Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Ludhiana

For one person, living is cheaper in Ludhiana: $488 a month against $1,278 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $9,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Phuket, Thailand
Ludhiana, India
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,278
/mo nomad
Ludhiana
🇮🇳 India
$488
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Ludhiana

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 Ludhiana actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,278 per month in Phuket vs $488 in Ludhiana, rent included.

  • Phuket $1,278
  • Ludhiana $488

A couple spends around $2,216 per month in Phuket vs $784 in Ludhiana, rent included.

  • Phuket $2,216
  • Ludhiana $784

A family of three spends $3,154 per month in Phuket vs $1,080 in Ludhiana, rent included.

  • Phuket $3,154
  • Ludhiana $1,080

Phuket costs about 162% more than Ludhiana, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Phuket and Ludhiana are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Ludhiana 64% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Ludhiana
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.47 ฿151
$3.48 ₹332
28.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.41 ฿1,092
$10.67 ₹1,016
203.75%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.81 ฿297
$3.58 ₹341
146.09%
Cappuccino
$2.83 ฿95.3
$1.93 ₹184
46.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 ฿29.37
$0.40 ₹38.34
117.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.64
$0.25 ₹23.90
96.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.56 ฿86.2
$1.70 ₹162
50.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 ฿124
$3.52 ₹335
4.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Ludhiana
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 ฿55.9
$0.74 ₹70.7
124.32%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 ฿49.25
$0.51 ₹48.13
186.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.4
$0.78 ₹73.9
92.31%
Eggs
$2.09 ฿70.4
$0.86 ₹81.9
143.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.07 ฿642
$3.99 ₹379
377.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.30 ฿111
$3.09 ₹294
6.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.91 ฿368
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.93 ฿98.7
$2.10 ₹200
39.52%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 ฿56.9
$0.58 ₹55.3
191.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 ฿75.7
$0.82 ₹77.6
174.39%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿70.0
$0.38 ₹36.53
447.37%
Potato (1kg)
$1.51 ฿50.9
$0.26 ₹24.69
480.77%
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.47
$0.32 ₹30.69
331.25%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ฿35.91
$0.43 ₹41.24
148.84%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.49
$0.32 ₹30.92
62.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20 ฿142
$3.48 ₹331
20.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.79 ฿633
$12.37 ₹1,178
51.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 ฿61.4
$1.83 ₹174
-0.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 ฿95.7
$3.05 ₹291
-6.89%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$8.39 ₹798
-
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Ludhiana
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.45 ฿48.93
$0.55 ₹52.0
163.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$56.7 ฿1,909
$15.78 ₹1,502
259.06%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿102
$1.55 ₹147
94.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ฿34.29
$0.44 ₹41.72
131.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.69 ฿124
$2.15 ₹204
71.63%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ฿49.70
$1.10 ₹105
33.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K ฿902.4K
$13.4K ₹1.3M
100.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿899.5K
$22.0K ₹2.1M
21.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Ludhiana
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.4 ฿3,247
$52.5 ₹4,995
83.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.26 ฿380
$3.10 ₹295
263.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.85 ฿568
$5.81 ₹554
190.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Ludhiana
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.2 ฿2,266
$15.33 ₹1,460
338.55%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.73 ฿361
$4.48 ₹427
139.51%
Cinema Ticket
$7.50 ฿253
$3.61 ₹344
107.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Ludhiana
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$476 ฿16.0K
$72.3 ₹6,882
558.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.3K ฿379.6K
$1,443 ₹137.4K
680.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Ludhiana
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.4 ฿2,102
$21.69 ₹2,065
187.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.41 ฿957
$40.15 ₹3,823
-29.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.3 ฿3,178
$70.1 ₹6,671
34.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.8 ฿2,892
$36.40 ₹3,465
135.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Ludhiana
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$716 ฿24.1K
$171 ₹16.3K
318.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$491 ฿16.5K
$114 ₹10.8K
331.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,927 ฿64.9K
$433 ₹41.2K
344.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,431 ฿48.2K
$307 ₹29.2K
365.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,175 ฿140.7K
$880 ₹83.8K
374.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,045 ฿102.6K
$679 ₹64.6K
348.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Ludhiana
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$502 ฿16.9K
$423 ₹40.3K
18.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
9.17
-39.26%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Last update for Ludhiana: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$491
Ludhiana
$114 76.8% $377
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$266
Ludhiana
$113 57.7% $154
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$124
Ludhiana
$61 50.7% $63
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$122
Ludhiana
$76 37.9% $46
Eating Out
Phuket
$122
Ludhiana
$80 34.3% $42
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$82
Ludhiana
$23 72.6% $60
Getting Around
Phuket
$71
Ludhiana
$22 69.3% $49

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $716 in Phuket versus $171 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 $32 in Phuket versus $11 in Ludhiana. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $266 vs $113 – making Ludhiana the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇮🇳 Ludhiana
🕒 Local time
11:03 11:03 AM
09:33 9:33 AM
1 h 30 min behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
2,232,000
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

INR, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 33.7 THB (100 THB = 2.97 USD). 1 EUR = 37.52 THB (100 THB = 2.67 EUR).

Indian Rupee exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 95.21 INR (100 INR = 1.05 USD). 1 EUR = 106 INR (1,000 INR = 9.43 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Ludhiana 3,470 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Ludhiana

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 Ludhiana: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Phuket and in Ludhiana compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,278 in Phuket, $488 in Ludhiana – Ludhiana comes out roughly 62% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Phuket compared to Ludhiana?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,917 per month in Phuket and $732 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $171 there versus $716 in Phuket.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Phuket and Ludhiana?
Kindergarten costs $476 per month in Phuket and $72 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 136% more in Phuket, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Which city is more doable on $1,200 per month?
A $1,200 monthly budget goes further in Ludhiana, where all-in costs run around $488, than in Phuket at $1,278. In Ludhiana it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Phuket or Ludhiana?
Families tend to lean toward Ludhiana – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How do I decide between Phuket and Ludhiana?
If budget matters most, go with Ludhiana. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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