🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $14.22 in Turkmenbasi versus $1,232 in Phuket.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $19.00 in Turkmenbasi versus $2,255 in Phuket.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $23.00 in Turkmenbasi versus $3,279 in Phuket.
🙂Living in Turkmenbasi costs roughly 99% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Turkmenbasi99% lower, Phuket8% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Turkmenbasi
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$4.63฿151
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$46.84฿1,523
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$8.84฿287
-
Cappuccino
-
$3.00฿97.4
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.74฿24.11
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.37฿11.88
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.90TMT 10.15
$2.44฿79.3
18.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.61฿117
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Turkmenbasi
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
-
$2.26฿73.5
-
White Bread(500g)
-
$1.84฿59.8
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
-
$2.24฿73.0
-
Eggs
-
$2.32฿75.3
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$19.67฿639
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
-
$3.65฿119
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$13.10฿426
-
Apples(1kg)
-
$3.39฿110
-
Banana(1kg)
-
$1.64฿53.4
-
Oranges(1kg)
-
$2.41฿78.5
-
Tomato(1kg)
-
$2.03฿66.0
-
Potato(1kg)
-
$1.56฿50.6
-
Onion(1kg)
-
$1.50฿48.66
-
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$1.02฿33.30
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.49฿15.91
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.45฿145
-
Wine(Bottle)
-
$18.88฿614
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.78฿57.7
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.75฿89.5
-
🚌 Getting Around
Turkmenbasi
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$1.40฿45.54
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$11.48฿373
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$3.12฿101
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.00฿32.48
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$14.09฿458
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
-
$1.35฿43.93
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$27.2K฿883.7K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$32.9K฿1.1M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Turkmenbasi
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$125฿4,063
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$13.57฿441
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$18.52฿602
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Turkmenbasi
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$61.5฿1,999
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.84฿547
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$9.19฿299
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Turkmenbasi
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$698฿22.7K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$15.6K฿506.9K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Turkmenbasi
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$57.8฿1,878
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$35.24฿1,146
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$113฿3,677
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$86.4฿2,808
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Turkmenbasi
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$616฿20.0K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$446฿14.5K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,048฿66.6K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,492฿48.5K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,779฿122.8K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,649฿86.1K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Turkmenbasi
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$524฿17.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
5.33
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Turkmenbasi: April 26, 2026
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
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
Turkmenbasi vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Turkmenbasi?
Turkmenbasi is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Groceries & Markets, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear. The 8561% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $21.33 in Turkmenbasi and $1,847 in Phuket to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Turkmenbasi or Phuket?
At $14.22 in Turkmenbasi versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Turkmenbasi but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Turkmenbasi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Turkmenbasi or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Turkmenbasi 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, Turkmenbasi or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Turkmenbasi 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 Turkmenbasi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8561% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Turkmenbasi vs other spots: cost of living compared