😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,560 in Szczecinek versus $1,232 in Phuket.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,253 in Szczecinek versus $2,054 in Phuket.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,945 in Szczecinek versus $2,876 in Phuket.
🌍Living in Szczecinek is roughly 27% more expensive than in Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Szczecinek is 14% above, Phuket is 10% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Szczecinek
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.89zł 45.23
$4.41฿147
169.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.68zł 174
$32.26฿1,077
41.60%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.30zł 35.35
$8.93฿298
4.14%
Cappuccino
$3.63zł 13.80
$2.90฿96.6
25.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.19zł 4.53
$0.88฿29.38
35.23%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93zł 3.53
$0.48฿16.06
93.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21zł 12.20
$2.35฿78.5
36.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48zł 5.62
$3.72฿124
-60.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Szczecinek
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.93zł 3.53
$1.87฿62.3
-50.27%
White Bread(500g)
$1.25zł 4.77
$1.47฿48.94
-14.97%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.42zł 5.39
$1.55฿51.8
-8.39%
Eggs
$3.77zł 14.35
$2.10฿70.1
79.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.78zł 29.60
$19.59฿654
-60.29%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.18zł 23.52
$3.42฿114
80.70%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.64zł 51.9
$11.38฿380
19.86%
Apples(1kg)
$1.23zł 4.66
$2.98฿99.6
-58.72%
Banana(1kg)
$1.18zł 4.49
$1.68฿56.2
-29.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.74zł 6.61
$2.21฿73.7
-21.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.58zł 9.80
$2.16฿72.1
19.44%
Potato(1kg)
$0.75zł 2.87
$1.52฿50.9
-50.66%
Onion(1kg)
$0.84zł 3.20
$1.34฿44.67
-37.31%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.34zł 5.10
$1.13฿37.67
18.58%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73zł 2.78
$0.55฿18.24
32.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.00zł 22.82
$4.26฿142
40.85%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.94zł 30.20
$19.09฿637
-58.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.22zł 4.65
$1.78฿59.4
-31.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48zł 5.63
$2.78฿92.9
-46.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Szczecinek
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.27zł 4.84
$2.23฿74.4
-43.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$33.80zł 129
$22.74฿759
48.64%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.44zł 9.26
$3.03฿101
-19.47%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.05zł 3.97
$1.02฿34.15
2.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$12.06zł 45.87
$3.89฿130
210.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.51zł 5.75
$1.49฿49.77
1.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.6Kzł 120.2K
$26.6K฿887.3K
18.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.1Kzł 107.0K
$27.0K฿902.2K
4.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Szczecinek
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$300zł 1,142
$102฿3,420
193.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.30zł 31.58
$11.33฿378
-26.74%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.19zł 73.0
$17.40฿581
10.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Szczecinek
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.95zł 148
$52.1฿1,738
-25.21%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.34zł 92.6
$11.07฿370
119.87%
Cinema Ticket
$7.89zł 29.99
$7.69฿257
2.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Szczecinek
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$213zł 810
$561฿18.7K
-61.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,927zł 30.1K
$11.5K฿384.1K
-31.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Szczecinek
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.1zł 323
$63.0฿2,104
34.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.58zł 147
$29.52฿986
30.69%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.8zł 338
$98.0฿3,272
-9.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115zł 435
$88.5฿2,954
29.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Szczecinek
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$587zł 2,231
$738฿24.6K
-20.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$549zł 2,089
$482฿16.1K
13.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,058zł 4,022
$2,107฿70.3K
-49.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$911zł 3,464
$1,226฿40.9K
-25.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,648zł 10.1K
$3,617฿120.7K
-26.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,352zł 8,945
$2,603฿86.9K
-9.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Szczecinek
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,331zł 5,063
$494฿16.5K
169.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.2
5.57
-24.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Szczecinek: September 13, 2026
Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $587 in Szczecinek and $738 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Szczecinek pays 170% 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: $46.00 in Szczecinek vs $32.00 in Phuket. Groceries flip the comparison at $214 vs $274, with Szczecinek 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
Szczecinek vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Szczecinek?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 27% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Szczecinek or Phuket?
Average pay runs 170% higher in Szczecinek, 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 Szczecinek and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $587 in Szczecinek versus $738 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $213 in Szczecinek versus $561 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 Szczecinek and in Phuket?
Shoppers in Szczecinek pay roughly 28% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Szczecinek or in Phuket?
At $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,560 in Szczecinek, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Szczecinek. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Szczecinek or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Szczecinek, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Szczecinek or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Szczecinek 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 27% less than in Szczecinek. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Szczecinek vs other spots: cost of living compared