πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,079 in Veliky Novgorod versus $1,265 in Phuket.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,649 in Veliky Novgorod versus $2,297 in Phuket.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,219 in Veliky Novgorod versus $3,329 in Phuket.
πLiving in Veliky Novgorod costs roughly 15% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Veliky Novgorod19% lower, Phuket6% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Veliky Novgorod
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.63β½703
$4.70ΰΈΏ153
104.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.93β½3,571
$45.37ΰΈΏ1,482
7.85%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.75β½420
$8.43ΰΈΏ275
-31.79%
Cappuccino
$2.58β½188
$2.93ΰΈΏ95.6
-11.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09β½79.2
$0.69ΰΈΏ22.40
57.97%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59β½42.78
$0.37ΰΈΏ11.99
59.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.87β½137
$2.41ΰΈΏ78.6
-22.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61β½191
$3.72ΰΈΏ122
-29.84%
π Groceries & Markets
Veliky Novgorod
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.16β½84.8
$2.23ΰΈΏ72.9
-47.98%
White Bread(500g)
$0.88β½63.9
$1.83ΰΈΏ59.8
-51.91%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.58β½115
$2.17ΰΈΏ70.8
-27.19%
Eggs
$1.85β½135
$2.21ΰΈΏ72.3
-16.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.25β½894
$19.74ΰΈΏ645
-37.94%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.87β½282
$3.63ΰΈΏ119
6.61%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.67β½779
$13.53ΰΈΏ442
-21.14%
Apples(1kg)
$1.68β½123
$3.28ΰΈΏ107
-48.78%
Banana(1kg)
$1.29β½93.9
$1.61ΰΈΏ52.6
-19.88%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.98β½144
$2.41ΰΈΏ78.6
-17.84%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.34β½244
$2.08ΰΈΏ68.1
60.58%
Potato(1kg)
$0.88β½64.2
$1.53ΰΈΏ49.93
-42.48%
Onion(1kg)
$0.68β½49.53
$1.48ΰΈΏ48.36
-54.05%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.30β½94.9
$0.99ΰΈΏ32.29
31.31%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77β½56.5
$0.51ΰΈΏ16.67
50.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.03β½221
$4.41ΰΈΏ144
-31.29%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.80β½496
$19.38ΰΈΏ633
-64.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.06β½77.3
$1.78ΰΈΏ58.1
-40.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03β½148
$2.71ΰΈΏ88.6
-25.09%
π Getting Around
Veliky Novgorod
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.48β½35.23
$1.37ΰΈΏ44.79
-64.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$36.05β½2,631
$11.39ΰΈΏ372
216.51%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.26β½91.6
$3.02ΰΈΏ98.6
-58.28%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.56β½40.68
$0.99ΰΈΏ32.48
-43.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.72β½564
$14.10ΰΈΏ461
-45.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.75β½54.7
$1.36ΰΈΏ44.51
-44.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.6Kβ½2.7M
$28.2KΰΈΏ921.1K
33.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.8Kβ½2.7M
$32.9KΰΈΏ1.1M
11.99%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Veliky Novgorod
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$130β½9,517
$122ΰΈΏ3,975
7.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.78β½495
$13.57ΰΈΏ443
-50.04%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.09β½517
$18.31ΰΈΏ598
-61.28%
π Sport & Entertainment
Veliky Novgorod
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$31.59β½2,306
$60.2ΰΈΏ1,967
-47.54%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.14ΰΈΏ560
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.59β½408
$8.69ΰΈΏ284
-35.67%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Veliky Novgorod
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$399β½29.1K
$693ΰΈΏ22.6K
-42.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,491β½692.7K
$15.7KΰΈΏ512.3K
-39.50%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Veliky Novgorod
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$98.5β½7,186
$59.5ΰΈΏ1,944
65.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.6β½3,910
$34.77ΰΈΏ1,136
54.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117β½8,565
$115ΰΈΏ3,743
2.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133β½9,736
$83.3ΰΈΏ2,720
60.15%
π Accommodation & Living
Veliky Novgorod
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$451β½32.9K
$613ΰΈΏ20.0K
-26.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$306β½22.3K
$437ΰΈΏ14.3K
-30.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$757β½55.2K
$2,094ΰΈΏ68.4K
-63.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$518β½37.8K
$1,509ΰΈΏ49.3K
-65.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,713β½125.1K
$3,749ΰΈΏ122.5K
-54.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,359β½99.2K
$2,616ΰΈΏ85.4K
-48.04%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Veliky Novgorod
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$834β½60.8K
$508ΰΈΏ16.6K
64.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
24.95
5.33
368.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Veliky Novgorod: June 1, 2026
Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $451 in Veliky Novgorod and $613 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Veliky Novgorod pays 64% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
πDining out: $49.00 in Veliky Novgorod vs $45.00 in Phuket. Groceries flip the comparison at $204 vs $293, with Veliky Novgorod cheaper for home cooking.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Veliky Novgorod vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Veliky Novgorod?
Veliky Novgorod is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 17% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Veliky Novgorod or Phuket?
Veliky Novgorod pays 64% more on average, 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 Veliky Novgorod and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $451 in Veliky Novgorod versus $613 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $399 in Veliky Novgorod versus $693 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 Veliky Novgorod and Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 43% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Veliky Novgorod or Phuket?
At $1,079 in Veliky Novgorod versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Veliky Novgorod but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Veliky Novgorod the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Veliky Novgorod or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Veliky Novgorod 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, Veliky Novgorod or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Veliky Novgorod 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 Veliky Novgorod gentler on the wallet β expenses run 17% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Veliky Novgorod vs other spots: cost of living compared