Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Darbhanga

For one person, living is cheaper in Darbhanga: $316 a month against $1,278 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $11,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Phuket, Thailand
Darbhanga, India
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,278
/mo nomad
Darbhanga
🇮🇳 India
$316
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Darbhanga

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 Darbhanga actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,278 per month in Phuket vs $316 in Darbhanga, rent included.

  • Phuket $1,278
  • Darbhanga $316

A couple spends around $2,216 per month in Phuket vs $519 in Darbhanga, rent included.

  • Phuket $2,216
  • Darbhanga $519

A family of three spends $3,154 per month in Phuket vs $722 in Darbhanga, rent included.

  • Phuket $3,154
  • Darbhanga $722

Phuket costs about 304% more than Darbhanga, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Phuket and Darbhanga are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Darbhanga 77% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Darbhanga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.47 ฿151
$1.56 ₹148
186.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.41 ฿1,094
$9.58 ₹913
238.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.81 ฿297
$3.19 ₹304
176.18%
Cappuccino
$2.83 ฿95.5
$1.28 ₹122
121.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 ฿29.43
$0.20 ₹19.01
335.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.67
$0.12 ₹10.99
308.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.56 ฿86.4
$1.65 ₹157
55.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 ฿124
$3.66 ₹348
0.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Darbhanga
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 ฿56.0
$0.63 ₹59.6
163.49%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 ฿49.35
$0.44 ₹41.46
231.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.6
$0.43 ₹41.30
248.84%
Eggs
$2.09 ฿70.5
$0.90 ₹85.9
132.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.07 ฿644
$4.23 ₹403
350.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.30 ฿111
$1.56 ₹148
111.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.91 ฿368
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.93 ฿99.0
$1.35 ₹129
117.04%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 ฿57.1
$0.71 ₹68.0
138.03%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 ฿75.8
$0.99 ₹94.3
127.27%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿70.1
$0.42 ₹39.62
395.24%
Potato (1kg)
$1.51 ฿51.0
$0.32 ₹30.78
371.87%
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.56
$0.45 ₹43.22
206.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ฿35.99
$0.46 ₹43.95
132.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.52
$0.27 ₹25.46
92.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20 ฿142
$4.94 ₹470
-14.98%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.79 ฿634
$6.40 ₹609
193.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 ฿61.5
$1.64 ₹156
10.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 ฿95.9
$2.13 ₹203
33.33%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$6.71 ₹639
-
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Darbhanga
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.45 ฿49.03
$0.22 ₹20.97
559.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$56.7 ฿1,913
$7.26 ₹691
680.44%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿102
$1.33 ₹127
127.07%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ฿34.36
$0.17 ₹16.03
500.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.69 ฿125
$2.05 ₹195
80.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ฿49.81
$1.10 ₹105
33.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K ฿904.3K
$11.3K ₹1.1M
137.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿901.3K
$27.5K ₹2.6M
-2.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Darbhanga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.4 ฿3,254
$16.05 ₹1,529
500.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.26 ฿380
$2.90 ₹277
288.28%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.85 ฿569
$6.43 ₹613
162.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Darbhanga
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.2 ฿2,270
$9.29 ₹885
623.68%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.73 ฿362
$6.94 ₹661
54.61%
Cinema Ticket
$7.50 ฿253
$2.93 ₹279
155.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Darbhanga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$476 ฿16.1K
$26.02 ₹2,477
1729.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.3K ฿380.4K
$1,267 ₹120.7K
788.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Darbhanga
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.4 ฿2,106
$15.52 ₹1,477
301.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.41 ฿959
$28.67 ₹2,730
-0.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.3 ฿3,184
$39.19 ₹3,732
140.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.8 ฿2,898
$26.01 ₹2,476
229.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Darbhanga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$716 ฿24.2K
$46.52 ₹4,430
1438.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$491 ฿16.6K
$76.2 ₹7,256
544.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,927 ฿65.1K
$269 ₹25.6K
616.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,431 ฿48.3K
$190 ₹18.1K
653.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,175 ฿141.0K
$1,007 ₹95.9K
314.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,045 ฿102.8K
$491 ₹46.8K
520.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Darbhanga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$502 ฿17.0K
$156 ₹14.8K
222.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
9.46
-41.12%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Last update for Darbhanga: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$491
Darbhanga
$76 84.5% $415
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$266
Darbhanga
$86 67.8% $181
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$124
Darbhanga
$25 79.6% $99
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$122
Darbhanga
$49 59.6% $73
Eating Out
Phuket
$122
Darbhanga
$54 55.4% $67
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$82
Darbhanga
$15 81.6% $67
Getting Around
Phuket
$71
Darbhanga
$10 85.4% $60

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $716 in Phuket versus $47 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 in Phuket are about 3.2 times higher, 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 $32 in Phuket versus $10 in Darbhanga. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $266 vs $86 – making Darbhanga the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇮🇳 Darbhanga
🕒 Local time
03:48 3:48 AM
02:18 2:18 AM
1 h 30 min behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
100,000
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

INR, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 33.77 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.59 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Indian Rupee exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 95.22 INR (100 INR = 1.05 USD). 1 EUR = 106 INR (1,000 INR = 9.43 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Darbhanga 2,420 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Darbhanga

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 Darbhanga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Darbhanga?
Phuket costs about 304% more than Darbhanga, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. 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 $1,917 per month in Phuket and $474 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $47 there versus $716 in Phuket.
How do childcare costs compare in Phuket and in Darbhanga?
Kindergarten costs $476 per month in Phuket and $26 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 211% more in Phuket, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $800/month in Phuket or in Darbhanga?
A $800 monthly budget goes further in Darbhanga, where all-in costs run around $316, than in Phuket at $1,278. In Darbhanga it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Darbhanga – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Should I move to Phuket or to Darbhanga?
If budget matters most, go with Darbhanga. If higher salaries 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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