😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $357 in Itanagar.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,089 in Phuket versus $560 in Itanagar.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,913 in Phuket versus $763 in Itanagar.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 254% more expensive than in Itanagar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket8% lower, Itanagar74% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Itanagar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.66฿154
$2.88₹275
61.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.22฿1,065
$11.86₹1,133
171.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.68฿287
$5.23₹500
65.97%
Cappuccino
$2.90฿95.8
$2.56₹244
13.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84฿27.89
$0.41₹38.80
104.88%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49฿16.16
$0.17₹16.03
188.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.48฿82.0
$1.25₹119
98.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73฿123
$3.49₹334
6.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Itanagar
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.89฿62.3
$0.69₹65.8
173.91%
White Bread(500g)
$1.41฿46.54
$0.35₹33.90
302.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.62฿53.6
$0.56₹53.9
189.29%
Eggs
$2.24฿74.1
$0.92₹87.5
143.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.84฿656
$2.13₹203
831.46%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.48฿115
$3.44₹329
1.16%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.37฿376
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.90฿95.8
$2.20₹211
31.82%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72฿57.0
$0.67₹64.4
156.72%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.27฿75.1
$0.89₹84.7
155.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.13฿70.4
$0.68₹64.9
213.24%
Potato(1kg)
$1.47฿48.72
$0.36₹33.96
308.33%
Onion(1kg)
$1.42฿46.92
$0.38₹35.96
273.68%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.10฿36.25
$0.32₹30.30
243.75%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60฿19.76
$0.27₹25.83
122.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.31฿142
$3.67₹350
17.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.60฿615
$4.88₹466
281.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80฿59.5
$1.49₹143
20.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97฿98.0
$1.30₹124
128.46%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$4.85₹463
-
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Itanagar
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.25฿74.2
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$23.49฿776
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.10฿102
$0.68₹65.1
355.88%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.08฿35.56
$0.30₹28.94
260.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.87฿128
$1.35₹129
186.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.43฿47.16
$1.01₹96.7
41.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿918.0K
$12.6K₹1.2M
120.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K฿891.5K
$16.4K₹1.6M
64.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Itanagar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$105฿3,462
$35.10₹3,353
198.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.39฿376
$3.21₹307
254.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.54฿580
$6.28₹600
179.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Itanagar
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.3฿1,795
$20.92₹1,999
159.75%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.44฿378
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.78฿257
$3.08₹294
152.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Itanagar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$576฿19.0K
$27.54₹2,632
1993.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.6K฿382.7K
$463₹44.3K
2400.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Itanagar
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.6฿2,103
$17.00₹1,624
274.35%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.10฿961
$31.33₹2,993
-7.12%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.2฿3,179
$38.36₹3,665
150.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.0฿2,974
$27.91₹2,667
222.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Itanagar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$733฿24.2K
$75.3₹7,192
874.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$501฿16.5K
$52.6₹5,025
852.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,126฿70.2K
$156₹14.9K
1266.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,252฿41.4K
$127₹12.1K
889.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,534฿116.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,622฿86.6K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Itanagar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$508฿16.8K
$320₹30.6K
58.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
7.38
-24.53%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: September 6, 2026
Last update for Itanagar: September 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $733 in Phuket and $75.3 in Itanagar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Phuket pays 59% 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: $32.00 in Phuket vs $12.00 in Itanagar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $275 vs $88.0 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, Getting Around. The 254% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Itanagar?
Average pay runs 59% higher in Phuket, 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: $733 in Phuket versus $75.3 in Itanagar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $576 in Phuket versus $27.54 in Itanagar. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or in Itanagar?
Dining out is cheaper in Itanagar – a meal for two runs $12.00 versus $32.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Itanagar?
At $357 in Itanagar versus $1,265 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 254% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.