😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Phuket versus $304 in Kurukshetra.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,286 in Phuket versus $508 in Kurukshetra.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,310 in Phuket versus $713 in Kurukshetra.
😐Living in Phuket is roughly 314% more expensive than Kurukshetra, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket6% lower, Kurukshetra77% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Kurukshetra
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56฿149
$1.18₹112
286.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.63฿1,519
$17.68₹1,681
163.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.47฿276
$2.80₹266
202.50%
Cappuccino
$3.03฿98.6
$1.14₹108
165.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.45
$0.28₹26.33
146.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿11.92
$0.16₹15.33
131.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.49฿81.0
$2.07₹197
20.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66฿119
$2.15₹204
70.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Kurukshetra
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.18฿71.0
$0.70₹66.9
211.43%
White Bread(500g)
$1.90฿62.0
$0.45₹42.83
322.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.20฿71.6
$0.81₹77.1
171.60%
Eggs
$2.22฿72.4
$0.88₹83.4
152.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.99฿651
$3.11₹295
542.77%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.66฿119
$1.58₹150
131.65%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.25฿432
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$3.23฿105
$0.85₹80.5
280.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70฿55.3
$0.60₹56.9
183.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.39฿78.0
$0.56₹53.0
326.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿67.7
$0.37₹34.73
462.16%
Potato(1kg)
$1.59฿51.8
$0.26₹24.54
511.54%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48฿48.31
$0.37₹34.74
300.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03฿33.54
$0.71₹67.2
45.07%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿16.83
$0.36₹34.43
44.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.25฿138
$2.39₹227
77.82%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.79฿612
$4.09₹389
359.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76฿57.2
$0.79₹74.7
122.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76฿89.8
$2.15₹205
28.37%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$6.83₹650
-
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Kurukshetra
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.36฿44.32
$0.30₹28.93
353.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.36฿370
$8.47₹806
34.12%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14฿102
$0.55₹52.6
470.91%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04฿33.74
$0.11₹10.77
845.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.77฿448
$0.79₹75.5
1643.04%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34฿43.79
$1.12₹106
19.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K฿901.4K
$19.0K₹1.8M
45.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9K฿1.1M
$27.9K₹2.7M
21.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Kurukshetra
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$124฿4,025
$23.56₹2,241
424.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.52฿440
$4.08₹388
231.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.69฿609
$7.14₹679
161.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Kurukshetra
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.8฿2,013
$15.64₹1,487
295.27%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.25฿562
$7.20₹684
139.58%
Cinema Ticket
$9.14฿298
$4.59₹436
99.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Kurukshetra
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$703฿22.9K
$89.9₹8,550
681.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.9K฿517.0K
$1,658₹157.7K
857.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Kurukshetra
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5฿1,937
$12.84₹1,221
363.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.07฿1,142
$11.60₹1,103
202.33%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,754
$28.82₹2,740
299.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.1฿2,737
$23.41₹2,226
259.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Kurukshetra
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$619฿20.1K
$125₹11.9K
395.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$433฿14.1K
$76.7₹7,296
463.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,062฿67.2K
$276₹26.3K
646.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,511฿49.2K
$181₹17.3K
732.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,646฿118.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,626฿85.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Kurukshetra
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$507฿16.5K
$210₹20.0K
141.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
8.75
-39.09%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026
Last update for Kurukshetra: June 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $619 in Phuket and $125 in Kurukshetra. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Phuket pays 141% 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: $47.00 in Phuket vs $18.00 in Kurukshetra for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $72.0 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 314% 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.
Are salaries higher in Phuket or Kurukshetra?
Phuket pays 141% 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 Kurukshetra?
Rent for a central apartment: $619 in Phuket versus $125 in Kurukshetra. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Phuket vs Kurukshetra?
A monthly transit pass in Kurukshetra runs roughly 34% 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 Kurukshetra?
Childcare runs $703 in Phuket versus $89.9 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 Kurukshetra?
At $304 in Kurukshetra versus $1,261 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 $304 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 314% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.