😐A single person spends $1,250 per month in Phuket vs $388 in Bhimavaram, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,284 per month in Phuket vs $618 in Bhimavaram, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,317 per month in Phuket vs $848 in Bhimavaram, rent included.
😐Phuket costs about 222% more than Bhimavaram, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Phuket and Bhimavaram are more affordable than the global median – Phuket6% lower, Bhimavaram71% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Bhimavaram
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.55฿153
$2.40₹231
89.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.18฿1,554
$10.38₹999
344.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84฿298
$3.83₹368
130.81%
Cappuccino
$3.06฿103
$1.52₹146
101.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73฿24.42
$0.40₹38.74
82.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40฿13.40
$0.18₹17.24
122.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.43฿81.8
$1.77₹171
37.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78฿127
$2.99₹288
26.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Bhimavaram
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26฿76.0
$0.67₹64.2
237.31%
White Bread(500g)
$1.81฿60.9
$0.49₹46.97
269.39%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.25฿75.8
$0.66₹63.4
240.91%
Eggs
$2.25฿75.6
$0.94₹90.4
139.36%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.51฿656
$4.95₹477
294.14%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65฿123
$2.91₹280
25.43%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.05฿439
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$3.23฿109
$2.00₹192
61.50%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62฿54.4
$0.72₹69.0
125.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.38฿80.2
$0.99₹95.7
140.40%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03฿68.2
$0.50₹47.71
306.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿51.6
$0.36₹34.45
325.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50฿50.5
$0.42₹40.29
257.14%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98฿32.93
$0.46₹44.23
113.04%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿17.40
$0.31₹30.21
67.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.44฿149
$4.01₹386
10.72%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.32฿616
$7.17₹690
155.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿62.7
$1.75₹169
6.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68฿90.2
$2.90₹279
-7.59%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$5.19₹500
-
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Bhimavaram
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.41฿47.49
$0.28₹26.71
403.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.70฿394
$8.57₹825
36.52%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.11฿105
$0.78₹74.7
298.72%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04฿35.08
$0.24₹22.98
333.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.11฿475
$1.47₹141
859.86%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31฿44.13
$1.20₹116
9.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿936.0K
$13.8K₹1.3M
101.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K฿1.1M
$21.5K₹2.1M
54.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Bhimavaram
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿4,120
$38.50₹3,707
218.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.59฿457
$3.46₹333
292.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.70฿629
$7.25₹698
157.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Bhimavaram
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.5฿2,035
$15.63₹1,505
287.01%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.98฿572
$7.10₹684
139.15%
Cinema Ticket
$9.07฿305
$2.88₹277
214.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Bhimavaram
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$706฿23.8K
$51.7₹4,972
1267.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8K฿531.8K
$1,533₹147.6K
930.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Bhimavaram
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6฿1,970
$24.21₹2,331
141.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.36฿1,190
$25.02₹2,409
41.33%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,885
$42.10₹4,053
174.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.7฿2,818
$31.82₹3,063
163.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Bhimavaram
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$626฿21.1K
$126₹12.1K
397.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$445฿15.0K
$77.0₹7,408
478.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,040฿68.7K
$272₹26.2K
650.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492฿50.2K
$181₹17.4K
725.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,483฿117.2K
$989₹95.2K
252.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,577฿86.7K
$517₹49.7K
398.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Bhimavaram
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$500฿16.8K
-
-
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: July 12, 2026
Last update for Bhimavaram: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $626 in Phuket versus $126 in Bhimavaram. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Phuket versus $10.00 in Bhimavaram. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $289 vs $105 – making Bhimavaram 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 Bhimavaram: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bhimavaram cheaper than Phuket?
Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 222%, 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 $1,875 per month in Phuket and $582 in Bhimavaram. 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 Bhimavaram, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $706 per month in Phuket and $51.7 in Bhimavaram. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and in Bhimavaram?
Groceries cost about 177% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Bhimavaram?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Bhimavaram, where all-in costs run around $388, than in Phuket at $1,250. In Bhimavaram it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Phuket or Bhimavaram more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Bhimavaram – 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 Bhimavaram?
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 Bhimavaram. 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.