Cost of Living Comparison Between Bhilai and PhuketCost of Living Comparison Between Bhilai and Phuket
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $308 in Bhilai versus $1,261 in Phuket.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $500 in Bhilai versus $2,286 in Phuket.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $692 in Bhilai versus $3,310 in Phuket.
🙂Living in Bhilai costs roughly 76% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Bhilai77% lower, Phuket6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bhilai
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.57₹244
$4.56฿149
-43.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$8.08₹769
$46.63฿1,519
-82.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.13₹298
$8.47฿276
-63.05%
Cappuccino
$1.82₹173
$3.03฿98.6
-39.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30₹28.84
$0.69฿22.45
-56.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.17₹15.84
$0.37฿11.92
-54.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.55₹148
$2.49฿81.0
-37.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11₹295
$3.66฿119
-15.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bhilai
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.64₹60.8
$2.18฿71.0
-70.64%
White Bread(500g)
$0.30₹28.38
$1.90฿62.0
-84.21%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.66₹62.7
$2.20฿71.6
-70.00%
Eggs
$0.95₹90.1
$2.22฿72.4
-57.21%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.62₹439
$19.99฿651
-76.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.74₹261
$3.66฿119
-25.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$13.25฿432
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.06₹196
$3.23฿105
-36.22%
Banana(1kg)
$0.56₹53.0
$1.70฿55.3
-67.06%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.66₹63.2
$2.39฿78.0
-72.38%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.43₹40.76
$2.08฿67.7
-79.33%
Potato(1kg)
$0.42₹40.26
$1.59฿51.8
-73.58%
Onion(1kg)
$0.44₹41.56
$1.48฿48.31
-70.27%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.24₹22.85
$1.03฿33.54
-76.70%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.27₹25.65
$0.52฿16.83
-48.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.38₹226
$4.25฿138
-44.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.65₹442
$18.79฿612
-75.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.96₹91.0
$1.76฿57.2
-45.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38₹226
$2.76฿89.8
-13.77%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$4.05₹385
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Bhilai
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.24₹22.92
$1.36฿44.32
-82.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$2.97₹282
$11.36฿370
-73.86%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.19₹113
$3.14฿102
-62.10%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.22₹20.80
$1.04฿33.74
-78.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.69₹161
$13.77฿448
-87.73%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.22₹116
$1.34฿43.79
-8.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$11.8K₹1.1M
$27.7K฿901.4K
-57.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.2K₹1.9M
$33.9K฿1.1M
-40.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bhilai
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$23.37₹2,222
$124฿4,025
-81.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.72₹354
$13.52฿440
-72.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$6.30₹599
$18.69฿609
-66.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bhilai
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$3.46₹329
$61.8฿2,013
-94.40%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.08₹673
$17.25฿562
-58.96%
Cinema Ticket
$1.76₹167
$9.14฿298
-80.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bhilai
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$58.2₹5,532
$703฿22.9K
-91.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,511₹143.7K
$15.9K฿517.0K
-90.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bhilai
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.77₹1,690
$59.5฿1,937
-70.11%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$17.60₹1,674
$35.07฿1,142
-49.81%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$17.62₹1,676
$115฿3,754
-84.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$27.65₹2,630
$84.1฿2,737
-67.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bhilai
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$123₹11.7K
$619฿20.1K
-80.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$69.4₹6,604
$433฿14.1K
-83.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$277₹26.4K
$2,062฿67.2K
-86.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$179₹17.0K
$1,511฿49.2K
-88.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,646฿118.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,626฿85.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bhilai
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$665₹63.2K
$507฿16.5K
31.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8
5.33
50.09%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bhilai: June 6, 2026
Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $123 in Bhilai and $619 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Bhilai pays 31% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $8.00 in Bhilai vs $47.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $87.0 vs $293 per month, with Bhilai cheaper across the board.
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
Bhilai vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Bhilai and Phuket?
Bhilai and Phuket differ by about 310% in total monthly costs ($308 vs $1,261 including rent). Bhilai is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Bhilai or Phuket?
Bhilai pays 31% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Bhilai and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $123 in Bhilai versus $619 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Bhilai and Phuket?
Childcare runs $58.2 in Bhilai versus $703 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 237% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $308 in Bhilai versus $1,261 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Bhilai but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Bhilai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Bhilai and Phuket?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Bhilai or Phuket safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Bhilai 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.
Where should expats move: Bhilai or Phuket?
Expats usually find Bhilai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 310% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.