Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Ranchi

For one person, living is cheaper in Ranchi: $446 a month against $1,278 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $10,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Phuket, Thailand
Ranchi, India
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,278
/mo nomad
Ranchi
🇮🇳 India
$446
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Ranchi

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,278 in Phuket versus $446 in Ranchi.

  • Phuket $1,278
  • Ranchi $446

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,216 in Phuket versus $666 in Ranchi.

  • Phuket $2,216
  • Ranchi $666

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,154 in Phuket versus $887 in Ranchi.

  • Phuket $3,154
  • Ranchi $887

Living in Phuket is roughly 187% more expensive than in Ranchi, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, Ranchi 67% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Ranchi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.47 ฿151
$3.13 ₹298
42.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.41 ฿1,094
$10.42 ₹992
211.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.81 ฿297
$4.85 ₹462
81.65%
Cappuccino
$2.83 ฿95.5
$1.51 ₹143
87.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 ฿29.43
$0.44 ₹41.44
97.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.67
$0.14 ₹13.40
250.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.56 ฿86.4
$1.76 ₹167
45.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 ฿124
$2.86 ₹272
28.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Ranchi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 ฿56.0
$0.63 ₹59.9
163.49%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 ฿49.35
$0.41 ₹39.48
256.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.6
$0.46 ₹43.96
226.09%
Eggs
$2.09 ฿70.5
$1.01 ₹96.5
106.93%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.07 ฿644
$4.73 ₹451
303.17%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.30 ฿111
$2.22 ₹211
48.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.91 ฿368
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.93 ฿99.0
$1.36 ₹130
115.44%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 ฿57.1
$0.63 ₹60.1
168.25%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 ฿75.8
$0.68 ₹64.4
230.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿70.1
$0.48 ₹45.49
333.33%
Potato (1kg)
$1.51 ฿51.0
$0.31 ₹29.18
387.10%
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.56
$0.40 ₹38.52
245.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ฿35.99
$0.30 ₹28.69
256.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.52
$0.27 ₹25.52
92.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20 ฿142
$4.31 ₹410
-2.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.79 ฿634
$4.67 ₹445
302.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 ฿61.5
$0.92 ₹87.9
97.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 ฿95.9
$2.06 ₹196
37.86%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$4.07 ₹387
-
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Ranchi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.45 ฿49.03
$0.20 ₹19.03
625.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$56.7 ฿1,913
$21.11 ₹2,010
168.40%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿102
$1.60 ₹152
88.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ฿34.36
$0.20 ₹19.03
410.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.69 ฿125
$0.81 ₹77.5
355.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ฿49.81
$1.06 ₹101
38.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K ฿904.3K
$11.1K ₹1.1M
142.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿901.3K
$17.5K ₹1.7M
52.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Ranchi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.4 ฿3,254
$65.1 ₹6,199
48.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.26 ฿380
$3.37 ₹321
234.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.85 ฿569
$6.88 ₹656
144.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Ranchi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.2 ฿2,270
$22.01 ₹2,095
205.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.73 ฿362
$13.56 ₹1,291
-20.87%
Cinema Ticket
$7.50 ฿253
$2.97 ₹283
152.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Ranchi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$476 ฿16.1K
$58.7 ₹5,585
711.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.3K ฿380.4K
$1,312 ₹124.9K
758.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Ranchi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.4 ฿2,106
$22.88 ₹2,179
172.55%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.41 ฿959
$25.84 ₹2,461
9.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.3 ฿3,184
$42.96 ₹4,091
119.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.8 ฿2,898
$31.84 ₹3,032
169.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Ranchi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$716 ฿24.2K
$139 ₹13.2K
415.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$491 ฿16.6K
$106 ₹10.1K
362.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,927 ฿65.1K
$255 ₹24.3K
654.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,431 ฿48.3K
$187 ₹17.8K
663.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,175 ฿141.0K
$789 ₹75.2K
428.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,045 ฿102.8K
$543 ₹51.7K
460.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Ranchi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$502 ฿17.0K
$568 ₹54.1K
-11.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
14.92
-62.67%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Last update for Ranchi: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$491
Ranchi
$106 78.4% $385
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$266
Ranchi
$82 69.4% $185
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$124
Ranchi
$75 39.5% $49
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$122
Ranchi
$56 54.4% $66
Eating Out
Phuket
$122
Ranchi
$74 38.8% $47
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$82
Ranchi
$28 66% $54
Getting Around
Phuket
$71
Ranchi
$25 65.3% $46

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $716 in Phuket and $139 in Ranchi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ranchi pays 13% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $32 in Phuket vs $10 in Ranchi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $266 vs $82 per month, with Ranchi cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇮🇳 Ranchi
🕒 Local time
03:21 3:21 AM
01:51 1:51 AM
1 h 30 min behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
1,074,000
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

INR, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 33.77 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.59 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Indian Rupee exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 95.22 INR (100 INR = 1.05 USD). 1 EUR = 106 INR (1,000 INR = 9.43 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Ranchi 2,220 km ≈ 3 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Ranchi

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 Ranchi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ranchi cheaper than Phuket?
Ranchi is about 65% cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and leisure. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Ranchi?
On paper, salaries run 12% lower in Phuket. 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 Ranchi?
Rent for a central apartment: $716 in Phuket versus $139 in Ranchi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $476 in Phuket versus $59 in Ranchi. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and in Ranchi?
Supermarket bills run roughly 226% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,200 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Ranchi?
At $446 in Ranchi versus $1,278 in Phuket, a $1,200 budget is realistic in Ranchi but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Ranchi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Phuket or in Ranchi?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Ranchi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 65% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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