😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $340 in Kurukshetra.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,054 in Phuket versus $549 in Kurukshetra.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,876 in Phuket versus $759 in Kurukshetra.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 262% more expensive than in Kurukshetra, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket10% lower, Kurukshetra75% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Kurukshetra
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.41฿147
$1.06₹101
316.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26฿1,077
$15.57₹1,494
107.19%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.93฿298
$3.15₹302
183.49%
Cappuccino
$2.90฿96.6
$1.02₹98.3
184.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88฿29.38
$0.22₹21.15
300.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.06
$0.16₹15.20
200.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.35฿78.5
$2.05₹196
14.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿124
$2.39₹229
55.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Kurukshetra
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.87฿62.3
$0.73₹69.6
156.16%
White Bread(500g)
$1.47฿48.94
$0.36₹34.18
308.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.55฿51.8
$0.74₹71.4
109.46%
Eggs
$2.10฿70.1
$0.77₹74.3
172.73%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.59฿654
$3.12₹299
527.88%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.42฿114
$3.18₹305
7.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.38฿380
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.98฿99.6
$0.70₹67.0
325.71%
Banana(1kg)
$1.68฿56.2
$0.54₹52.0
211.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.21฿73.7
$0.50₹47.71
342.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.16฿72.1
$0.32₹30.94
575.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.52฿50.9
$0.30₹29.19
406.67%
Onion(1kg)
$1.34฿44.67
$0.37₹35.62
262.16%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.13฿37.67
$0.58₹55.9
94.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55฿18.24
$0.32₹30.93
71.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26฿142
$4.98₹478
-14.46%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.09฿637
$7.42₹712
157.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿59.4
$1.71₹165
4.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78฿92.9
$2.76₹264
0.72%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$5.34₹513
-
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Kurukshetra
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.23฿74.4
$0.27₹26.18
725.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.74฿759
$7.42₹712
206.47%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.03฿101
$1.06₹102
185.85%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02฿34.15
$0.25₹23.83
308.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.89฿130
$2.12₹204
83.49%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49฿49.77
$1.06₹102
40.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K฿887.3K
$15.7K₹1.5M
69.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K฿902.2K
$24.5K₹2.4M
10.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Kurukshetra
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102฿3,420
$38.07₹3,652
169.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.33฿378
$4.13₹396
174.33%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.40฿581
$8.15₹782
113.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Kurukshetra
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.1฿1,738
$12.29₹1,179
323.76%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07฿370
$6.99₹671
58.37%
Cinema Ticket
$7.69฿257
$4.62₹443
66.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Kurukshetra
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$561฿18.7K
$93.9₹9,012
496.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.5K฿384.1K
$1,709₹163.9K
573.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Kurukshetra
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.0฿2,104
$13.13₹1,259
380.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.52฿986
$23.95₹2,298
23.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.0฿3,272
$46.75₹4,485
109.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5฿2,954
$26.18₹2,512
238.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Kurukshetra
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$738฿24.6K
$120₹11.5K
513.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$482฿16.1K
$73.6₹7,060
555.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,107฿70.3K
$261₹25.0K
708.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,226฿40.9K
$169₹16.2K
627.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,617฿120.7K
$997₹95.7K
262.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,603฿86.9K
$510₹49.0K
409.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Kurukshetra
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494฿16.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
8.75
-36.34%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026
Last update for Kurukshetra: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $738 in Phuket and $120 in Kurukshetra. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $32.00 in Phuket vs $16.00 in Kurukshetra for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $274 vs $89.0 per month, with Kurukshetra 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 Kurukshetra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Kurukshetra?
Kurukshetra wins on cost – living expenses run 262% lower than in Phuket. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kurukshetra the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Phuket and in Kurukshetra?
You'd need roughly $1,847 in Phuket and $510 in Kurukshetra to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Phuket compared to Kurukshetra?
Rent for a central apartment: $738 in Phuket versus $120 in Kurukshetra. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Phuket compared to Kurukshetra?
A monthly transit pass in Kurukshetra runs roughly 206% less than in Phuket. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Phuket and in Kurukshetra?
Childcare runs $561 in Phuket versus $93.9 in Kurukshetra. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Phuket or in Kurukshetra?
At $340 in Kurukshetra versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Kurukshetra but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Kurukshetra the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Kurukshetra?
Both work as nomad bases, but Kurukshetra delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $340 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Kurukshetra hard to pass up.
How safe is Phuket compared to Kurukshetra?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Kurukshetra 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 Kurukshetra gentler on the wallet – expenses run 262% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.