😐A single person spends $1,223 per month in Phuket vs $388 in Machilipatnam, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,237 per month in Phuket vs $631 in Machilipatnam, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,251 per month in Phuket vs $875 in Machilipatnam, rent included.
😐Phuket costs about 215% more than Machilipatnam, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Phuket and Machilipatnam are more affordable than the global median – Phuket8% lower, Machilipatnam71% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Machilipatnam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.51฿147
$2.54₹241
77.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.62฿1,515
$12.58₹1,190
270.59%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.49฿276
$4.27₹404
98.83%
Cappuccino
$3.08฿100
$1.51₹143
103.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68฿22.07
$0.24₹22.78
183.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36฿11.75
$0.13₹11.92
176.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.43฿78.8
$1.76₹167
38.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63฿118
$3.48₹329
4.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Machilipatnam
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.19฿71.1
$0.69₹64.9
217.39%
White Bread(500g)
$1.81฿59.0
$0.34₹31.89
432.35%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.23฿72.5
$0.54₹51.5
312.96%
Eggs
$2.24฿72.7
$0.73₹69.0
206.85%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.60฿637
$5.18₹490
278.38%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.72฿121
$3.51₹332
5.98%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.47฿438
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$3.36฿109
$2.90₹274
15.86%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62฿52.5
$0.71₹67.3
128.17%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿78.3
$1.31₹124
83.97%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.99฿64.6
$0.56₹52.5
255.36%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿49.76
$0.52₹49.36
194.23%
Onion(1kg)
$1.45฿47.19
$0.36₹34.51
302.78%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01฿32.96
$0.46₹43.08
119.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48฿15.73
$0.35₹33.24
37.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27฿139
$4.45₹421
-4.04%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.12฿621
$8.96₹848
113.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84฿59.7
$1.94₹183
-5.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74฿89.1
$3.61₹342
-24.10%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$4.92₹466
-
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Machilipatnam
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.42฿46.06
$0.30₹28.77
373.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.72฿381
$8.87₹839
32.13%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.00฿97.6
$1.43₹136
109.79%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.05฿34.00
$0.21₹19.81
400.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.90฿452
$2.31₹218
501.73%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.29฿41.94
$1.27₹120
1.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K฿911.1K
$15.0K₹1.4M
87.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.5K฿1.1M
$24.8K₹2.3M
35.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Machilipatnam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿3,964
$17.47₹1,653
598.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.93฿453
$3.79₹359
267.55%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.87฿613
$5.67₹537
232.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Machilipatnam
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.3฿1,992
$15.78₹1,493
288.34%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84฿547
$6.95₹658
142.30%
Cinema Ticket
$8.89฿289
$3.27₹309
171.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Machilipatnam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$691฿22.5K
$66.5₹6,291
939.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.2K฿525.2K
$1,745₹165.1K
826.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Machilipatnam
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8฿1,878
$29.83₹2,822
93.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.39฿1,150
$27.49₹2,601
28.74%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113฿3,685
$37.67₹3,564
200.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.0฿2,698
$36.94₹3,494
124.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Machilipatnam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$607฿19.7K
$125₹11.8K
384.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$448฿14.6K
$75.8₹7,173
490.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,029฿66.0K
$278₹26.3K
630.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,493฿48.5K
$184₹17.4K
712.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,585฿116.5K
$882₹83.4K
306.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,585฿84.0K
$469₹44.4K
451.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Machilipatnam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$505฿16.4K
$211₹19.9K
139.64%
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: June 13, 2026
Last update for Machilipatnam: June 16, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $607 in Phuket versus $125 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 140% 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 $47.00 in Phuket versus $13.00 in Machilipatnam. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $118 – 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 Machilipatnam compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,223 in Phuket, $388 in Machilipatnam – roughly 215% 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 $1,835 per month in Phuket and $582 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 $691 per month in Phuket and $66.5 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 147% 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 $388, than in Phuket at $1,223. 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 $388 in Machilipatnam to $1,223 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.