ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $323 in Gulbarga.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $511 in Gulbarga.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $699 in Gulbarga.
ðLiving in Phuket is roughly 281% more expensive than Gulbarga, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
ðBoth cities sit below the global median: Phuket8% lower, Gulbarga76% lower.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Gulbarga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63āļŋ151
$1.64âđ155
182.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84āļŋ1,532
$8.14âđ773
475.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84āļŋ289
$2.64âđ251
234.85%
Cappuccino
$3.00āļŋ98.0
$1.18âđ112
154.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74āļŋ24.25
$0.35âđ33.19
111.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37āļŋ11.95
$0.16âđ15.35
131.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44āļŋ79.8
$1.75âđ167
39.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61āļŋ118
$2.66âđ252
35.71%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Gulbarga
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26āļŋ73.9
$0.72âđ68.7
213.89%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84āļŋ60.1
$0.36âđ34.50
411.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24āļŋ73.4
$0.69âđ65.7
224.64%
Eggs
$2.32āļŋ75.7
$0.80âđ75.9
190.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67āļŋ643
$3.67âđ349
435.97%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65āļŋ119
$2.82âđ268
29.43%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10āļŋ428
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$3.39āļŋ111
$1.99âđ189
70.35%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64āļŋ53.7
$0.49âđ46.74
234.69%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41āļŋ79.0
$1.07âđ102
125.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03āļŋ66.4
$0.36âđ33.98
463.89%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56āļŋ50.9
$0.41âđ38.46
280.49%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50āļŋ48.94
$0.44âđ41.51
240.91%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02āļŋ33.50
$0.32âđ30.79
218.75%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49āļŋ16.00
$0.31âđ29.81
58.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45āļŋ145
$3.70âđ351
20.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88āļŋ617
$3.27âđ311
477.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78āļŋ58.1
$1.37âđ130
29.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75āļŋ90.1
$2.02âđ191
36.14%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$3.58âđ340
-
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Gulbarga
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40āļŋ45.81
$0.30âđ28.81
366.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48āļŋ376
$8.69âđ825
32.11%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12āļŋ102
$0.48âđ46.04
550.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00āļŋ32.67
$0.19âđ18.30
426.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09āļŋ461
$1.61âđ153
775.16%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35āļŋ44.19
$1.29âđ123
4.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2Kāļŋ888.9K
$6,732âđ639.1K
303.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
$10.6Kâđ1.0M
210.31%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Gulbarga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125āļŋ4,087
$29.68âđ2,818
321.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57āļŋ444
$3.55âđ337
282.25%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52āļŋ606
$8.51âđ808
117.63%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Gulbarga
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5āļŋ2,010
$7.49âđ711
720.83%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84āļŋ551
$5.86âđ556
187.37%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19āļŋ300
$2.29âđ217
301.31%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Gulbarga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698āļŋ22.8K
$46.02âđ4,369
1417.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6Kāļŋ509.9K
$712âđ67.6K
2090.21%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Gulbarga
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8āļŋ1,889
$20.11âđ1,910
187.22%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24āļŋ1,152
$24.11âđ2,289
46.16%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,699
$23.61âđ2,242
379.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4āļŋ2,825
$21.86âđ2,075
295.15%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Gulbarga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616āļŋ20.1K
$126âđ12.0K
388.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446āļŋ14.6K
$76.6âđ7,267
482.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048āļŋ67.0K
$272âđ25.8K
653.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492āļŋ48.8K
$181âđ17.2K
723.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779āļŋ123.6K
$584âđ55.4K
547.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649āļŋ86.6K
$408âđ38.8K
548.43%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Gulbarga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524āļŋ17.1K
$373âđ35.4K
40.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
9.19
-42.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Gulbarga: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $616 in Phuket and $126 in Gulbarga. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ð°Phuket pays 40% 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 $8.00 in Gulbarga for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $86.0 per month, with Gulbarga 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 Gulbarga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gulbarga cheaper than Phuket?
Gulbarga is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 281% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Gulbarga?
Phuket pays 40% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Gulbarga?
Rent for a central apartment: $616 in Phuket versus $126 in Gulbarga. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or Gulbarga?
Dining out is cheaper in Gulbarga â a meal for two runs $8.00 versus $47.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket vs Gulbarga?
All in, you'll spend $1,232 per month in Phuket versus $323 in Gulbarga â a 281% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Gulbarga?
At $323 in Gulbarga versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Gulbarga but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Gulbarga the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Gulbarga more family-friendly?
For families, Gulbarga is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Gulbarga?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Gulbarga are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Gulbarga gentler on the wallet â expenses run 281% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.