🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $907 in Sfantu Gheorghe versus $1,270 in Phuket.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,386 in Sfantu Gheorghe versus $2,304 in Phuket.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,866 in Sfantu Gheorghe versus $3,339 in Phuket.
🙂Living in Sfantu Gheorghe costs roughly 29% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Sfantu Gheorghe32% lower, Phuket5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sfantu Gheorghe
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.62RON 37.39
$4.66฿150
84.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.74RON 177
$46.44฿1,496
-12.27%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.80RON 38.21
$8.68฿280
1.38%
Cappuccino
$2.03RON 8.81
$2.95฿95.0
-31.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27RON 5.53
$0.70฿22.52
81.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16RON 5.03
$0.39฿12.70
197.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.15RON 9.35
$2.53฿81.6
-15.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81RON 12.22
$3.78฿122
-25.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sfantu Gheorghe
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62RON 7.04
$2.22฿71.5
-27.03%
White Bread(500g)
$1.16RON 5.03
$1.80฿57.8
-35.56%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.40RON 6.06
$2.19฿70.4
-36.07%
Eggs
$2.95RON 12.79
$2.31฿74.5
27.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.75RON 37.98
$19.34฿623
-54.76%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.20RON 18.23
$3.77฿121
11.41%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.41RON 53.9
$13.22฿426
-6.13%
Apples(1kg)
$0.98RON 4.26
$3.33฿107
-70.57%
Banana(1kg)
$1.37RON 5.93
$1.65฿53.1
-16.97%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.24RON 5.37
$2.29฿73.7
-45.85%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.92RON 8.33
$1.99฿64.1
-3.52%
Potato(1kg)
$0.72RON 3.13
$1.53฿49.24
-52.94%
Onion(1kg)
$0.91RON 3.96
$1.51฿48.77
-39.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.78RON 3.40
$1.03฿33.12
-24.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68RON 2.95
$0.51฿16.57
33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.59RON 24.26
$4.41฿142
26.76%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.92RON 34.37
$19.41฿625
-59.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.05RON 4.55
$1.80฿58.0
-41.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18RON 5.12
$2.68฿86.4
-55.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Sfantu Gheorghe
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.67RON 2.89
$1.43฿46.11
-53.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.90RON 86.4
$11.70฿377
70.09%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.90RON 3.91
$3.04฿97.9
-70.39%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.74RON 3.22
$1.04฿33.37
-28.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.39RON 32.09
$13.68฿441
-45.98%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.61RON 6.99
$1.30฿41.85
23.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.5KRON 123.6K
$27.9K฿898.9K
2.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.0KRON 121.4K
$33.0K฿1.1M
-15.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sfantu Gheorghe
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169RON 735
$123฿3,962
37.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.86RON 38.46
$13.82฿445
-35.89%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.08RON 43.74
$18.86฿608
-46.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sfantu Gheorghe
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.75RON 177
$61.2฿1,970
-33.36%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.83RON 81.7
$16.81฿541
12.02%
Cinema Ticket
$3.38RON 14.67
$8.87฿286
-61.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sfantu Gheorghe
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$427RON 1,855
$696฿22.4K
-38.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,995RON 30.4K
$16.1K฿517.4K
-56.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sfantu Gheorghe
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$34.39RON 149
$59.3฿1,910
-41.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.14RON 78.7
$34.85฿1,123
-47.95%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$28.09RON 122
$113฿3,646
-75.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.0RON 304
$85.1฿2,740
-17.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sfantu Gheorghe
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$315RON 1,368
$615฿19.8K
-48.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$228RON 990
$448฿14.4K
-49.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$572RON 2,483
$2,085฿67.2K
-72.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$439RON 1,906
$1,496฿48.2K
-70.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,830RON 7,942
$3,734฿120.3K
-51.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,373RON 5,960
$2,662฿85.8K
-48.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sfantu Gheorghe
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$759RON 3,296
$534฿17.2K
42.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.75
5.33
26.64%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sfantu Gheorghe: April 21, 2026
Last update for Phuket: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $315 in Sfantu Gheorghe and $615 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Sfantu Gheorghe pays 42% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $41 in Sfantu Gheorghe vs $46 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $196 vs $291 per month, with Sfantu Gheorghe 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
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, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 40% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Sfantu Gheorghe or Phuket?
Sfantu Gheorghe pays 42% 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 Sfantu Gheorghe and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $315 in Sfantu Gheorghe versus $615 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $427 in Sfantu Gheorghe versus $696 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 Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 49% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Sfantu Gheorghe or Phuket?
At $907 in Sfantu Gheorghe versus $1,270 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 40% 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