Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Nellore Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Nellore

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $523 in Nellore.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $789 in Nellore.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $1,055 in Nellore.

Living in Phuket is roughly 142% more expensive than Nellore, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, Nellore 61% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Nellore
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70 ฿153
$1.76 ₹168
167.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37 ฿1,482
$10.49 ₹999
332.51%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.43 ฿275
$4.54 ₹432
85.68%
Cappuccino
$2.93 ฿95.6
$2.27 ₹216
29.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ฿22.40
$0.32 ₹30.91
115.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿11.99
$0.18 ₹17.62
105.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.41 ฿78.6
$2.09 ₹199
15.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 ฿122
$2.46 ₹234
51.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Nellore
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.23 ฿72.9
$0.80 ₹76.6
178.75%
White Bread (500g)
$1.83 ฿59.8
$0.52 ₹49.15
251.92%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.17 ฿70.8
$0.59 ₹56.2
267.80%
Eggs
$2.21 ฿72.3
$0.89 ₹84.6
148.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.74 ฿645
$6.46 ₹615
205.57%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.63 ฿119
$2.96 ₹282
22.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.53 ฿442
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$3.28 ฿107
$1.91 ₹182
71.73%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ฿52.6
$0.87 ₹83.0
85.06%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 ฿78.6
$0.77 ₹73.4
212.99%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿68.1
$0.41 ₹38.81
407.32%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿49.93
$0.40 ₹38.40
282.50%
Onion (1kg)
$1.48 ฿48.36
$0.42 ₹39.88
252.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 ฿32.29
$0.69 ₹65.4
43.48%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.67
$0.36 ₹34.52
41.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41 ฿144
$3.79 ₹361
16.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.38 ฿633
$5.86 ₹558
230.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿58.1
$2.27 ₹217
-21.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 ฿88.6
$3.27 ₹311
-17.13%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$4.19 ₹399
-
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Nellore
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.37 ฿44.79
$0.24 ₹22.94
470.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.39 ฿372
$8.58 ₹817
32.75%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿98.6
$1.19 ₹114
153.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.99 ฿32.48
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.10 ฿461
$2.29 ₹218
515.72%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 ฿44.51
$1.23 ₹117
10.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K ฿921.1K
$17.7K ₹1.7M
59.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K ฿1.1M
$19.1K ₹1.8M
71.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Nellore
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ฿3,975
$28.03 ₹2,670
334.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 ฿443
$3.73 ₹356
263.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31 ฿598
$7.58 ₹722
141.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Nellore
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.2 ฿1,967
$15.35 ₹1,462
292.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14 ฿560
$2.39 ₹227
617.15%
Cinema Ticket
$8.69 ฿284
$2.36 ₹225
268.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Nellore
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$693 ฿22.6K
$38.98 ₹3,713
1678.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.7K ฿512.3K
$1,599 ₹152.3K
881.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Nellore
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5 ฿1,944
$24.27 ₹2,312
145.28%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77 ฿1,136
$25.86 ₹2,464
34.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,743
$32.64 ₹3,109
251.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3 ฿2,720
$39.97 ₹3,807
108.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Nellore
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$613 ฿20.0K
$231 ₹22.0K
165.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$437 ฿14.3K
$210 ₹20.0K
107.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,094 ฿68.4K
$418 ₹39.8K
401.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,509 ฿49.3K
$380 ₹36.2K
297.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,749 ฿122.5K
$663 ₹63.1K
465.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,616 ฿85.4K
$453 ₹43.2K
477.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Nellore
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$508 ฿16.6K
$635 ₹60.5K
-19.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
7.5
-28.93%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Nellore: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $613 in Phuket and $231 in Nellore. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Nellore pays 25% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $45.00 in Phuket vs $10.00 in Nellore for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $112 per month, with Nellore cheaper across the board.

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 Nellore: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nellore cheaper than Phuket?
Nellore is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 142% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Nellore?
On paper, Nellore earns 25% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Nellore?
Rent for a central apartment: $613 in Phuket versus $231 in Nellore. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket vs Nellore?
All in, you'll spend $1,265 per month in Phuket versus $523 in Nellore – a 142% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Nellore runs roughly 33% less than in Phuket. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Nellore?
At $523 in Nellore versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Nellore but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Nellore the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Nellore more family-friendly?
For families, Nellore is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Nellore?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Nellore are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Nellore gentler on the wallet – expenses run 142% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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