Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Darbhanga Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Darbhanga

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,250 per month in Phuket vs $341 in Darbhanga, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,284 per month in Phuket vs $540 in Darbhanga, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,317 per month in Phuket vs $740 in Darbhanga, rent included.

Phuket costs about 267% more than Darbhanga, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Darbhanga are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Darbhanga 74% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Darbhanga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.55 ฿153
$1.77 ₹171
157.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.18 ฿1,553
$9.96 ₹961
363.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.84 ฿297
$3.39 ₹327
160.77%
Cappuccino
$3.06 ฿103
$1.47 ₹142
108.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 ฿24.40
$0.37 ₹35.22
97.30%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40 ฿13.39
$0.11 ₹10.33
263.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.43 ฿81.8
$2.31 ₹223
5.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78 ฿127
$3.13 ₹301
20.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Darbhanga
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.26 ฿76.0
$0.58 ₹55.5
289.66%
White Bread (500g)
$1.81 ฿60.9
$0.43 ₹41.29
320.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.25 ฿75.8
$0.43 ₹41.25
423.26%
Eggs
$2.25 ฿75.5
$0.98 ₹94.7
129.59%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.51 ฿656
$2.94 ₹283
563.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.65 ฿123
$2.10 ₹203
73.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.05 ฿439
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$3.23 ฿109
$1.35 ₹130
139.26%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 ฿54.4
$0.77 ₹74.1
110.39%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.38 ฿80.1
$1.11 ₹107
114.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 ฿68.1
$0.56 ₹53.7
262.50%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿51.6
$0.39 ₹37.23
292.31%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.5
$0.47 ₹45.36
219.15%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.98 ฿32.91
$0.51 ₹49.23
92.16%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.39
$0.28 ₹26.68
85.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.44 ฿149
$2.55 ₹246
74.12%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.32 ฿616
$3.73 ₹360
391.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 ฿62.7
$2.02 ₹195
-7.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 ฿90.1
$1.07 ₹103
150.47%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$1.94 ₹187
-
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Darbhanga
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.41 ฿47.46
$0.28 ₹26.96
403.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.70 ฿393
$8.65 ₹834
35.26%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.11 ฿105
$1.19 ₹115
161.34%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.04 ฿35.06
$0.21 ₹19.90
395.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.11 ฿474
$2.26 ₹218
524.34%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 ฿44.10
$1.18 ₹114
11.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K ฿935.4K
$15.2K ₹1.5M
82.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K ฿1.1M
$33.1K ₹3.2M
0.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Darbhanga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ฿4,118
$23.44 ₹2,261
422.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.59 ฿457
$3.33 ₹321
308.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.70 ฿629
$7.64 ₹736
144.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Darbhanga
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.5 ฿2,034
$10.65 ₹1,027
467.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.98 ฿571
$6.86 ₹662
147.52%
Cinema Ticket
$9.07 ฿305
$3.26 ₹314
178.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Darbhanga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$706 ฿23.8K
$29.42 ₹2,837
2301.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.8K ฿531.5K
$1,393 ₹134.3K
1034.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Darbhanga
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6 ฿1,969
$17.29 ₹1,668
238.64%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.36 ฿1,189
$28.08 ₹2,708
25.93%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,883
$41.85 ₹4,036
175.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.7 ฿2,816
$28.70 ₹2,768
191.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Darbhanga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$626 ฿21.0K
$52.7 ₹5,079
1087.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$445 ฿15.0K
$75.9 ₹7,317
486.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,040 ฿68.6K
$275 ₹26.5K
642.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,492 ฿50.2K
$178 ₹17.1K
740.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,483 ฿117.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,577 ฿86.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Darbhanga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$500 ฿16.8K
$159 ₹15.3K
214.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
9.05
-41.10%

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

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Last update for Darbhanga: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $626 in Phuket versus $52.7 in Darbhanga. 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 214% higher in Phuket, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Phuket versus $10.00 in Darbhanga. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $289 vs $81.0 – making Darbhanga 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 Darbhanga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Darbhanga?
Phuket costs about 267% more than Darbhanga, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Phuket and in Darbhanga?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,875 per month in Phuket and $511 in Darbhanga. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Phuket or Darbhanga?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Darbhanga, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Phuket and in Darbhanga?
Kindergarten costs $706 per month in Phuket and $29.42 in Darbhanga. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Phuket or in Darbhanga?
Groceries cost about 258% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Phuket or in Darbhanga?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Darbhanga, where all-in costs run around $341, than in Phuket at $1,250. In Darbhanga it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Darbhanga?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Darbhanga costs $341 versus $1,250 in Phuket. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Phuket compared to Darbhanga?
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.
Should I move to Phuket or to Darbhanga?
If budget matters most, go with Darbhanga. 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.

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