😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $388 in Bathinda.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $623 in Bathinda.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $858 in Bathinda.
😐Living in Phuket is roughly 226% more expensive than Bathinda, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket6% lower, Bathinda71% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Bathinda
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70฿154
$2.85₹273
64.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37฿1,483
$13.71₹1,312
230.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.43฿276
$3.55₹340
137.46%
Cappuccino
$2.93฿95.7
$1.26₹120
132.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.42
$0.28₹26.62
146.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿12.00
$0.13₹12.88
184.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.41฿78.7
$1.70₹163
41.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿122
$2.38₹228
56.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Bathinda
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.23฿73.0
$0.69₹66.3
223.19%
White Bread(500g)
$1.83฿59.9
$0.48₹46.12
281.25%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.17฿70.9
$0.73₹69.6
197.26%
Eggs
$2.21฿72.4
$0.88₹84.0
151.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.74฿645
$3.35₹321
489.25%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63฿119
$2.48₹238
46.37%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.53฿442
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$3.28฿107
$2.04₹195
60.78%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61฿52.7
$0.76₹72.7
111.84%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿78.7
$0.94₹89.6
156.38%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿68.1
$0.53₹50.4
292.45%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿49.97
$0.24₹22.97
537.50%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48฿48.41
$0.48₹46.22
208.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99฿32.32
$0.49₹46.58
102.04%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51฿16.68
$0.34₹32.92
50.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41฿144
$3.55₹340
24.23%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.38฿634
$10.21₹977
89.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿58.1
$1.67₹159
6.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71฿88.7
$2.52₹241
7.54%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$5.11₹489
-
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Bathinda
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.37฿44.83
$0.28₹26.47
389.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.39฿372
$8.64₹827
31.83%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.02฿98.7
$0.84₹80.1
259.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.99฿32.51
$0.16₹15.49
518.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.10฿461
$1.26₹121
1019.05%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36฿44.55
$1.16₹111
17.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K฿921.9K
$11.4K₹1.1M
146.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K฿1.1M
$17.7K₹1.7M
85.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Bathinda
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿3,978
$47.54₹4,549
155.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57฿444
$3.38₹323
301.48%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31฿599
$3.56₹340
414.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Bathinda
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.2฿1,969
$13.53₹1,295
345.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14฿560
$6.93₹664
147.33%
Cinema Ticket
$8.69฿284
$2.99₹286
190.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Bathinda
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$693฿22.7K
$61.9₹5,922
1020.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.7K฿512.8K
$1,656₹158.5K
847.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Bathinda
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5฿1,946
$19.73₹1,888
201.72%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77฿1,137
$20.09₹1,923
73.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,746
$47.77₹4,572
139.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3฿2,723
$32.50₹3,110
156.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Bathinda
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$613฿20.0K
$125₹11.9K
392.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$437฿14.3K
$74.9₹7,168
483.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,094฿68.5K
$278₹26.6K
654.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,509฿49.3K
$182₹17.5K
727.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,749฿122.6K
$974₹93.2K
284.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,616฿85.5K
$518₹49.5K
405.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Bathinda
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$508฿16.6K
$529₹50.7K
-4.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
8.3
-35.78%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026
Last update for Bathinda: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $613 in Phuket and $125 in Bathinda. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Bathinda pays 4% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $45.00 in Phuket vs $14.00 in Bathinda for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $103 per month, with Bathinda 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 Bathinda: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Phuket and Bathinda?
Phuket and Bathinda differ by about 226% in total monthly costs ($1,265 vs $388 including rent). Bathinda is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Bathinda earns 4% 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 Phuket and Bathinda?
Rent for a central apartment: $613 in Phuket versus $125 in Bathinda. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Phuket and Bathinda?
A monthly transit pass in Bathinda runs roughly 32% less than in Phuket. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Phuket and Bathinda?
Childcare runs $693 in Phuket versus $61.9 in Bathinda. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $388 in Bathinda versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Bathinda but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Bathinda the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Bathinda?
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.
Is Phuket or Bathinda safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Bathinda 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: Phuket or Bathinda?
Expats usually find Bathinda gentler on the wallet – expenses run 226% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.