ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $401 in Itanagar.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $636 in Itanagar.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $871 in Itanagar.
ðLiving in Phuket is roughly 207% more expensive than Itanagar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
ðBoth cities sit below the global median: Phuket8% lower, Itanagar70% lower.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Itanagar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63āļŋ151
$1.44âđ137
221.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84āļŋ1,532
$10.43âđ990
349.09%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84āļŋ289
$5.90âđ560
49.83%
Cappuccino
$3.00āļŋ98.0
$1.71âđ162
75.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74āļŋ24.25
$0.36âđ34.62
105.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37āļŋ11.95
$0.15âđ14.49
146.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44āļŋ79.8
$1.36âđ129
79.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61āļŋ118
$3.18âđ302
13.52%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Itanagar
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26āļŋ73.9
$0.75âđ71.6
201.33%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84āļŋ60.1
$0.36âđ34.56
411.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24āļŋ73.4
$0.57âđ54.3
292.98%
Eggs
$2.32āļŋ75.7
$0.92âđ87.1
152.17%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67āļŋ643
$4.55âđ432
332.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65āļŋ119
$3.28âđ312
11.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10āļŋ428
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$3.39āļŋ111
$1.86âđ176
82.26%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64āļŋ53.7
$0.70âđ66.6
134.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41āļŋ79.0
$0.89âđ84.8
170.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03āļŋ66.4
$0.79âđ74.7
156.96%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56āļŋ50.9
$0.29âđ27.28
437.93%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50āļŋ48.94
$0.38âđ36.26
294.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02āļŋ33.50
$0.39âđ37.04
161.54%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49āļŋ16.00
$0.28âđ26.47
75.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45āļŋ145
$4.13âđ392
7.75%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88āļŋ617
$7.37âđ699
156.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78āļŋ58.1
$1.49âđ142
19.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75āļŋ90.1
$2.89âđ275
-4.84%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$4.27âđ405
-
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Itanagar
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40āļŋ45.81
$0.28âđ26.53
400.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48āļŋ376
$8.47âđ805
35.54%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12āļŋ102
$0.82âđ77.7
280.49%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00āļŋ32.67
$0.26âđ24.88
284.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09āļŋ461
$1.49âđ142
845.64%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35āļŋ44.19
$1.11âđ105
21.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2Kāļŋ888.9K
$13.9Kâđ1.3M
95.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
$18.3Kâđ1.7M
80.32%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Itanagar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125āļŋ4,087
$40.49âđ3,844
208.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57āļŋ444
$3.36âđ319
303.87%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52āļŋ606
$5.70âđ541
224.91%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Itanagar
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5āļŋ2,010
$23.31âđ2,214
163.75%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84āļŋ551
$6.90âđ655
144.06%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19āļŋ300
$2.93âđ279
213.65%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Itanagar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698āļŋ22.8K
$32.87âđ3,120
2024.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6Kāļŋ509.9K
$507âđ48.1K
2975.71%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Itanagar
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8āļŋ1,889
$25.36âđ2,408
127.76%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24āļŋ1,152
$35.19âđ3,341
0.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,699
$45.76âđ4,345
147.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4āļŋ2,825
$43.08âđ4,090
100.51%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Itanagar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616āļŋ20.1K
$125âđ11.9K
392.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446āļŋ14.6K
$77.0âđ7,310
479.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048āļŋ67.0K
$269âđ25.6K
660.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492āļŋ48.8K
$181âđ17.2K
723.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779āļŋ123.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649āļŋ86.6K
-
-
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Itanagar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524āļŋ17.1K
$317âđ30.1K
65.10%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
7.38
-27.78%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Itanagar: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $616 in Phuket and $125 in Itanagar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ð°Phuket pays 65% 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 $10.00 in Itanagar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $103 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 207% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Itanagar?
Phuket pays 65% 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: $616 in Phuket versus $125 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 36% 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 $698 in Phuket versus $32.87 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 $401 in Itanagar versus $1,232 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 â expenses run 207% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.