Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Chengalpattu

For one person, living is cheaper in Chengalpattu: $341 a month against $1,208 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $10,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

59

Cost of Living Index in Phuket
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Phuket Living Index
16

Cost of Living Index in Chengalpattu
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Chengalpattu Living Index

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Phuket

🇹🇭 Thailand

$1,208

/mo nomad

Chengalpattu

🇮🇳 India

$341

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Chengalpattu

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Phuket and in Chengalpattu actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,208 per month in Phuket vs $341 in Chengalpattu, rent included.

Phuket $1,208
Chengalpattu $341

A couple spends around $2,027 per month in Phuket vs $531 in Chengalpattu, rent included.

Phuket $2,027
Chengalpattu $531

A family of three spends $2,845 per month in Phuket vs $721 in Chengalpattu, rent included.

Phuket $2,845
Chengalpattu $721

Phuket costs about 254% more than Chengalpattu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Phuket and Chengalpattu are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 11% lower, Chengalpattu 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.40 ฿147

$1.03 ₹97.7

327.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.26 ฿1,078

$9.24 ₹878

249.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.76 ฿293

$2.97 ₹282

194.95%

Cappuccino

$2.83 ฿94.5

$1.67 ₹158

69.46%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.90 ฿30.14

$0.41 ₹39.05

119.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 ฿15.56

$0.20 ₹18.97

135.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.55 ฿85.2

$1.84 ₹174

38.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.83 ฿128

$2.98 ₹283

28.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.7

$0.66 ₹62.7

162.12%

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 ฿49.11

$0.45 ₹42.65

226.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$0.53 ₹50.3

184.91%

Eggs

$2.17 ฿72.7

$0.96 ₹91.1

126.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.70 ฿658

$4.38 ₹416

349.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.34 ฿112

$2.80 ₹266

19.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.16 ฿373

Apples (1kg)

$2.85 ฿95.1

$1.83 ₹174

55.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 ฿56.9

$0.64 ₹60.5

165.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.19 ฿73.3

$0.95 ₹90.0

130.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$0.45 ₹42.62

355.56%

Potato (1kg)

$1.45 ฿48.57

$0.32 ₹30.13

353.12%

Onion (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.16

$0.40 ₹37.54

245.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 ฿35.69

$0.46 ₹43.97

132.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.91

$0.31 ₹29.77

64.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.26 ฿142

$5.13 ₹487

-16.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.58 ฿621

$4.16 ₹395

346.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿59.7

$2.07 ₹197

-14.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.85 ฿95.2

$3.04 ₹288

-6.25%

Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)

$3.34 ₹317

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.26 ฿75.6

$0.25 ₹23.46

804.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.10 ฿738

$7.06 ₹671

213.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.01 ฿101

$0.88 ₹83.5

242.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.06 ฿35.34

$0.25 ₹23.68

324.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.86 ฿129

$1.61 ₹153

139.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.45

$1.08 ₹103

34.26%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.3K ฿879.9K

$12.4K ₹1.2M

112.23%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.9K ฿900.4K

$19.4K ₹1.8M

39.05%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$96.4 ฿3,221

$34.67 ₹3,292

177.99%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$11.04 ฿369

$3.38 ₹321

226.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.14 ฿573

$6.68 ₹634

156.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.2 ฿1,744

$14.69 ₹1,395

255.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.16 ฿373

$4.80 ₹455

132.50%

Cinema Ticket

$7.81 ฿261

$2.98 ₹283

162.08%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$556 ฿18.6K

$47.19 ₹4,481

1078.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ฿387.0K

$1,428 ₹135.6K

710.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.2 ฿2,146

$21.59 ₹2,050

197.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.69 ฿959

$23.24 ₹2,207

23.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.4 ฿3,187

$38.95 ₹3,699

144.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.0 ฿2,940

$28.68 ₹2,723

206.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$737 ฿24.6K

$96.8 ₹9,190

661.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$462 ฿15.5K

$65.0 ₹6,177

610.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,095 ฿70.0K

$185 ₹17.6K

1030.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,201 ฿40.1K

$137 ₹13.0K

779.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,488 ฿116.6K

$713 ₹67.7K

388.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,523 ฿84.3K

$454 ₹43.1K

455.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$501 ฿16.7K

$580 ₹55.1K

-13.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

8.75

-36.34%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Phuket: October 19, 2026

Last update for Chengalpattu: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Phuket

$462 38.3%

Chengalpattu

$65 19.1% 85.9% $397

Groceries & Markets

Phuket

$269 22.2%

Chengalpattu

$95 27.9% 64.5% $173

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Phuket

$125 10.3%

Chengalpattu

$45 13.1% 64.1% $80

Clothing & Footwear

Phuket

$124 10.3%

Chengalpattu

$51 14.8% 59.3% $74

Eating Out

Phuket

$121 10%

Chengalpattu

$55 16% 54.8% $66

Sport & Entertainment

Phuket

$68 5.6%

Chengalpattu

$21 6.1% 69.5% $47

Getting Around

Phuket

$39 3.3%

Chengalpattu

$10 3% 74.2% $29

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $737 in Phuket versus $96.8 in Chengalpattu. 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 16% higher in Chengalpattu, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Phuket versus $9.00 in Chengalpattu. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $269 vs $95.0 – making Chengalpattu the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Phuket

🇮🇳 Chengalpattu

🕒 Local time

00:10 12:10 AM

22:40 10:40 PM

1 h 30 min behind Phuket

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

79,308

65,689

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Indian Rupee INR ₹

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.99 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

1,000 INR = 10.53 USD

1,000 INR = 9.37 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

INR, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Indian Rupee exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 94.96 INR (100 INR = 1.05 USD). 1 EUR = 107 INR (1,000 INR = 9.37 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Phuket Chengalpattu 2,080 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight

From you

Phuket
Chengalpattu

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Chengalpattu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 254%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,813 per month in Phuket and $512 in Chengalpattu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chengalpattu, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 213% less in Chengalpattu. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $556 per month in Phuket and $47.19 in Chengalpattu. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Chengalpattu, where all-in costs run around $341, than in Phuket at $1,208. In Chengalpattu it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Chengalpattu – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Chengalpattu. 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.