Cost of Living Comparison Between Sumy and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Sumy and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $703 in Sumy versus $1,261 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,069 in Sumy versus $2,286 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,435 in Sumy versus $3,310 in Phuket.

Living in Sumy costs roughly 44% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sumy 48% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sumy
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.32 ₴329
$4.56 ฿149
60.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.77 ₴664
$46.63 ฿1,519
-68.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.00 ₴269
$8.47 ฿276
-29.16%
Cappuccino
$1.03 ₴46.47
$3.03 ฿98.6
-66.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 ₴29.87
$0.69 ฿22.45
-4.35%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45 ₴20.30
$0.37 ฿11.92
21.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.82 ₴36.87
$2.49 ฿81.0
-67.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12 ₴50.3
$3.66 ฿119
-69.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sumy
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.10 ₴49.51
$2.18 ฿71.0
-49.54%
White Bread (500g)
$0.77 ₴34.52
$1.90 ฿62.0
-59.47%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.85 ₴83.2
$2.20 ฿71.6
-15.91%
Eggs
$2.02 ₴90.9
$2.22 ฿72.4
-9.01%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.90 ₴445
$19.99 ฿651
-50.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.49 ₴202
$3.66 ฿119
22.68%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.63 ₴343
$13.25 ฿432
-42.42%
Apples (1kg)
$0.97 ₴43.71
$3.23 ฿105
-69.97%
Banana (1kg)
$1.48 ₴66.7
$1.70 ฿55.3
-12.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.78 ₴79.9
$2.39 ฿78.0
-25.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.23 ₴100
$2.08 ฿67.7
7.21%
Potato (1kg)
$0.50 ₴22.60
$1.59 ฿51.8
-68.55%
Onion (1kg)
$0.59 ₴26.40
$1.48 ฿48.31
-60.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.35 ₴60.5
$1.03 ฿33.54
31.07%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ₴24.68
$0.52 ฿16.83
5.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.84 ₴127
$4.25 ฿138
-33.18%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.71 ₴257
$18.79 ฿612
-69.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.89 ₴40.03
$1.76 ฿57.2
-49.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54 ₴69.2
$2.76 ฿89.8
-44.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Sumy
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.37 ₴16.80
$1.36 ฿44.32
-72.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$11.36 ฿370
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.04 ₴91.6
$3.14 ฿102
-35.03%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 ₴15.70
$1.04 ฿33.74
-66.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.32 ₴194
$13.77 ฿448
-68.63%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 ₴59.6
$1.34 ฿43.79
-0.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.3K ₴1.4M
$27.7K ฿901.4K
13.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.6K ₴1.1M
$33.9K ฿1.1M
-27.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sumy
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$111 ₴4,975
$124 ฿4,025
-10.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.81 ₴261
$13.52 ฿440
-57.03%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$6.84 ₴307
$18.69 ฿609
-63.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sumy
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.40 ₴1,321
$61.8 ฿2,013
-52.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.06 ₴272
$17.25 ฿562
-64.87%
Cinema Ticket
$2.83 ₴127
$9.14 ฿298
-69.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sumy
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$375 ₴16.8K
$703 ฿22.9K
-46.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,722 ₴346.9K
$15.9K ฿517.0K
-51.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sumy
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.03 ₴2,158
$59.5 ฿1,937
-19.22%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.29 ₴1,585
$35.07 ฿1,142
0.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 ₴4,564
$115 ฿3,754
-11.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 ₴5,064
$84.1 ฿2,737
34.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sumy
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$228 ₴10.2K
$619 ฿20.1K
-63.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$143 ₴6,430
$433 ฿14.1K
-66.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$349 ₴15.7K
$2,062 ฿67.2K
-83.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$219 ₴9,825
$1,511 ฿49.2K
-85.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$914 ₴41.1K
$3,646 ฿118.7K
-74.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$528 ₴23.7K
$2,626 ฿85.5K
-79.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sumy
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$407 ₴18.3K
$507 ฿16.5K
-19.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12
5.33
125.14%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Sumy: June 7, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $228 in Sumy and $619 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Phuket pays 25% 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: $15.00 in Sumy vs $47.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $175 vs $293 per month, with Sumy 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
Sumy vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Sumy?
Sumy is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 79% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Sumy or Phuket?
On paper, Phuket earns 25% 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 Sumy and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $228 in Sumy 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 $375 in Sumy versus $703 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Sumy or Phuket?
Dining out is cheaper in Sumy – a meal for two runs $15.00 versus $47.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Sumy or Phuket?
At $703 in Sumy versus $1,261 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Sumy but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Sumy the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Sumy or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Sumy 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, Sumy or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Sumy 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 Sumy gentler on the wallet – expenses run 79% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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