Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Birgunj and Phuket

For one person, living is cheaper in Birgunj: $354 a month against $1,278 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $11,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Birgunj, Nepal
Phuket, Thailand
Birgunj
🇳🇵 Nepal
$354
/mo nomad
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,278
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Birgunj and in Phuket

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Birgunj and in Phuket actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $354 in Birgunj versus $1,278 in Phuket.

  • Birgunj $354
  • Phuket $1,278

Estimated couple costs with rent: $576 in Birgunj versus $2,216 in Phuket.

  • Birgunj $576
  • Phuket $2,216

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $797 in Birgunj versus $3,154 in Phuket.

  • Birgunj $797
  • Phuket $3,154

Living in Birgunj costs roughly 72% less than in Phuket, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Birgunj 74% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Birgunj
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.29 NPR 197
$4.47 ฿151
-71.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.97 NPR 3,031
$32.41 ฿1,093
-38.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.17 NPR 1,088
$8.81 ฿297
-18.62%
Cappuccino
$1.53 NPR 232
$2.83 ฿95.4
-45.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 NPR 84.4
$0.87 ฿29.40
-35.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.15 NPR 22.24
$0.49 ฿16.65
-69.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.25 NPR 341
$2.56 ฿86.3
-12.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.37 NPR 512
$3.68 ฿124
-8.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Birgunj
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.63 NPR 95.9
$1.66 ฿55.9
-62.05%
White Bread (500g)
$0.24 NPR 36.13
$1.46 ฿49.29
-83.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.60 NPR 91.7
$1.50 ฿50.5
-60.00%
Eggs
$1.58 NPR 240
$2.09 ฿70.5
-24.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.28 NPR 1,105
$19.07 ฿643
-61.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.30 NPR 350
$3.30 ฿111
-30.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.15 NPR 934
$10.91 ฿368
-43.63%
Apples (1kg)
$2.00 NPR 304
$2.93 ฿98.8
-31.74%
Banana (1kg)
$0.95 NPR 144
$1.69 ฿57.0
-43.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.36 NPR 206
$2.25 ฿75.7
-39.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.56 NPR 84.3
$2.08 ฿70.0
-73.08%
Potato (1kg)
$0.41 NPR 62.6
$1.51 ฿51.0
-72.85%
Onion (1kg)
$0.51 NPR 77.4
$1.38 ฿46.51
-63.04%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.12 NPR 17.64
$1.07 ฿35.95
-88.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.22 NPR 33.92
$0.52 ฿17.50
-57.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.62 NPR 246
$4.20 ฿142
-61.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.06 NPR 1,223
$18.79 ฿634
-57.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 NPR 337
$1.82 ฿61.4
21.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07 NPR 466
$2.84 ฿95.8
8.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Birgunj
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.13 NPR 19.79
$1.45 ฿48.97
-91.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$56.7 ฿1,911
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.84 NPR 280
$3.02 ฿102
-39.07%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.21 NPR 183
$1.02 ฿34.32
18.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.18 NPR 483
$3.69 ฿124
-13.82%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 NPR 166
$1.47 ฿49.75
-25.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.4K NPR 5.5M
$26.8K ฿903.2K
35.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.2K NPR 5.5M
$26.7K ฿900.3K
35.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Birgunj
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$31.67 NPR 4,808
$96.4 ฿3,250
-67.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.32 NPR 504
$11.26 ฿380
-70.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.24 NPR 1,403
$16.85 ฿568
-45.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Birgunj
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$13.32 NPR 2,022
$67.2 ฿2,268
-80.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$10.73 ฿362
-
Cinema Ticket
$1.93 NPR 293
$7.50 ฿253
-74.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Birgunj
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$67.5 NPR 10.3K
$476 ฿16.1K
-85.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,584 NPR 847.7K
$11.3K ฿379.9K
-50.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Birgunj
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.27 NPR 3,684
$62.4 ฿2,103
-61.08%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.21 NPR 4,130
$28.41 ฿958
-4.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$26.11 NPR 3,964
$94.3 ฿3,180
-72.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$16.21 NPR 2,460
$85.8 ฿2,894
-81.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Birgunj
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$33.93 NPR 5,150
$716 ฿24.1K
-95.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$39.29 NPR 5,965
$491 ฿16.6K
-92.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$123 NPR 18.7K
$1,927 ฿65.0K
-93.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$77.4 NPR 11.8K
$1,431 ฿48.3K
-94.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$654 NPR 99.3K
$4,175 ฿140.8K
-84.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$495 NPR 75.2K
$3,045 ฿102.7K
-83.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Birgunj
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$502 ฿16.9K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.98
5.57
79.17%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Birgunj: October 25, 2026

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Birgunj
$132
Phuket
$266 102% $134
Eating Out
Birgunj
$71
Phuket
$122 71.4% $51
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Birgunj
$44
Phuket
$124 181% $80
Clothing & Footwear
Birgunj
$42
Phuket
$122 189% $80
Accommodation & Living
Birgunj
$39
Phuket
$491 1149% $452
Sport & Entertainment
Birgunj
$17
Phuket
$82 379% $65
Getting Around
Birgunj
$8.4 *
Phuket
$71 740% $62

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $34 in Birgunj and $716 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $20 in Birgunj vs $32 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $132 vs $266 per month, with Birgunj cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇳🇵 Birgunj
🇹🇭 Phuket
🕒 Local time
07:32 7:32 AM
08:47 8:47 AM
1 h 15 min ahead of Birgunj
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
135,904
79,308
💱 Currency
Nepalese Rupee NPR रु
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to NPR – Nepalese Rupee Converter

Nepalese Rupee exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 152 NPR (1,000 NPR = 6.59 USD). 1 EUR = 170 NPR (1,000 NPR = 5.88 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 33.73 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.81 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Birgunj Phuket 2,560 km ≈ 3 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Birgunj
  • Phuket

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Birgunj vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Birgunj or Phuket?
Birgunj wins on cost – living expenses run 72% lower than in Phuket. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Birgunj the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Birgunj and in Phuket?
You’d need roughly $531 in Birgunj and $1,917 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Birgunj compared to Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $34 in Birgunj versus $716 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Birgunj and in Phuket?
Childcare runs $68 in Birgunj versus $476 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Birgunj and in Phuket?
Dining out is cheaper in Birgunj – a meal for two runs $20 versus $32 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $800/month in Birgunj or in Phuket?
At $354 in Birgunj versus $1,278 in Phuket, a $800 budget is realistic in Birgunj but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Birgunj the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Birgunj or 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.

Birgunj vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?