😐A single person spends $1,264 per month in Phuket vs $378 in Machilipatnam, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,256 per month in Phuket vs $619 in Machilipatnam, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,248 per month in Phuket vs $861 in Machilipatnam, rent included.
😐Phuket costs about 235% more than Machilipatnam, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Phuket and Machilipatnam are more affordable than the global median – Phuket5% lower, Machilipatnam72% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Machilipatnam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.48฿150
$2.48₹237
80.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.59฿1,521
$12.89₹1,229
253.69%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.76฿292
$4.48₹427
95.54%
Cappuccino
$2.97฿99.0
$1.57₹150
89.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.90
$0.22₹20.92
213.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39฿13.04
$0.10₹9.69
290.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.53฿84.4
$1.79₹171
41.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75฿125
$3.35₹320
11.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Machilipatnam
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.15฿71.6
$0.72₹69.0
198.61%
White Bread(500g)
$1.82฿60.6
$0.36₹34.45
405.56%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.18฿72.9
$0.51₹48.54
327.45%
Eggs
$2.25฿75.0
$0.73₹69.7
208.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$20.00฿667
$5.37₹512
272.44%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63฿121
$3.53₹337
2.83%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.56฿452
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$3.24฿108
$2.79₹266
16.13%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64฿54.6
$0.76₹72.3
115.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.33฿77.8
$1.30₹124
79.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.07฿69.1
$0.54₹51.9
283.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.55฿51.6
$0.55₹52.8
181.82%
Onion(1kg)
$1.46฿48.54
$0.36₹34.52
305.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98฿32.86
$0.46₹43.60
113.04%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.09
$0.36₹33.88
33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35฿145
$4.48₹427
-2.90%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.57฿620
$9.02₹860
105.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿61.9
$1.95₹186
-4.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65฿88.6
$3.78₹361
-29.89%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$4.74₹452
-
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Machilipatnam
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.42฿47.28
$0.28₹26.29
407.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.57฿386
$8.76₹836
32.08%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.17฿106
$1.46₹140
117.12%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.03฿34.41
$0.23₹21.99
347.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.89฿463
$2.34₹223
493.59%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34฿44.84
$1.24₹118
8.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿927.1K
$15.4K₹1.5M
80.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4K฿1.1M
$24.8K₹2.4M
34.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Machilipatnam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123฿4,105
$17.49₹1,668
603.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77฿459
$3.80₹363
262.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.33฿611
$5.70₹543
221.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Machilipatnam
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.7฿2,025
$15.86₹1,513
282.66%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.16฿573
$7.18₹685
139.00%
Cinema Ticket
$8.87฿296
$3.27₹312
171.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Machilipatnam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$688฿22.9K
$67.8₹6,466
914.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8K฿526.4K
$1,766₹168.4K
793.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Machilipatnam
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3฿1,978
$30.14₹2,875
96.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.69฿1,157
$28.32₹2,701
22.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,843
$37.76₹3,601
205.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.8฿2,794
$37.78₹3,603
121.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Machilipatnam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$621฿20.7K
$126₹12.0K
392.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446฿14.9K
$74.7₹7,124
497.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,034฿67.8K
$274₹26.1K
642.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,496฿49.9K
$181₹17.2K
728.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,455฿115.3K
$1,053₹100.5K
227.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,531฿84.4K
$533₹50.8K
375.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Machilipatnam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494฿16.5K
$211₹20.2K
133.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
8
-33.38%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026
Last update for Machilipatnam: July 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $621 in Phuket versus $126 in Machilipatnam. 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 134% 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 $13.00 in Machilipatnam. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $291 vs $120 – making Machilipatnam 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 Machilipatnam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Phuket and in Machilipatnam compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,264 in Phuket, $378 in Machilipatnam – roughly 235% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Phuket compared to Machilipatnam?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,896 per month in Phuket and $566 in Machilipatnam. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Phuket and Machilipatnam?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Machilipatnam, 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 Machilipatnam?
Kindergarten costs $688 per month in Phuket and $67.8 in Machilipatnam. 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 143% 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 Machilipatnam, where all-in costs run around $378, than in Phuket at $1,264. In Machilipatnam 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 Machilipatnam?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $378 in Machilipatnam to $1,264 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Phuket or Machilipatnam 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 Machilipatnam?
If budget matters most, go with Machilipatnam. 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.