ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $341 in Chhindwara versus $1,232 in Phuket.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $589 in Chhindwara versus $2,255 in Phuket.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $836 in Chhindwara versus $3,279 in Phuket.
ðLiving in Chhindwara costs roughly 72% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
ðBoth cities sit below the global median: Chhindwara75% lower, Phuket8% lower.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Chhindwara
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.29âđ218
$4.63āļŋ151
-50.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.45âđ992
$46.84āļŋ1,532
-77.69%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.67âđ348
$8.84āļŋ289
-58.48%
Cappuccino
$1.57âđ149
$3.00āļŋ98.0
-47.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41âđ38.78
$0.74āļŋ24.25
-44.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.16âđ14.90
$0.37āļŋ11.95
-56.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.70âđ162
$2.44āļŋ79.8
-30.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08âđ293
$3.61āļŋ118
-14.68%
ð Groceries & Markets
Chhindwara
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.63âđ59.5
$2.26āļŋ73.9
-72.12%
White Bread(500g)
$0.42âđ40.14
$1.84āļŋ60.1
-77.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.57âđ54.2
$2.24āļŋ73.4
-74.55%
Eggs
$0.96âđ91.3
$2.32āļŋ75.7
-58.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.96âđ471
$19.67āļŋ643
-74.78%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.98âđ378
$3.65āļŋ119
9.04%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$13.10āļŋ428
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.08âđ197
$3.39āļŋ111
-38.64%
Banana(1kg)
$0.49âđ46.40
$1.64āļŋ53.7
-70.12%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.90âđ85.7
$2.41āļŋ79.0
-62.66%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.60âđ56.9
$2.03āļŋ66.4
-70.44%
Potato(1kg)
$0.42âđ40.14
$1.56āļŋ50.9
-73.08%
Onion(1kg)
$0.50âđ47.92
$1.50āļŋ48.94
-66.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.46âđ43.66
$1.02āļŋ33.50
-54.90%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.36âđ33.97
$0.49āļŋ16.00
-26.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.85âđ366
$4.45āļŋ145
-13.48%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.72âđ733
$18.88āļŋ617
-59.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71âđ162
$1.78āļŋ58.1
-3.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79âđ265
$2.75āļŋ90.1
1.45%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$5.12âđ486
-
-
ð Getting Around
Chhindwara
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27âđ25.82
$1.40āļŋ45.81
-80.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.96âđ851
$11.48āļŋ376
-21.95%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.83âđ78.4
$3.12āļŋ102
-73.40%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.22âđ20.87
$1.00āļŋ32.67
-78.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.47âđ140
$14.09āļŋ461
-89.57%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.22âđ116
$1.35āļŋ44.19
-9.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$13.8Kâđ1.3M
$27.2Kāļŋ888.9K
-49.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8Kâđ2.1M
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
-33.77%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chhindwara
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$39.25âđ3,726
$125āļŋ4,087
-68.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$2.96âđ281
$13.57āļŋ444
-78.19%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.36âđ699
$18.52āļŋ606
-60.26%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Chhindwara
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$9.07âđ861
$61.5āļŋ2,010
-85.25%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.06âđ670
$16.84āļŋ551
-58.08%
Cinema Ticket
$2.98âđ283
$9.19āļŋ300
-67.57%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Chhindwara
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$35.09âđ3,331
$698āļŋ22.8K
-94.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,522âđ144.5K
$15.6Kāļŋ509.9K
-90.24%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Chhindwara
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$16.57âđ1,573
$57.8āļŋ1,889
-71.31%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.81âđ2,355
$35.24āļŋ1,152
-29.60%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$42.64âđ4,048
$113āļŋ3,699
-62.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$32.07âđ3,045
$86.4āļŋ2,825
-62.87%
ð Accommodation & Living
Chhindwara
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$57.5âđ5,457
$616āļŋ20.1K
-90.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$34.38âđ3,264
$446āļŋ14.6K
-92.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$276âđ26.2K
$2,048āļŋ67.0K
-86.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$180âđ17.0K
$1,492āļŋ48.8K
-87.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,041âđ98.9K
$3,779āļŋ123.6K
-72.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$488âđ46.4K
$2,649āļŋ86.6K
-81.57%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Chhindwara
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$211âđ20.0K
$524āļŋ17.1K
-59.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.67
5.33
62.66%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chhindwara: April 27, 2026
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $57.5 in Chhindwara and $616 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ð°Phuket pays 148% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
ðDining out: $10.00 in Chhindwara vs $47.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $109 vs $292 per month, with Chhindwara 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
Chhindwara vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Chhindwara and Phuket?
Chhindwara and Phuket differ by about 261% in total monthly costs ($341 vs $1,232 including rent). Chhindwara is meaningfully more affordable â a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Phuket earns 148% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Chhindwara and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $57.5 in Chhindwara versus $616 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 Chhindwara and Phuket?
Childcare runs $35.09 in Chhindwara versus $698 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 167% 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 $341 in Chhindwara versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Chhindwara but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Chhindwara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Chhindwara and Phuket?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better â the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Chhindwara or Phuket safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Chhindwara 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: Chhindwara or Phuket?
Expats usually find Chhindwara gentler on the wallet â expenses run 261% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Chhindwara vs other spots: cost of living compared