😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,405 in Szczecin versus $1,250 in Phuket.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,031 in Szczecin versus $2,284 in Phuket.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,657 in Szczecin versus $3,317 in Phuket.
🌍Living in Szczecin is roughly 12% more expensive than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Szczecin is 5% above, Phuket is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Szczecin
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.39zł 35.60
$4.55฿153
106.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.78zł 185
$46.18฿1,550
5.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.52zł 32.29
$8.84฿297
-3.62%
Cappuccino
$3.35zł 12.69
$3.06฿103
9.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85zł 7.00
$0.73฿24.36
153.42%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42zł 5.37
$0.40฿13.37
255.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.29zł 12.46
$2.43฿81.6
35.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.19zł 12.09
$3.78฿127
-15.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Szczecin
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.96zł 3.65
$2.26฿75.8
-57.52%
White Bread(500g)
$1.33zł 5.04
$1.81฿60.8
-26.52%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.99zł 3.77
$2.25฿75.7
-56.00%
Eggs
$3.28zł 12.44
$2.25฿75.4
45.78%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.42zł 35.69
$19.51฿655
-51.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.36zł 24.10
$3.65฿122
74.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.98zł 49.18
$13.05฿438
-0.54%
Apples(1kg)
$0.89zł 3.38
$3.23฿109
-72.45%
Banana(1kg)
$1.79zł 6.77
$1.62฿54.3
10.49%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.39zł 5.26
$2.38฿80.0
-41.60%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.15zł 8.15
$2.03฿68.0
5.91%
Potato(1kg)
$0.89zł 3.39
$1.53฿51.5
-41.83%
Onion(1kg)
$1.08zł 4.08
$1.50฿50.4
-28.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02zł 3.87
$0.98฿32.85
4.08%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56zł 2.14
$0.52฿17.36
7.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.40zł 20.45
$4.44฿149
21.62%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.41zł 24.30
$18.32฿615
-65.01%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.09zł 4.13
$1.86฿62.6
-41.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44zł 5.46
$2.68฿90.0
-46.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Szczecin
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79zł 3.01
$1.41฿47.37
-43.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$27.49zł 104
$11.70฿393
134.96%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.15zł 8.13
$3.11฿104
-30.87%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.01zł 3.83
$1.04฿35.00
-2.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.67zł 51.8
$14.11฿474
-3.12%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.75zł 6.63
$1.31฿44.02
33.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.4Kzł 126.7K
$27.8K฿933.8K
20.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.8Kzł 116.9K
$33.2K฿1.1M
-7.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Szczecin
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$257zł 974
$122฿4,110
109.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.70zł 40.56
$13.59฿456
-21.27%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.65zł 66.9
$18.70฿628
-5.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Szczecin
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$30.13zł 114
$60.5฿2,031
-50.19%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.53zł 62.7
$16.98฿570
-2.65%
Cinema Ticket
$6.85zł 25.95
$9.07฿305
-24.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Szczecin
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$376zł 1,424
$706฿23.7K
-46.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,122zł 30.8K
$15.8K฿530.5K
-48.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Szczecin
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.9zł 216
$58.6฿1,965
-2.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.91zł 117
$35.36฿1,187
-12.58%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.2zł 281
$115฿3,876
-35.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.2zł 319
$83.7฿2,811
0.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Szczecin
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$658zł 2,495
$626฿21.0K
5.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$527zł 1,999
$445฿14.9K
18.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$981zł 3,718
$2,040฿68.5K
-51.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$817zł 3,097
$1,492฿50.1K
-45.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,435zł 13.0K
$3,483฿116.9K
-1.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,448zł 9,280
$2,577฿86.5K
-4.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Szczecin
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,622zł 6,150
$500฿16.8K
224.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.36
5.33
19.32%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Szczecin: July 14, 2026
Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $658 in Szczecin and $626 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Szczecin pays 225% 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: $49.00 in Szczecin vs $46.00 in Phuket. Groceries flip the comparison at $207 vs $289, with Szczecin 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
Szczecin vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Szczecin?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Getting Around. The 12% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Szczecin or Phuket?
Average pay runs 225% higher in Szczecin, 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 Szczecin and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $658 in Szczecin versus $626 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $376 in Szczecin versus $706 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 Szczecin and in Phuket?
Shoppers in Szczecin pay roughly 39% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Szczecin or in Phuket?
At $1,250 in Phuket versus $1,405 in Szczecin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Szczecin. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Szczecin or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Szczecin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Szczecin or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Szczecin 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 Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Szczecin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.