37.76
$11.37฿373
-26.47%
Apples(1kg)
$1.14RON 5.14
$2.90฿95.1
-60.69%
Banana(1kg)
$1.63RON 7.37
$1.72฿56.6
-5.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.27RON 5.71
$2.27฿74.6
-44.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.69RON 12.13
$2.13฿70.0
26.29%
Potato(1kg)
$0.70RON 3.15
$1.47฿48.38
-52.38%
Onion(1kg)
$0.63RON 2.86
$1.42฿46.59
-55.63%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08RON 4.86
$1.10฿36.00
-1.82%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84RON 3.79
$0.60฿19.62
40.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.14RON 23.21
$4.31฿141
19.26%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.67RON 34.63
$18.60฿610
-58.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.97RON 4.40
$1.80฿59.1
-46.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10RON 4.95
$2.97฿97.3
-62.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Sfantu Gheorghe
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.90RON 4.07
$2.25฿73.7
-60.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.69RON 75.4
$23.49฿771
-28.95%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.02RON 4.61
$3.10฿102
-67.10%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.92RON 4.17
$1.08฿35.31
-14.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.62RON 38.92
$3.87฿127
122.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.63RON 7.35
$1.43฿46.83
13.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.1KRON 136.0K
$27.8K฿911.7K
8.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KRON 117.7K
$27.0K฿885.3K
-3.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sfantu Gheorghe
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$121RON 545
$105฿3,438
15.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.53RON 43.03
$11.39฿374
-16.33%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.11RON 59.2
$17.54฿576
-25.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sfantu Gheorghe
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.20RON 191
$54.3฿1,783
-22.34%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.66RON 97.8
$11.44฿375
89.34%
Cinema Ticket
$3.25RON 14.68
$7.78฿255
-58.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sfantu Gheorghe
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$462RON 2,085
$576฿18.9K
-19.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,059RON 31.9K
$11.6K฿380.0K
-39.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sfantu Gheorghe
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.74RON 125
$63.6฿2,088
-56.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$14.43RON 65.1
$29.10฿955
-50.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$41.29RON 186
$96.2฿3,157
-57.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$66.4RON 300
$90.0฿2,953
-26.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sfantu Gheorghe
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$304RON 1,372
$733฿24.1K
-58.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$224RON 1,011
$501฿16.4K
-55.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$549RON 2,477
$2,126฿69.7K
-74.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$408RON 1,844
$1,252฿41.1K
-67.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,934RON 8,730
$3,534฿115.9K
-45.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,396RON 6,302
$2,622฿86.0K
-46.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sfantu Gheorghe
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$710RON 3,206
$508฿16.7K
39.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.75
5.57
21.18%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sfantu Gheorghe: September 5, 2026
Last update for Phuket: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $304 in Sfantu Gheorghe and $733 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Sfantu Gheorghe pays 40% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $45.00 in Sfantu Gheorghe vs $32.00 in Phuket. Groceries flip the comparison at $194 vs $275, with Sfantu Gheorghe cheaper for home cooking.
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
Sfantu Gheorghe vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Sfantu Gheorghe?
Sfantu Gheorghe is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 51% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Sfantu Gheorghe or Phuket?
Average pay runs 40% higher in Sfantu Gheorghe, 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 Sfantu Gheorghe and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $304 in Sfantu Gheorghe 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 $462 in Sfantu Gheorghe 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 Sfantu Gheorghe and in Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 42% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Sfantu Gheorghe or in Phuket?
At $839 in Sfantu Gheorghe versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Sfantu Gheorghe but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Sfantu Gheorghe the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Sfantu Gheorghe or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Sfantu Gheorghe 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, Sfantu Gheorghe or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Sfantu Gheorghe 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 Sfantu Gheorghe gentler on the wallet – expenses run 51% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Sfantu Gheorghe vs other spots: cost of living compared