😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Phuket versus $393 in Itanagar.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,286 in Phuket versus $632 in Itanagar.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,310 in Phuket versus $871 in Itanagar.
😐Living in Phuket is roughly 221% more expensive than Itanagar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket6% lower, Itanagar71% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Itanagar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56฿149
$1.45₹138
214.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.63฿1,519
$10.26₹976
354.48%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.47฿276
$5.90₹561
43.56%
Cappuccino
$3.03฿98.6
$1.62₹154
87.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.45
$0.33₹31.63
109.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿11.92
$0.15₹14.72
146.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.49฿81.0
$1.36₹130
83.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66฿119
$3.19₹303
14.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Itanagar
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.18฿71.0
$0.75₹71.7
190.67%
White Bread(500g)
$1.90฿62.0
$0.33₹31.77
475.76%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.20฿71.6
$0.55₹52.2
300.00%
Eggs
$2.22฿72.4
$0.98₹92.7
126.53%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.99฿651
$4.40₹418
354.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.66฿119
$3.33₹317
9.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.25฿432
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$3.23฿105
$1.91₹182
69.11%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70฿55.3
$0.75₹71.6
126.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.39฿78.0
$0.95₹90.7
151.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿67.7
$0.79₹75.0
163.29%
Potato(1kg)
$1.59฿51.8
$0.31₹29.84
412.90%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48฿48.31
$0.38₹36.49
289.47%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03฿33.54
$0.40₹37.57
157.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿16.83
$0.28₹26.41
85.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.25฿138
$4.11₹390
3.41%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.79฿612
$4.62₹440
306.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76฿57.2
$1.55₹147
13.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76฿89.8
$2.85₹271
-3.16%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$4.35₹414
-
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Itanagar
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.36฿44.32
$0.30₹28.68
353.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.36฿370
$8.94₹850
27.07%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14฿102
$0.75₹71.5
318.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04฿33.74
$0.24₹22.81
333.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.77฿448
$1.48₹140
830.41%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34฿43.79
$1.07₹102
25.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K฿901.4K
$13.7K₹1.3M
102.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9K฿1.1M
$17.9K₹1.7M
89.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Itanagar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$124฿4,025
$39.88₹3,793
209.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.52฿440
$3.47₹330
289.63%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.69฿609
$5.56₹529
236.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Itanagar
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.8฿2,013
$22.87₹2,175
170.31%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.25฿562
$6.92₹658
149.28%
Cinema Ticket
$9.14฿298
$2.83₹269
222.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Itanagar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$703฿22.9K
$31.99₹3,042
2096.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.9K฿517.0K
$513₹48.8K
2995.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Itanagar
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5฿1,937
$25.76₹2,450
130.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.07฿1,142
$35.45₹3,371
-1.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,754
$45.75₹4,350
151.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.1฿2,737
$43.32₹4,119
94.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Itanagar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$619฿20.1K
$123₹11.7K
403.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$433฿14.1K
$77.2₹7,343
460.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,062฿67.2K
$279₹26.6K
638.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,511฿49.2K
$179₹17.0K
745.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,646฿118.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,626฿85.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Itanagar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$507฿16.5K
$313₹29.8K
61.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
7.38
-27.78%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026
Last update for Itanagar: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $619 in Phuket and $123 in Itanagar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Phuket pays 62% 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 Itanagar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $98.0 per month, with Itanagar 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 Itanagar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Itanagar cheaper than Phuket?
Itanagar is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 221% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Itanagar?
Phuket pays 62% 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 Itanagar?
Rent for a central apartment: $619 in Phuket versus $123 in Itanagar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Itanagar runs roughly 27% less than in Phuket. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $703 in Phuket versus $31.99 in Itanagar. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Itanagar?
At $393 in Itanagar versus $1,261 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Itanagar but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Itanagar the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Itanagar more family-friendly?
For families, Itanagar 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 Itanagar?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Itanagar 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 Itanagar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 221% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.