😐A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $487 in Ludhiana, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,089 per month in Phuket vs $829 in Ludhiana, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,913 per month in Phuket vs $1,171 in Ludhiana, rent included.
😐Phuket costs about 160% more than Ludhiana, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Phuket and Ludhiana are more affordable than the global median – Phuket8% lower, Ludhiana65% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Ludhiana
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.66฿154
$3.47₹331
34.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.22฿1,065
$10.47₹1,001
207.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.68฿287
$3.80₹363
128.42%
Cappuccino
$2.90฿95.8
$1.99₹190
45.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84฿27.89
$0.37₹35.52
127.03%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49฿16.16
$0.25₹23.90
96.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.48฿82.0
$1.78₹170
39.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73฿123
$3.71₹355
0.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Ludhiana
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.89฿62.3
$0.74₹70.7
155.41%
White Bread(500g)
$1.41฿46.54
$0.55₹53.0
156.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.62฿53.6
$0.85₹81.2
90.59%
Eggs
$2.24฿74.1
$0.83₹79.2
169.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.84฿656
$3.90₹373
408.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.48฿115
$3.03₹290
14.85%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.37฿376
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.90฿95.8
$2.09₹200
38.76%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72฿57.0
$0.59₹56.8
191.53%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.27฿75.1
$0.83₹79.8
173.49%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.13฿70.4
$0.36₹34.02
491.67%
Potato(1kg)
$1.47฿48.72
$0.27₹25.72
444.44%
Onion(1kg)
$1.42฿46.92
$0.32₹30.68
343.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.10฿36.25
$0.44₹42.13
150.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60฿19.76
$0.36₹33.93
66.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.31฿142
$3.62₹346
19.06%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.60฿615
$12.65₹1,209
47.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80฿59.5
$1.85₹176
-2.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97฿98.0
$3.03₹290
-1.98%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$6.80₹650
-
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Ludhiana
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.25฿74.2
$0.52₹49.51
332.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$23.49฿776
$15.56₹1,487
50.96%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.10฿102
$1.58₹151
96.20%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.08฿35.56
$0.43₹41.29
151.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.87฿128
$2.07₹198
86.96%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.43฿47.16
$1.06₹101
34.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿918.0K
$17.1K₹1.6M
62.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K฿891.5K
$22.3K₹2.1M
20.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Ludhiana
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$105฿3,462
$52.7₹5,039
98.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.39฿376
$3.24₹309
251.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.54฿580
$5.80₹554
202.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Ludhiana
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.3฿1,795
$15.34₹1,466
254.24%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.44฿378
$10.67₹1,020
7.22%
Cinema Ticket
$7.78฿257
$3.69₹352
110.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Ludhiana
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$576฿19.0K
$72.2₹6,901
698.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.6K฿382.7K
$1,478₹141.2K
683.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Ludhiana
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.6฿2,103
$22.37₹2,137
184.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.10฿961
$32.98₹3,151
-11.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.2฿3,179
$70.1₹6,695
37.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.0฿2,974
$36.31₹3,469
147.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Ludhiana
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$733฿24.2K
$175₹16.7K
318.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$501฿16.5K
$103₹9,823
387.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,126฿70.2K
$423₹40.4K
402.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,252฿41.4K
$384₹36.7K
225.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,534฿116.8K
$597₹57.0K
492.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,622฿86.6K
$510₹48.8K
413.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Ludhiana
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$508฿16.8K
$424₹40.5K
19.76%
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: September 6, 2026
Last update for Ludhiana: September 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $733 in Phuket versus $175 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 20% 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 $32.00 in Phuket versus $10.00 in Ludhiana. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $275 vs $114 – 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: $1,265 in Phuket, $487 in Ludhiana – roughly 160% 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 $1,898 per month in Phuket and $730 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 $576 per month in Phuket and $72.2 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 142% 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 $487, than in Phuket at $1,265. 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 $487 in Ludhiana to $1,265 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.