Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and AizawlCost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Aizawl
Monthly Cost of Living
😐A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $367 in Aizawl, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,297 per month in Phuket vs $604 in Aizawl, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,329 per month in Phuket vs $840 in Aizawl, rent included.
😐Phuket costs about 245% more than Aizawl, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Phuket and Aizawl are more affordable than the global median – Phuket6% lower, Aizawl73% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Aizawl
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70฿154
$2.28₹218
106.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37฿1,483
$10.30₹985
340.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.43฿276
$3.98₹381
111.81%
Cappuccino
$2.93฿95.7
$1.37₹131
113.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.42
$0.32₹30.40
115.62%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿12.00
$0.22₹20.80
68.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.41฿78.7
$1.37₹131
75.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿122
$2.83₹271
31.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Aizawl
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.23฿73.0
$0.77₹73.8
189.61%
White Bread(500g)
$1.83฿59.9
$0.59₹56.7
210.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.17฿70.9
$0.56₹53.8
287.50%
Eggs
$2.21฿72.4
$0.94₹89.7
135.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.74฿645
$2.27₹217
769.60%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63฿119
$3.87₹370
-6.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.53฿442
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$3.28฿107
$2.03₹194
61.58%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61฿52.7
$1.26₹121
27.78%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿78.7
$1.37₹131
75.91%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿68.1
$1.03₹98.1
101.94%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿49.97
$0.56₹54.1
173.21%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48฿48.41
$0.60₹57.8
146.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99฿32.32
$0.49₹47.09
102.04%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51฿16.68
$0.26₹24.95
96.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41฿144
$3.64₹349
21.15%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.38฿634
$6.65₹636
191.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿58.1
$1.26₹121
41.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71฿88.7
$3.08₹294
-12.01%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$4.96₹475
-
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Aizawl
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.37฿44.83
$0.28₹26.79
389.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.39฿372
$8.47₹811
34.47%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.02฿98.7
$0.56₹53.4
439.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.99฿32.51
$0.32₹30.20
209.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.10฿461
$1.19₹114
1084.87%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36฿44.55
$1.04₹99.9
30.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K฿921.9K
$15.3K₹1.5M
84.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K฿1.1M
$20.0K₹1.9M
64.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Aizawl
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿3,978
$11.53₹1,103
955.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57฿444
$3.43₹328
295.63%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31฿599
$5.21₹499
251.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Aizawl
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.2฿1,969
$11.82₹1,132
409.48%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14฿560
$10.68₹1,022
60.49%
Cinema Ticket
$8.69฿284
$2.87₹275
202.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Aizawl
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$693฿22.7K
$35.34₹3,382
1862.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.7K฿512.8K
$1,523₹145.7K
930.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Aizawl
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5฿1,946
$23.77₹2,275
150.44%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77฿1,137
$37.46₹3,585
-7.18%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,746
$59.7₹5,712
91.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3฿2,723
$43.29₹4,142
92.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Aizawl
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$613฿20.0K
$114₹10.9K
439.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$437฿14.3K
$69.0₹6,599
533.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,094฿68.5K
$292₹27.9K
617.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,509฿49.3K
$180₹17.2K
740.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,749฿122.6K
$1,037₹99.2K
261.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,616฿85.5K
$564₹54.0K
363.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Aizawl
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$508฿16.6K
$261₹25.0K
94.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
8.67
-38.52%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026
Last update for Aizawl: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $613 in Phuket versus $114 in Aizawl. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 95% higher in Phuket, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Phuket versus $10.00 in Aizawl. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $108 – making Aizawl 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
Phuket vs Aizawl: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Aizawl cheaper than Phuket?
Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 245%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,898 per month in Phuket and $550 in Aizawl. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Aizawl, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or Aizawl?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Phuket and $10.00 in Aizawl. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket vs Aizawl?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,265 in Phuket and $367 in Aizawl. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Aizawl?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Aizawl, where all-in costs run around $367, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Aizawl it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Phuket or Aizawl more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Aizawl – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Aizawl?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Aizawl. 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.