😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Phuket versus $261 in Begusarai.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,078 in Phuket versus $469 in Begusarai.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,896 in Phuket versus $677 in Begusarai.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 382% more expensive than in Begusarai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket8% lower, Begusarai81% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Begusarai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.43฿145
$2.11₹202
109.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.07฿1,151
$7.30₹699
380.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.96฿294
$3.07₹294
191.86%
Cappuccino
$3.00฿98.4
$1.59₹153
88.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77฿25.33
$0.30₹28.54
156.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47฿15.44
$0.10₹9.37
370.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.40฿78.6
$2.00₹191
20.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75฿123
$5.83₹558
-35.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Begusarai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.82฿59.8
$0.50₹47.94
264.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.42฿46.65
$0.42₹40.07
238.10%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.55฿50.8
$0.54₹51.3
187.04%
Eggs
$2.13฿69.9
$0.86₹82.3
147.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.76฿648
$2.03₹195
873.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.48฿114
$2.26₹216
53.98%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.09฿364
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.91฿95.5
$1.34₹128
117.16%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66฿54.6
$0.56₹53.7
196.43%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.27฿74.5
$0.85₹81.0
167.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.10฿68.8
$0.44₹41.82
377.27%
Potato(1kg)
$1.47฿48.24
$0.22₹21.08
568.18%
Onion(1kg)
$1.41฿46.29
$0.32₹30.38
340.62%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.09฿35.78
$0.22₹21.10
395.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54฿17.58
$0.28₹27.04
92.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.48฿147
$3.77₹361
18.83%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.72฿614
$6.35₹608
194.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84฿60.4
$1.56₹149
17.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95฿96.7
$2.04₹195
44.61%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$6.11₹584
-
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Begusarai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.26฿74.1
$0.27₹25.59
737.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$23.07฿757
$7.51₹719
207.19%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.04฿99.9
$1.17₹112
159.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.09฿35.82
$0.16₹15.47
581.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.82฿125
$1.59₹153
140.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49฿48.79
$1.09₹105
36.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.4K฿900.3K
$12.4K₹1.2M
120.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5K฿902.7K
$10.5K₹1.0M
161.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Begusarai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102฿3,340
$11.61₹1,111
776.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.28฿370
$2.36₹226
377.97%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.75฿582
$6.24₹597
184.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Begusarai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.2฿1,777
$4.27₹409
1168.62%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.96฿360
$6.33₹606
73.14%
Cinema Ticket
$7.85฿258
$1.01₹97.0
677.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Begusarai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$577฿18.9K
$54.3₹5,192
963.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.6K฿381.6K
$627₹60.0K
1753.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Begusarai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.4฿2,144
$23.37₹2,237
179.67%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.89฿948
$25.21₹2,412
14.60%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.1฿3,250
$23.94₹2,291
313.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.3฿2,961
$28.04₹2,684
221.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Begusarai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$756฿24.8K
$53.2₹5,090
1320.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$487฿16.0K
$36.45₹3,488
1236.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,085฿68.4K
$267₹25.5K
681.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,207฿39.6K
$164₹15.7K
635.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,591฿117.8K
$936₹89.6K
283.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,610฿85.6K
$502₹48.0K
420.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Begusarai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$502฿16.5K
$1,065₹101.9K
-52.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
9.46
-41.12%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: August 18, 2026
Last update for Begusarai: August 17, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $756 in Phuket and $53.2 in Begusarai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Begusarai pays 112% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $35.00 in Phuket vs $7.00 in Begusarai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $272 vs $78.0 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, Getting Around. The 382% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Begusarai?
On paper, salaries run 112% lower in Begusarai. 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: $756 in Phuket versus $53.2 in Begusarai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or in Begusarai?
Dining out is cheaper in Begusarai – a meal for two runs $7.00 versus $35.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket and in Begusarai?
All in, you'll spend $1,261 per month in Phuket versus $261 in Begusarai – a 382% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Begusarai?
At $261 in Begusarai versus $1,261 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 382% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.