ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $341 in Chhindwara.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $589 in Chhindwara.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $836 in Chhindwara.
ðLiving in Phuket is roughly 261% more expensive than Chhindwara, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
ðBoth cities sit below the global median: Phuket8% lower, Chhindwara75% lower.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Chhindwara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63āļŋ151
$2.29âđ218
102.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84āļŋ1,532
$10.45âđ992
348.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84āļŋ289
$3.67âđ348
140.87%
Cappuccino
$3.00āļŋ98.0
$1.57âđ149
91.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74āļŋ24.25
$0.41âđ38.78
80.49%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37āļŋ11.95
$0.16âđ14.90
131.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44āļŋ79.8
$1.70âđ162
43.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61āļŋ118
$3.08âđ293
17.21%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Chhindwara
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26āļŋ73.9
$0.63âđ59.5
258.73%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84āļŋ60.1
$0.42âđ40.14
338.10%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24āļŋ73.4
$0.57âđ54.2
292.98%
Eggs
$2.32āļŋ75.7
$0.96âđ91.3
141.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67āļŋ643
$4.96âđ471
296.57%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65āļŋ119
$3.98âđ378
-8.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10āļŋ428
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$3.39āļŋ111
$2.08âđ197
62.98%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64āļŋ53.7
$0.49âđ46.40
234.69%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41āļŋ79.0
$0.90âđ85.7
167.78%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03āļŋ66.4
$0.60âđ56.9
238.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56āļŋ50.9
$0.42âđ40.14
271.43%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50āļŋ48.94
$0.50âđ47.92
200.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02āļŋ33.50
$0.46âđ43.66
121.74%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49āļŋ16.00
$0.36âđ33.97
36.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45āļŋ145
$3.85âđ366
15.58%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88āļŋ617
$7.72âđ733
144.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78āļŋ58.1
$1.71âđ162
4.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75āļŋ90.1
$2.79âđ265
-1.43%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$5.12âđ486
-
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Chhindwara
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40āļŋ45.81
$0.27âđ25.82
418.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48āļŋ376
$8.96âđ851
28.12%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12āļŋ102
$0.83âđ78.4
275.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00āļŋ32.67
$0.22âđ20.87
354.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09āļŋ461
$1.47âđ140
858.50%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35āļŋ44.19
$1.22âđ116
10.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2Kāļŋ888.9K
$13.8Kâđ1.3M
97.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
$21.8Kâđ2.1M
51.00%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Chhindwara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125āļŋ4,087
$39.25âđ3,726
218.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57āļŋ444
$2.96âđ281
358.45%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52āļŋ606
$7.36âđ699
151.63%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Chhindwara
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5āļŋ2,010
$9.07âđ861
577.84%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84āļŋ551
$7.06âđ670
138.53%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19āļŋ300
$2.98âđ283
208.39%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Chhindwara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698āļŋ22.8K
$35.09âđ3,331
1889.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6Kāļŋ509.9K
$1,522âđ144.5K
924.35%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Chhindwara
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8āļŋ1,889
$16.57âđ1,573
248.58%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24āļŋ1,152
$24.81âđ2,355
42.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,699
$42.64âđ4,048
165.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4āļŋ2,825
$32.07âđ3,045
169.35%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Chhindwara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616āļŋ20.1K
$57.5âđ5,457
971.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446āļŋ14.6K
$34.38âđ3,264
1197.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048āļŋ67.0K
$276âđ26.2K
641.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492āļŋ48.8K
$180âđ17.0K
731.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779āļŋ123.6K
$1,041âđ98.9K
262.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649āļŋ86.6K
$488âđ46.4K
442.54%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Chhindwara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524āļŋ17.1K
$211âđ20.0K
148.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
8.67
-38.52%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Chhindwara: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $616 in Phuket and $57.5 in Chhindwara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ð°Phuket pays 148% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
ðDining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $10.00 in Chhindwara for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $109 per month, with Chhindwara 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 Chhindwara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Phuket and Chhindwara?
Phuket and Chhindwara differ by about 261% in total monthly costs ($1,232 vs $341 including rent). Chhindwara is meaningfully more affordable â a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Phuket or Chhindwara?
Phuket pays 148% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Phuket and Chhindwara?
Rent for a central apartment: $616 in Phuket versus $57.5 in Chhindwara. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Phuket and Chhindwara?
Childcare runs $698 in Phuket versus $35.09 in Chhindwara. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 167% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $341 in Chhindwara versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Chhindwara but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Chhindwara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Chhindwara?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better â the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Phuket or Chhindwara safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Chhindwara 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 Chhindwara?
Expats usually find Chhindwara gentler on the wallet â expenses run 261% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.