Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Kalyan

For one person, living is cheaper in Kalyan: $438 a month against $1,278 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $10,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Phuket, Thailand
Kalyan, India
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,278
/mo nomad
Kalyan
🇮🇳 India
$438
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Kalyan

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Phuket and in Kalyan actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,278 per month in Phuket vs $438 in Kalyan, rent included.

  • Phuket $1,278
  • Kalyan $438

A couple spends around $2,216 per month in Phuket vs $716 in Kalyan, rent included.

  • Phuket $2,216
  • Kalyan $716

A family of three spends $3,154 per month in Phuket vs $995 in Kalyan, rent included.

  • Phuket $3,154
  • Kalyan $995

Phuket costs about 192% more than Kalyan, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Phuket and Kalyan are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Kalyan 68% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Kalyan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.47 ฿151
$3.18 ₹302
40.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.41 ฿1,093
$11.74 ₹1,115
176.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.81 ฿297
$4.15 ₹394
112.29%
Cappuccino
$2.83 ฿95.4
$1.79 ₹170
58.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 ฿29.41
$0.40 ₹37.72
117.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.65
$0.14 ₹12.97
250.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.56 ฿86.3
$2.42 ₹230
5.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 ฿124
$3.44 ₹327
6.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Kalyan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 ฿55.9
$0.70 ₹66.4
137.14%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 ฿49.31
$0.46 ₹43.88
217.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.5
$0.67 ₹63.7
123.88%
Eggs
$2.09 ฿70.5
$0.90 ₹85.8
132.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.07 ฿643
$5.24 ₹497
263.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.30 ฿111
$3.25 ₹308
1.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.91 ฿368
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.93 ฿98.9
$2.03 ₹193
44.33%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 ฿57.0
$0.59 ₹55.8
186.44%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 ฿75.8
$0.96 ₹91.6
134.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿70.0
$0.51 ₹48.39
307.84%
Potato (1kg)
$1.51 ฿51.0
$0.35 ₹33.59
331.43%
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.52
$0.43 ₹41.03
220.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ฿35.96
$0.44 ₹41.92
143.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.51
$0.30 ₹28.60
73.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20 ฿142
$3.75 ₹356
12.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.79 ฿634
$7.60 ₹722
147.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 ฿61.5
$1.90 ₹181
-4.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 ฿95.8
$3.05 ₹290
-6.89%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$6.41 ₹609
-
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Kalyan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.45 ฿48.98
$0.18 ₹17.25
705.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$56.7 ฿1,912
$7.57 ₹719
648.48%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿102
$0.56 ₹52.8
439.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ฿34.33
$0.22 ₹20.91
363.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.69 ฿125
$1.61 ₹153
129.19%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ฿49.76
$1.11 ₹105
32.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K ฿903.4K
$11.5K ₹1.1M
133.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿900.5K
$22.4K ₹2.1M
19.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Kalyan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.4 ฿3,251
$36.42 ₹3,458
164.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.26 ฿380
$4.40 ₹418
155.91%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.85 ฿568
$6.30 ₹598
167.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Kalyan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.2 ฿2,268
$12.02 ₹1,141
459.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.73 ฿362
$11.23 ₹1,066
-4.45%
Cinema Ticket
$7.50 ฿253
$3.05 ₹290
145.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Kalyan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$476 ฿16.1K
$72.5 ₹6,882
556.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.3K ฿380.0K
$1,478 ₹140.4K
661.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Kalyan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.4 ฿2,104
$21.90 ₹2,079
184.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.41 ฿958
$25.01 ₹2,375
13.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.3 ฿3,181
$40.51 ₹3,847
132.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.8 ฿2,895
$33.22 ₹3,154
158.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Kalyan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$716 ฿24.2K
$182 ₹17.3K
293.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$491 ฿16.6K
$120 ₹11.4K
309.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,927 ฿65.0K
$448 ₹42.6K
329.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,431 ฿48.3K
$307 ₹29.1K
366.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,175 ฿140.9K
$1,505 ₹142.9K
177.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,045 ฿102.7K
$948 ₹90.0K
221.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Kalyan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$502 ฿16.9K
$574 ₹54.5K
-12.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
8.77
-36.49%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Last update for Kalyan: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$491
Kalyan
$120 75.6% $371
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$266
Kalyan
$108 59.4% $158
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$124
Kalyan
$47 62.1% $77
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$122
Kalyan
$54 55.5% $68
Eating Out
Phuket
$122
Kalyan
$81 33.8% $41
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$82
Kalyan
$18 78% $64
Getting Around
Phuket
$71
Kalyan
$10 85.9% $61

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $716 in Phuket versus $182 in Kalyan. 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 14% higher in Kalyan, 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 $32 in Phuket versus $12 in Kalyan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $266 vs $108 – making Kalyan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇮🇳 Kalyan
🕒 Local time
06:53 6:53 AM
05:23 5:23 AM
1 h 30 min behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
1,262,255
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

INR, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 33.74 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.67 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

Indian Rupee exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 94.95 INR (100 INR = 1.05 USD). 1 EUR = 106 INR (1,000 INR = 9.43 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Kalyan 3,000 km ≈ 4 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Kalyan

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Kalyan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Kalyan?
Phuket costs about 192% more than Kalyan, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. 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 and in Kalyan?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,917 per month in Phuket and $657 in Kalyan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Phuket or Kalyan?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kalyan, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $182 there versus $716 in Phuket.
Are groceries more expensive in Phuket or in Kalyan?
Groceries cost about 146% more in Phuket, though the gap depends on what you buy.
How do dining costs compare in Phuket and in Kalyan?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $32 in Phuket and $12 in Kalyan. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $800/month in Phuket or in Kalyan?
A $800 monthly budget goes further in Kalyan, where all-in costs run around $438, than in Phuket at $1,278. In Kalyan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Kalyan – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
For expats, Kalyan is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 66% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

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