😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,402 in Szczecin versus $1,253 in Phuket.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,108 in Szczecin versus $2,043 in Phuket.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,814 in Szczecin versus $2,833 in Phuket.
🌍Living in Szczecin is roughly 12% more expensive than in Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Szczecin is 2% above, Phuket is 9% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Szczecin
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.64zł 36.05
$4.56฿152
111.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.86zł 183
$32.62฿1,086
49.79%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.89zł 33.24
$8.90฿296
-0.11%
Cappuccino
$3.13zł 11.70
$2.80฿93.4
11.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95zł 7.30
$0.88฿29.31
121.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47zł 5.51
$0.49฿16.29
200.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.20zł 11.96
$2.39฿79.5
33.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26zł 12.20
$3.71฿124
-12.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Szczecin
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.92zł 3.44
$1.79฿59.5
-48.60%
White Bread(500g)
$1.37zł 5.13
$1.44฿48.00
-4.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.12zł 4.20
$1.58฿52.8
-29.11%
Eggs
$3.38zł 12.65
$2.13฿70.8
58.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.72zł 36.33
$19.92฿663
-51.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.81zł 25.46
$3.43฿114
98.54%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.56zł 50.7
$11.33฿377
19.68%
Apples(1kg)
$0.94zł 3.52
$2.95฿98.2
-68.14%
Banana(1kg)
$1.78zł 6.65
$1.72฿57.3
3.49%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.62zł 6.05
$2.32฿77.4
-30.17%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.44zł 9.11
$2.08฿69.3
17.31%
Potato(1kg)
$0.90zł 3.37
$1.47฿48.96
-38.78%
Onion(1kg)
$1.09zł 4.08
$1.36฿45.22
-19.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.20zł 4.49
$1.10฿36.59
9.09%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63zł 2.35
$0.57฿19.13
10.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.52zł 20.65
$4.27฿142
29.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.70zł 25.04
$18.42฿613
-63.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.12zł 4.18
$1.87฿62.3
-40.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53zł 5.70
$2.92฿97.3
-47.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Szczecin
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.83zł 3.11
$2.22฿73.9
-62.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.37zł 98.6
$22.90฿762
15.15%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.04zł 7.62
$3.03฿101
-32.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.96zł 3.59
$1.07฿35.77
-10.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.34zł 49.88
$3.93฿131
239.44%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.57zł 5.89
$1.49฿49.68
5.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.7Kzł 122.3K
$27.1K฿903.4K
20.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.1Kzł 112.7K
$27.5K฿914.1K
9.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Szczecin
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$255zł 952
$103฿3,423
147.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.85zł 48.04
$10.99฿366
16.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.61zł 73.3
$17.51฿583
11.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Szczecin
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.14zł 120
$53.5฿1,783
-39.96%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$51.7zł 193
$11.20฿373
361.70%
Cinema Ticket
$6.63zł 24.78
$7.48฿249
-11.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Szczecin
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$353zł 1,321
$557฿18.5K
-36.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,189zł 30.6K
$11.9K฿394.7K
-30.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Szczecin
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.6zł 268
$64.1฿2,134
11.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.64zł 137
$29.07฿968
26.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.8zł 309
$96.0฿3,195
-13.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.2zł 363
$90.3฿3,008
7.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Szczecin
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$637zł 2,382
$730฿24.3K
-12.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$521zł 1,946
$500฿16.6K
4.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,226zł 4,581
$2,090฿69.6K
-41.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$854zł 3,194
$1,209฿40.3K
-29.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,401zł 12.7K
$3,596฿119.7K
-5.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,504zł 9,360
$2,512฿83.7K
-0.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Szczecin
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,659zł 6,202
$503฿16.8K
229.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.82
5.57
22.44%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Szczecin: September 1, 2026
Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $637 in Szczecin and $730 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Szczecin pays 230% 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 $33.00 in Phuket. Groceries flip the comparison at $218 vs $273, 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, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. 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 230% 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: $637 in Szczecin versus $730 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $353 in Szczecin versus $557 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 25% 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 $1,253 in Phuket versus $1,402 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.