😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Phuket versus $343 in Chhindwara.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,286 in Phuket versus $581 in Chhindwara.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,310 in Phuket versus $818 in Chhindwara.
😐Living in Phuket is roughly 267% more expensive than Chhindwara, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket6% lower, Chhindwara74% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Chhindwara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56฿149
$2.30₹218
98.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.63฿1,519
$10.49₹998
344.52%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.47฿276
$3.66₹348
131.42%
Cappuccino
$3.03฿98.6
$1.59₹151
90.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.45
$0.38₹35.80
81.58%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿11.92
$0.16₹14.80
131.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.49฿81.0
$1.76₹167
41.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66฿119
$3.05₹290
20.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Chhindwara
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.18฿71.0
$0.66₹62.9
230.30%
White Bread(500g)
$1.90฿62.0
$0.40₹37.68
375.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.20฿71.6
$0.53₹50.7
315.09%
Eggs
$2.22฿72.4
$0.96₹91.6
131.25%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.99฿651
$4.94₹470
304.66%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.66฿119
$3.96₹377
-7.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.25฿432
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$3.23฿105
$2.03₹193
59.11%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70฿55.3
$0.45₹42.67
277.78%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.39฿78.0
$0.90₹85.8
165.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿67.7
$0.56₹53.0
271.43%
Potato(1kg)
$1.59฿51.8
$0.40₹37.67
297.50%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48฿48.31
$0.50₹47.71
196.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03฿33.54
$0.49₹46.87
110.20%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿16.83
$0.38₹36.27
36.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.25฿138
$3.97₹378
7.05%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.79฿612
$7.03₹668
167.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76฿57.2
$1.74₹166
1.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76฿89.8
$2.79₹265
-1.08%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$5.29₹503
-
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Chhindwara
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.36฿44.32
$0.27₹25.80
403.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.36฿370
$8.75₹832
29.83%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14฿102
$0.85₹80.8
269.41%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04฿33.74
$0.24₹22.94
333.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.77฿448
$1.41₹135
876.60%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34฿43.79
$1.22₹116
9.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K฿901.4K
$14.0K₹1.3M
97.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9K฿1.1M
$22.2K₹2.1M
52.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Chhindwara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$124฿4,025
$38.39₹3,651
221.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.52฿440
$2.93₹279
361.43%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.69฿609
$7.22₹686
158.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Chhindwara
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.8฿2,013
$9.27₹882
566.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.25฿562
$7.17₹682
140.59%
Cinema Ticket
$9.14฿298
$2.89₹275
216.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Chhindwara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$703฿22.9K
$34.49₹3,280
1937.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.9K฿517.0K
$1,530₹145.5K
937.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Chhindwara
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5฿1,937
$16.56₹1,575
259.06%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.07฿1,142
$25.38₹2,414
38.18%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,754
$42.39₹4,031
171.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.1฿2,737
$31.42₹2,988
167.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Chhindwara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$619฿20.1K
$58.5₹5,562
957.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$433฿14.1K
$35.12₹3,339
1131.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,062฿67.2K
$272₹25.9K
657.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,511฿49.2K
$177₹16.8K
755.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,646฿118.7K
$972₹92.5K
274.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,626฿85.5K
$523₹49.8K
401.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Chhindwara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$507฿16.5K
$212₹20.1K
139.66%
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Chhindwara: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $619 in Phuket and $58.5 in Chhindwara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Phuket pays 140% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $10.00 in Chhindwara for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $108 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 267% in total monthly costs ($1,261 vs $343 including rent). Chhindwara is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Phuket or Chhindwara?
Phuket pays 140% 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: $619 in Phuket versus $58.5 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 $703 in Phuket versus $34.49 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 172% 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 $343 in Chhindwara versus $1,261 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 – 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 – expenses run 267% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.