😐A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $370 in Kakinada, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,297 per month in Phuket vs $588 in Kakinada, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,329 per month in Phuket vs $806 in Kakinada, rent included.
😐Phuket costs about 242% more than Kakinada, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Phuket and Kakinada are more affordable than the global median – Phuket6% lower, Kakinada72% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Kakinada
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70฿153
$1.71₹163
174.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37฿1,482
$11.85₹1,129
282.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.43฿275
$4.31₹411
95.59%
Cappuccino
$2.93฿95.6
$3.92₹373
-25.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.40
$0.46₹43.67
50.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿11.99
$0.15₹13.90
146.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.41฿78.6
$1.38₹132
74.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿122
$2.34₹223
58.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Kakinada
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.23฿72.9
$0.61₹58.5
265.57%
White Bread(500g)
$1.83฿59.8
$0.57₹53.8
221.05%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.17฿70.8
$0.64₹61.3
239.06%
Eggs
$2.21฿72.3
$0.81₹77.4
172.84%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.74฿645
$4.39₹418
349.66%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63฿119
$2.95₹281
23.05%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.53฿442
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$3.28฿107
$2.18₹208
50.46%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61฿52.6
$0.86₹82.0
87.21%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿78.6
$0.87₹83.0
177.01%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿68.1
$0.49₹46.41
324.49%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿49.93
$0.38₹36.07
302.63%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48฿48.36
$0.38₹36.59
289.47%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99฿32.29
$0.63₹60.4
57.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51฿16.67
$0.34₹32.35
50.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41฿144
$3.93₹374
12.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.38฿633
$5.91₹563
227.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿58.1
$2.57₹244
-30.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71฿88.6
$3.20₹305
-15.31%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$4.18₹398
-
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Kakinada
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.37฿44.79
$0.36₹34.38
280.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.39฿372
$8.92₹850
27.69%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.02฿98.6
$1.32₹126
128.79%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.99฿32.48
$0.23₹21.98
330.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.10฿461
$2.39₹228
489.96%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36฿44.51
$1.28₹122
6.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K฿921.1K
$17.2K₹1.6M
63.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K฿1.1M
$22.5K₹2.1M
46.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Kakinada
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿3,975
$27.91₹2,658
336.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57฿443
$2.72₹259
398.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31฿598
$5.73₹546
219.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Kakinada
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.2฿1,967
$15.82₹1,507
280.66%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14฿560
$6.91₹658
148.05%
Cinema Ticket
$8.69฿284
$2.34₹223
271.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Kakinada
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$693฿22.6K
$30.40₹2,895
2181.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.7K฿512.3K
$1,370₹130.5K
1044.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Kakinada
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5฿1,944
$10.43₹993
470.76%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77฿1,136
$8.70₹829
299.66%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,743
$17.18₹1,636
567.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3฿2,720
$14.68₹1,398
467.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Kakinada
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$613฿20.0K
$78.9₹7,513
677.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$437฿14.3K
$76.9₹7,322
468.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,094฿68.4K
$183₹17.5K
1042.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,509฿49.3K
$180₹17.2K
737.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,749฿122.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,616฿85.4K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Kakinada
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$508฿16.6K
$518₹49.3K
-1.86%
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 Kakinada: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $613 in Phuket versus $78.9 in Kakinada. 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 2% higher in Kakinada, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Phuket versus $12.00 in Kakinada. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $107 – making Kakinada 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 Kakinada: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Kakinada?
Phuket costs about 242% more than Kakinada, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Phuket vs Kakinada?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,898 per month in Phuket and $554 in Kakinada. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Phuket or Kakinada?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kakinada, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Phuket and Kakinada?
Kindergarten costs $693 per month in Phuket and $30.40 in Kakinada. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Phuket or Kakinada?
Groceries cost about 174% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Phuket or Kakinada?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kakinada, where all-in costs run around $370, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Kakinada it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Kakinada?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kakinada costs $370 versus $1,265 in Phuket. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Phuket compared to Kakinada?
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.
Should I move to Phuket or Kakinada?
If budget matters most, go with Kakinada. 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.