😐A single person spends $1,250 per month in Phuket vs $521 in Ludhiana, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,284 per month in Phuket vs $909 in Ludhiana, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,317 per month in Phuket vs $1,296 in Ludhiana, rent included.
😐Phuket costs about 140% more than Ludhiana, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Phuket and Ludhiana are more affordable than the global median – Phuket6% lower, Ludhiana61% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Ludhiana
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.55฿153
$2.94₹283
54.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.18฿1,554
$11.80₹1,136
291.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84฿298
$4.19₹403
110.98%
Cappuccino
$3.06฿103
$1.97₹190
55.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73฿24.42
$0.40₹38.28
82.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40฿13.40
$0.26₹25.14
53.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.43฿81.8
$1.72₹166
41.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78฿127
$3.45₹332
9.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Ludhiana
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26฿76.0
$0.75₹72.5
201.33%
White Bread(500g)
$1.81฿60.9
$0.57₹54.9
217.54%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.25฿75.8
$0.91₹87.2
147.25%
Eggs
$2.25฿75.6
$0.96₹92.6
134.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.51฿656
$4.42₹425
341.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65฿123
$3.48₹335
4.89%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.05฿439
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$3.23฿109
$2.32₹224
39.22%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62฿54.4
$0.65₹63.0
149.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.38฿80.2
$0.95₹91.0
150.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03฿68.2
$0.39₹37.56
420.51%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿51.6
$0.29₹27.46
427.59%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50฿50.5
$0.35₹34.15
328.57%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98฿32.93
$0.45₹43.24
117.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿17.40
$0.37₹35.96
40.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.44฿149
$3.62₹349
22.65%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.32฿616
$12.66₹1,218
44.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿62.7
$1.98₹190
-6.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68฿90.2
$3.68₹354
-27.17%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$7.23₹696
-
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Ludhiana
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.41฿47.49
$0.65₹62.9
116.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.70฿394
$17.72₹1,706
-33.97%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.11฿105
$1.75₹169
77.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04฿35.08
$0.36₹34.21
188.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.11฿475
$2.31₹222
510.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31฿44.13
$1.22₹118
7.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿936.0K
$16.9K₹1.6M
64.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K฿1.1M
$21.5K₹2.1M
54.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Ludhiana
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿4,120
$64.1₹6,173
90.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.59฿457
$3.46₹333
292.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.70฿629
$6.55₹631
185.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Ludhiana
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.5฿2,035
$16.79₹1,616
260.27%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.98฿572
$6.23₹600
172.55%
Cinema Ticket
$9.07฿305
$4.02₹387
125.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Ludhiana
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$706฿23.8K
$79.1₹7,616
792.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8K฿531.8K
$1,604₹154.4K
885.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Ludhiana
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6฿1,970
$24.35₹2,344
140.45%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.36฿1,190
$35.78₹3,445
-1.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,885
$63.4₹6,107
82.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.7฿2,818
$40.36₹3,886
107.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Ludhiana
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$626฿21.1K
$206₹19.8K
204.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$445฿15.0K
$123₹11.9K
261.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,040฿68.7K
$508₹48.9K
301.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492฿50.2K
$487₹46.8K
206.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,483฿117.2K
$593₹57.1K
487.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,577฿86.7K
$486₹46.8K
430.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Ludhiana
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$500฿16.8K
$421₹40.5K
18.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
8.62
-38.17%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026
Last update for Ludhiana: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $626 in Phuket versus $206 in Ludhiana. 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 19% higher in Phuket, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Phuket versus $12.00 in Ludhiana. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $289 vs $123 – making Ludhiana 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 Ludhiana: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Phuket and in Ludhiana compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,250 in Phuket, $521 in Ludhiana – roughly 140% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Phuket compared to Ludhiana?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,875 per month in Phuket and $782 in Ludhiana. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Phuket and Ludhiana?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ludhiana, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Phuket and Ludhiana?
Kindergarten costs $706 per month in Phuket and $79.1 in Ludhiana. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 135% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Ludhiana, where all-in costs run around $521, than in Phuket at $1,250. In Ludhiana it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Ludhiana?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $521 in Ludhiana to $1,250 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Phuket or Ludhiana safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Phuket and Ludhiana?
If budget matters most, go with Ludhiana. 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.