😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $286 in Begusarai.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $510 in Begusarai.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $735 in Begusarai.
😐Living in Phuket is roughly 331% more expensive than Begusarai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket8% lower, Begusarai79% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Begusarai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63฿151
$2.39₹227
93.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84฿1,532
$8.03₹763
483.31%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84฿289
$3.42₹325
158.48%
Cappuccino
$3.00฿98.0
$1.40₹133
114.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74฿24.25
$0.34₹31.84
117.65%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿11.95
$0.09₹8.62
311.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44฿79.8
$2.29₹218
6.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61฿118
$2.98₹283
21.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Begusarai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26฿73.9
$0.58₹55.5
289.66%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84฿60.1
$0.46₹43.60
300.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24฿73.4
$0.52₹49.35
330.77%
Eggs
$2.32฿75.7
$0.89₹84.9
160.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67฿643
$4.22₹401
366.11%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65฿119
$2.66₹252
37.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10฿428
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$3.39฿111
$1.33₹126
154.89%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64฿53.7
$0.64₹61.1
156.25%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿79.0
$1.02₹97.2
136.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03฿66.4
$0.45₹42.71
351.11%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56฿50.9
$0.22₹20.83
609.09%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50฿48.94
$0.37₹35.25
305.41%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02฿33.50
$0.24₹22.86
325.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49฿16.00
$0.27₹25.82
81.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45฿145
$2.49₹236
78.71%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88฿617
$6.35₹603
197.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿58.1
$2.06₹196
-13.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75฿90.1
$2.31₹220
19.05%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$6.52₹619
-
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Begusarai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40฿45.81
$0.30₹28.62
366.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48฿376
$8.48₹805
35.38%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12฿102
$0.24₹22.83
1200.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00฿32.67
$0.18₹16.79
455.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09฿461
$1.73₹164
714.45%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35฿44.19
$1.17₹112
15.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K฿888.9K
$11.2K₹1.1M
141.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K฿1.1M
$17.6K₹1.7M
86.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Begusarai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125฿4,087
$12.96₹1,230
864.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57฿444
$2.63₹250
415.97%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52฿606
$7.50₹712
146.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Begusarai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5฿2,010
$5.11₹485
1103.13%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84฿551
$10.05₹955
67.56%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19฿300
$1.19₹113
672.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Begusarai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698฿22.8K
$50.2₹4,769
1290.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6K฿509.9K
$700₹66.4K
2127.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Begusarai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8฿1,889
$26.09₹2,477
121.39%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24฿1,152
$27.66₹2,626
27.40%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113฿3,699
$23.14₹2,197
388.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4฿2,825
$31.15₹2,957
177.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Begusarai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616฿20.1K
$57.6₹5,470
969.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446฿14.6K
$40.11₹3,808
1011.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048฿67.0K
$270₹25.7K
657.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492฿48.8K
$182₹17.2K
721.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779฿123.6K
$953₹90.5K
296.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649฿86.6K
$461₹43.8K
474.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Begusarai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524฿17.1K
$663₹62.9K
-20.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
9.05
-41.10%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Begusarai: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $616 in Phuket and $57.6 in Begusarai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Begusarai pays 27% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $8.00 in Begusarai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $92.0 per month, with Begusarai 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 Begusarai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Begusarai cheaper than Phuket?
Begusarai is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 331% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Begusarai?
On paper, Begusarai earns 27% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Begusarai?
Rent for a central apartment: $616 in Phuket versus $57.6 in Begusarai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or Begusarai?
Dining out is cheaper in Begusarai – a meal for two runs $8.00 versus $47.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket vs Begusarai?
All in, you'll spend $1,232 per month in Phuket versus $286 in Begusarai – a 331% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Begusarai?
At $286 in Begusarai versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Begusarai but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Begusarai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Begusarai more family-friendly?
For families, Begusarai is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Begusarai?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Begusarai 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Begusarai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 331% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.