How much more expensive are groceries in Russia compared to Thailand?

Food is definitely cheaper in Thailand, especially if you eat at local food stalls and markets - you can eat for a fraction of what it costs in Russia. In tourist spots like Phuket prices are higher, but they're usually still lower than in Russia, and the difference is pretty noticeable.

There really is a difference, but it depends on where and what you buy. At local markets in Thailand, fruits, vegetables, and seafood cost next to nothing compared to Russian prices, especially in season. With imported goods and products in supermarkets in tourist areas though, it's the opposite - it can actually be more expensive than in Moscow. If you eat like the locals do (street food, small restaurants outside the center), your food costs will be much lower.

Don't fall for "local prices" in tourist areas - Thai people themselves pay way less than tourists for the same thing 😅 The main difference is that in Thailand you can pick your level: eat at a fancy restaurant for money you'd spend on two lunches back in Russia, or eat like locals do - fruit from street carts, soup from some grandma's stall on the corner, rice with something for pennies. Russia doesn't have that kind of range, prices are more standardized and generally higher. But here's what everyone forgets to mention - imported goods, if you're used to specific brands, can cost more on Phuket than they do at home.

Here's an important nuance: on Phuket, prices are already marked up specifically for tourists, and if you compare it to a Moscow supermarket, the difference isn't as dramatic as it seems. But once you venture into local neighborhoods, even on the same island, food becomes ridiculously cheap there - especially street food and markets.

As for "cheaper by a factor of several times" - that's true, but only if you don't stick to tourist spots. I've seen tourists paying twice as much at cafes on main streets as locals do in a nearby no-name eatery next door. So if you plan to eat where actual Thais eat, then yeah, you'll definitely spend noticeably less than in Russia.

Here's the key nuance: on Phuket, prices are already marked up specifically for tourists, and if you compare it to a Moscow supermarket, the difference isn't nearly as dramatic as it seems. But once you venture into local neighborhoods, even on the same island, food becomes ridiculously cheap there, especially street food and markets.

As for "several times cheaper" - that's true, but only if you don't stick to tourist spots. I've seen tourists paying twice as much at cafes on main streets compared to locals at a nearby no-name eatery next door. So if you're planning to eat where the Thais themselves eat, then yeah, it'll be noticeably easier on your wallet than in Russia.

Local markets and street food - that's where you really see the difference. When I was in Thailand, the tourist restaurants definitely overcharged, but at a market in a residential neighborhood, a noodle soup cost about the same as a pastry from a bakery back home. Fruits and seafood there are just ridiculously cheap during the season, especially if you compare them not to Moscow supermarkets but to what you get in smaller cities - the difference can be two to three times in Thailand's favor.

The main thing is not to fall for the prices in places where tourists hang out. If you eat like the locals do (markets, small cafes away from the waterfront), you can stretch your budget pretty well.

The question is a bit oversimplified, because comparing Russia and Thailand as a whole is tricky - it all depends on where you live in Russia and exactly where you go on Phuket. But I get what you're asking: yeah, food is generally cheaper there if you eat like a local and not like a tourist.

The main thing is don't fall for prices in touristy spots, like people already said. When I was on Phuket, a cup of coffee at a beachside café cost almost as much as in Moscow, but in a regular street stall two steps from the hotel - way cheaper. Fruits and seafood there are literally pennies, especially if you hit the morning market instead of a supermarket. Though during tourist season the prices can spike.

Here's how to think about it: if you compare provincial Russia to tourist Phuket - there's a difference, but not huge. If you compare Moscow prices to local Thai markets - that's a whole different ballgame. Just don't eat at restaurants on the waterfront and you'll think food is dirt cheap.