😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,250 in Phuket versus $389 in Agartala.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,284 in Phuket versus $590 in Agartala.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,317 in Phuket versus $792 in Agartala.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 222% more expensive than in Agartala, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket6% lower, Agartala71% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Agartala
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.55฿153
$2.63₹254
73.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.18฿1,550
$6.29₹605
634.18%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84฿297
$5.32₹512
66.17%
Cappuccino
$3.06฿103
$1.88₹181
62.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73฿24.36
$0.49₹46.72
48.98%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40฿13.37
$0.13₹12.57
207.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.43฿81.6
$2.10₹202
15.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78฿127
$3.70₹356
2.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Agartala
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26฿75.8
$0.80₹77.4
182.50%
White Bread(500g)
$1.81฿60.8
$0.58₹56.1
212.07%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.25฿75.7
$0.65₹62.4
246.15%
Eggs
$2.25฿75.4
$0.98₹94.8
129.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.51฿655
$7.36₹709
165.08%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65฿122
$3.43₹330
6.41%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.05฿438
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$3.23฿109
$2.30₹222
40.43%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62฿54.3
$0.67₹64.8
141.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.38฿80.0
$0.92₹89.0
158.70%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03฿68.0
$0.45₹43.36
351.11%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿51.5
$0.25₹23.80
512.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50฿50.4
$0.55₹53.2
172.73%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98฿32.85
$0.49₹47.07
100.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿17.36
$0.23₹22.18
126.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.44฿149
$3.43₹330
29.45%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.32฿615
$7.16₹690
155.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿62.6
$1.84₹177
1.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68฿90.0
$1.97₹190
36.04%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$9.01₹868
-
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Agartala
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.41฿47.37
$0.55₹53.2
156.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.70฿393
$8.71₹838
34.33%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.11฿104
$0.56₹53.5
455.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04฿35.00
$0.24₹23.23
333.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.11฿474
$1.46₹141
866.44%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31฿44.02
$1.19₹114
10.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿933.8K
$17.6K₹1.7M
58.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K฿1.1M
$39.9K₹3.8M
-16.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Agartala
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿4,110
$41.22₹3,968
197.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.59฿456
$2.23₹215
509.42%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.70฿628
$6.86₹661
172.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Agartala
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.5฿2,031
$9.65₹929
526.84%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.98฿570
$5.30₹511
220.38%
Cinema Ticket
$9.07฿305
$2.30₹221
294.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Agartala
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$706฿23.7K
$32.91₹3,169
2046.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8K฿530.5K
$480₹46.2K
3191.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Agartala
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6฿1,965
$24.95₹2,402
134.67%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.36฿1,187
$28.60₹2,754
23.64%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,876
$44.25₹4,260
160.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.7฿2,811
$20.82₹2,005
302.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Agartala
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$626฿21.0K
$80.2₹7,725
679.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$445฿14.9K
$58.9₹5,669
656.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,040฿68.5K
$242₹23.3K
744.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492฿50.1K
$141₹13.6K
958.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,483฿116.9K
$998₹96.1K
248.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,577฿86.5K
$505₹48.6K
410.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Agartala
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$500฿16.8K
$413₹39.7K
21.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
7.5
-28.93%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026
Last update for Agartala: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $626 in Phuket and $80.2 in Agartala. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Phuket pays 21% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $46.00 in Phuket vs $6.00 in Agartala for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $289 vs $115 per month, with Agartala 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
Phuket vs Agartala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Agartala?
Agartala wins on cost – living expenses run 222% lower than in Phuket. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Agartala the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Phuket or in Agartala?
Average pay runs 21% higher in Phuket, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Phuket compared to Agartala?
Rent for a central apartment: $626 in Phuket versus $80.2 in Agartala. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Phuket or in Agartala?
Supermarket bills run roughly 151% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Phuket and in Agartala?
Dining out is cheaper in Agartala – a meal for two runs $6.00 versus $46.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Phuket or in Agartala?
At $389 in Agartala versus $1,250 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Agartala but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Agartala the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Agartala?
Both work as nomad bases, but Agartala delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $389 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Agartala hard to pass up.
How safe is Phuket compared to Agartala?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Agartala are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Agartala gentler on the wallet – expenses run 222% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.