😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $341 in Kharagpur.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $543 in Kharagpur.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $746 in Kharagpur.
😐Living in Phuket is roughly 271% more expensive than Kharagpur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket6% lower, Kharagpur75% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Kharagpur
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70฿154
$1.60₹153
193.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37฿1,483
$7.38₹706
514.77%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.43฿276
$3.40₹325
147.94%
Cappuccino
$2.93฿95.7
$0.78₹74.7
275.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.42
$0.36₹34.44
91.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿12.00
$0.16₹15.29
131.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.41฿78.7
$1.67₹160
44.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿122
$3.30₹316
12.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Kharagpur
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.23฿73.0
$0.61₹58.2
265.57%
White Bread(500g)
$1.83฿59.9
$0.51₹48.93
258.82%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.17฿70.9
$0.48₹46.07
352.08%
Eggs
$2.21฿72.4
$0.77₹73.4
187.01%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.74฿645
$3.62₹347
445.30%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63฿119
$2.27₹217
59.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.53฿442
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$3.28฿107
$2.19₹210
49.77%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61฿52.7
$0.77₹73.3
109.09%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿78.7
$1.42₹136
69.72%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿68.1
$0.62₹59.4
235.48%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿49.97
$0.24₹23.04
537.50%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48฿48.41
$0.46₹43.79
221.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99฿32.32
$0.46₹44.50
115.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51฿16.68
$0.28₹26.44
82.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41฿144
$2.29₹219
92.58%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.38฿634
$7.62₹729
154.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿58.1
$2.09₹200
-14.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71฿88.7
$3.07₹294
-11.73%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$8.61₹824
-
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Kharagpur
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.37฿44.83
$0.28₹26.74
389.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.39฿372
$8.80₹842
29.43%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.02฿98.7
$1.19₹114
153.78%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.99฿32.51
$0.24₹22.97
312.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.10฿461
$2.36₹225
497.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36฿44.55
$1.16₹111
17.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K฿921.9K
$11.5K₹1.1M
144.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K฿1.1M
$26.9K₹2.6M
22.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Kharagpur
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿3,978
$36.90₹3,531
229.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57฿444
$3.28₹314
313.72%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31฿599
$4.63₹443
295.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Kharagpur
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.2฿1,969
$16.17₹1,548
272.42%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14฿560
$7.10₹680
141.41%
Cinema Ticket
$8.69฿284
$2.74₹263
217.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Kharagpur
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$693฿22.7K
$83.1₹7,951
734.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.7K฿512.8K
$2,024₹193.6K
675.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Kharagpur
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5฿1,946
$12.76₹1,221
366.54%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77฿1,137
$28.60₹2,737
21.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,746
$29.81₹2,853
284.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3฿2,723
$11.57₹1,107
619.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Kharagpur
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$613฿20.0K
$124₹11.9K
394.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$437฿14.3K
$75.7₹7,239
477.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,094฿68.5K
$279₹26.7K
649.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,509฿49.3K
$181₹17.3K
734.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,749฿122.6K
$368₹35.2K
918.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,616฿85.5K
$279₹26.7K
837.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Kharagpur
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$508฿16.6K
$235₹22.5K
116.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
6.9
-22.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026
Last update for Kharagpur: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $613 in Phuket and $124 in Kharagpur. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Phuket pays 116% 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: $45.00 in Phuket vs $7.00 in Kharagpur for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $101 per month, with Kharagpur 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 Kharagpur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Kharagpur?
Kharagpur wins on cost – living expenses run 271% lower than in Phuket. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kharagpur the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Phuket or Kharagpur?
Phuket pays 116% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Phuket vs Kharagpur?
Rent for a central apartment: $613 in Phuket versus $124 in Kharagpur. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Phuket compared to Kharagpur?
All in, you'll spend $1,265 per month in Phuket versus $341 in Kharagpur – a 271% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Phuket vs Kharagpur?
A monthly transit pass in Kharagpur runs roughly 29% less than in Phuket. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Phuket or Kharagpur?
At $341 in Kharagpur versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Kharagpur but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Kharagpur the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Kharagpur?
Both work as nomad bases, but Kharagpur delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $341 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Kharagpur hard to pass up.
How safe is Phuket compared to Kharagpur?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Kharagpur 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Kharagpur gentler on the wallet – expenses run 271% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.