Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and DhanbadCost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Dhanbad
Monthly Cost of Living
😐A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $323 in Dhanbad, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,297 per month in Phuket vs $507 in Dhanbad, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,329 per month in Phuket vs $691 in Dhanbad, rent included.
😐Phuket costs about 292% more than Dhanbad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Phuket and Dhanbad are more affordable than the global median – Phuket6% lower, Dhanbad76% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Dhanbad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70฿154
$2.34₹224
100.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37฿1,483
$6.78₹649
569.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.43฿276
$3.44₹329
145.06%
Cappuccino
$2.93฿95.7
$0.83₹79.2
253.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.42
$0.30₹28.93
130.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿12.00
$0.18₹16.82
105.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.41฿78.7
$2.23₹213
8.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿122
$4.70₹450
-20.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Dhanbad
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.23฿73.0
$0.65₹62.6
243.08%
White Bread(500g)
$1.83฿59.9
$0.45₹43.40
306.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.17฿70.9
$0.53₹51.2
309.43%
Eggs
$2.21฿72.4
$1.07₹102
106.54%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.74฿645
$3.89₹373
407.46%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63฿119
$2.54₹243
42.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.53฿442
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$3.28฿107
$1.36₹130
141.18%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61฿52.7
$0.82₹78.8
96.34%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿78.7
$0.79₹75.7
205.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿68.1
$0.42₹40.27
395.24%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿49.97
$0.24₹22.89
537.50%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48฿48.41
$0.49₹47.21
202.04%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99฿32.32
$0.22₹20.95
350.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51฿16.68
$0.22₹20.99
131.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41฿144
$2.53₹243
74.31%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.38฿634
$3.11₹298
523.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿58.1
$2.09₹200
-14.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71฿88.7
$2.32₹222
16.81%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$6.54₹626
-
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Dhanbad
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.37฿44.83
$0.33₹31.87
315.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.39฿372
$8.90₹852
27.98%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.02฿98.7
$1.19₹114
153.78%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.99฿32.51
$0.12₹11.62
725.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.10฿461
$1.18₹113
1094.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36฿44.55
$1.17₹112
16.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K฿921.9K
$9,460₹905.2K
198.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K฿1.1M
$32.7K₹3.1M
0.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Dhanbad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿3,978
$40.94₹3,917
197.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57฿444
$3.18₹304
326.73%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31฿599
$7.33₹701
149.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Dhanbad
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.2฿1,969
$11.64₹1,114
417.35%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14฿560
$6.91₹661
148.05%
Cinema Ticket
$8.69฿284
$2.89₹277
200.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Dhanbad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$693฿22.7K
$27.30₹2,612
2440.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.7K฿512.8K
$1,094₹104.7K
1333.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Dhanbad
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5฿1,946
$22.11₹2,116
169.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77฿1,137
$27.66₹2,647
25.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,746
$39.40₹3,771
190.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3฿2,723
$28.63₹2,740
190.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Dhanbad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$613฿20.0K
$65.8₹6,299
831.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$437฿14.3K
$45.12₹4,318
868.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,094฿68.5K
$186₹17.8K
1024.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,509฿49.3K
$123₹11.8K
1124.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,749฿122.6K
$1,546₹148.0K
142.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,616฿85.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Dhanbad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$508฿16.6K
$376₹36.0K
35.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
9
-40.78%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026
Last update for Dhanbad: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $613 in Phuket versus $65.8 in Dhanbad. 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 35% 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 $45.00 in Phuket versus $7.00 in Dhanbad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $85.0 – making Dhanbad 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 Dhanbad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dhanbad cheaper than Phuket?
Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 292%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,898 per month in Phuket and $484 in Dhanbad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Dhanbad, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket vs Dhanbad?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,265 in Phuket and $323 in Dhanbad. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 28% less in Dhanbad. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Dhanbad?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Dhanbad, where all-in costs run around $323, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Dhanbad it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Phuket or Dhanbad more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Dhanbad – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Dhanbad?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Dhanbad. 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.