Cost of Living Comparison Between Meerut and PhuketCost of Living Comparison Between Meerut and Phuket
Monthly Cost of Living
ðA single person spends $428 per month in Meerut vs $1,232 in Phuket, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $662 per month in Meerut vs $2,255 in Phuket, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $895 per month in Meerut vs $3,279 in Phuket, rent included.
ðMeerut is about 65% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
ðBoth Meerut and Phuket are more affordable than the global median â Meerut68% lower, Phuket8% lower.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Meerut
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.41âđ324
$4.63āļŋ151
-26.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.01âđ1,330
$46.84āļŋ1,532
-70.09%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.56âđ338
$8.84āļŋ289
-59.73%
Cappuccino
$2.66âđ253
$3.00āļŋ98.0
-11.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40âđ38.36
$0.74āļŋ24.25
-45.95%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.18âđ16.71
$0.37āļŋ11.95
-51.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.73âđ164
$2.44āļŋ79.8
-29.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29âđ217
$3.61āļŋ118
-36.57%
ð Groceries & Markets
Meerut
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.76âđ72.2
$2.26āļŋ73.9
-66.37%
White Bread(500g)
$0.51âđ48.56
$1.84āļŋ60.1
-72.28%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.80âđ76.1
$2.24āļŋ73.4
-64.29%
Eggs
$1.01âđ96.0
$2.32āļŋ75.7
-56.47%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.01âđ381
$19.67āļŋ643
-79.61%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.37âđ225
$3.65āļŋ119
-35.07%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$13.10āļŋ428
-
Apples(1kg)
$1.40âđ132
$3.39āļŋ111
-58.70%
Banana(1kg)
$0.70âđ66.5
$1.64āļŋ53.7
-57.32%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.68âđ64.2
$2.41āļŋ79.0
-71.78%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.78âđ74.2
$2.03āļŋ66.4
-61.58%
Potato(1kg)
$0.43âđ40.68
$1.56āļŋ50.9
-72.44%
Onion(1kg)
$0.38âđ36.36
$1.50āļŋ48.94
-74.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.42âđ40.03
$1.02āļŋ33.50
-58.82%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.33âđ30.86
$0.49āļŋ16.00
-32.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.14âđ393
$4.45āļŋ145
-6.97%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.19âđ967
$18.88āļŋ617
-46.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52âđ145
$1.78āļŋ58.1
-14.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34âđ222
$2.75āļŋ90.1
-14.91%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$3.99âđ379
-
-
ð Getting Around
Meerut
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36âđ34.24
$1.40āļŋ45.81
-74.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.06âđ671
$11.48āļŋ376
-38.50%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.79âđ75.2
$3.12āļŋ102
-74.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.00āļŋ32.67
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.18âđ112
$14.09āļŋ461
-91.63%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.21âđ115
$1.35āļŋ44.19
-10.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$9,184âđ871.9K
$27.2Kāļŋ888.9K
-66.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$13.8Kâđ1.3M
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
-58.15%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Meerut
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$46.89âđ4,452
$125āļŋ4,087
-62.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.42âđ325
$13.57āļŋ444
-74.80%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$5.86âđ556
$18.52āļŋ606
-68.36%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Meerut
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$12.29âđ1,166
$61.5āļŋ2,010
-80.01%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.88âđ1,223
$16.84āļŋ551
-23.52%
Cinema Ticket
$4.10âđ389
$9.19āļŋ300
-55.39%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Meerut
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$35.32âđ3,353
$698āļŋ22.8K
-94.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,387âđ131.6K
$15.6Kāļŋ509.9K
-91.11%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Meerut
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.27âđ2,589
$57.8āļŋ1,889
-52.79%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.35âđ2,311
$35.24āļŋ1,152
-30.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$45.60âđ4,330
$113āļŋ3,699
-59.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$31.82âđ3,021
$86.4āļŋ2,825
-63.16%
ð Accommodation & Living
Meerut
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$165âđ15.6K
$616āļŋ20.1K
-73.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$103âđ9,820
$446āļŋ14.6K
-76.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$785âđ74.5K
$2,048āļŋ67.0K
-61.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$195âđ18.5K
$1,492āļŋ48.8K
-86.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$673âđ63.9K
$3,779āļŋ123.6K
-82.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$242âđ22.9K
$2,649āļŋ86.6K
-90.87%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Meerut
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$461âđ43.8K
$524āļŋ17.1K
-11.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.73
5.33
63.79%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Meerut: April 25, 2026
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $165 in Meerut versus $616 in Phuket. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
ð°Salaries run about 14% higher in Phuket, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
ðA mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Meerut versus $47.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $102 vs $292 â making Meerut the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Meerut vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Meerut or Phuket?
Phuket costs about 188% more than Meerut, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Meerut vs Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $642 per month in Meerut and $1,847 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Meerut or Phuket?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Meerut, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Meerut vs Phuket?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Meerut and $47.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafÃĐ pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Meerut compared to Phuket?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $428 in Meerut and $1,232 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category â it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Meerut or Phuket?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Meerut, where all-in costs run around $428, than in Phuket at $1,232. In Meerut it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Meerut or Phuket?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Meerut costs $428 versus $1,232 in Phuket. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Meerut compared to Phuket?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison â central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Meerut or Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Meerut. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.