ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $364 in Rayagada.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $582 in Rayagada.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $799 in Rayagada.
ðLiving in Phuket is roughly 238% more expensive than Rayagada, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
ðBoth cities sit below the global median: Phuket8% lower, Rayagada73% lower.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Rayagada
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63āļŋ151
$1.71âđ163
170.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84āļŋ1,532
$9.37âđ889
399.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84āļŋ289
$3.53âđ335
150.42%
Cappuccino
$3.00āļŋ98.0
$1.19âđ113
152.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74āļŋ24.25
$0.38âđ36.47
94.74%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37āļŋ11.95
$0.12âđ11.12
208.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44āļŋ79.8
$2.04âđ194
19.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61āļŋ118
$3.40âđ323
6.18%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Rayagada
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26āļŋ73.9
$0.51âđ48.08
343.14%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84āļŋ60.1
$0.55âđ52.4
234.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24āļŋ73.4
$0.62âđ59.1
261.29%
Eggs
$2.32āļŋ75.7
$0.91âđ86.5
154.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67āļŋ643
$3.31âđ314
494.26%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65āļŋ119
$2.99âđ284
22.07%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10āļŋ428
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$3.39āļŋ111
$1.77âđ168
91.53%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64āļŋ53.7
$0.68âđ64.5
141.18%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41āļŋ79.0
$0.78âđ73.9
208.97%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03āļŋ66.4
$0.58âđ55.5
250.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56āļŋ50.9
$0.42âđ40.08
271.43%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50āļŋ48.94
$0.59âđ55.8
154.24%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02āļŋ33.50
$0.45âđ42.81
126.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49āļŋ16.00
$0.32âđ30.76
53.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45āļŋ145
$4.17âđ396
6.71%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88āļŋ617
$7.57âđ718
149.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78āļŋ58.1
$1.98âđ188
-10.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75āļŋ90.1
$3.63âđ345
-24.24%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$4.85âđ460
-
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Rayagada
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40āļŋ45.81
$0.30âđ28.89
366.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48āļŋ376
$8.92âđ847
28.70%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12āļŋ102
$0.56âđ53.3
457.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00āļŋ32.67
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09āļŋ461
$2.36âđ224
497.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35āļŋ44.19
$1.15âđ110
17.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2Kāļŋ888.9K
$15.0Kâđ1.4M
81.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
$24.7Kâđ2.3M
33.24%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Rayagada
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125āļŋ4,087
$22.87âđ2,171
446.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57āļŋ444
$3.69âđ351
267.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52āļŋ606
$5.77âđ547
220.97%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Rayagada
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5āļŋ2,010
$15.64âđ1,485
293.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84āļŋ551
$7.23âđ686
132.92%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19āļŋ300
$3.16âđ300
190.82%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Rayagada
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698āļŋ22.8K
$67.1âđ6,368
941.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6Kāļŋ509.9K
$1,767âđ167.8K
782.44%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Rayagada
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8āļŋ1,889
$29.88âđ2,836
93.31%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24āļŋ1,152
$28.32âđ2,689
24.44%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,699
$37.45âđ3,556
202.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4āļŋ2,825
$37.34âđ3,545
131.33%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Rayagada
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616āļŋ20.1K
$125âđ11.8K
394.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446āļŋ14.6K
$76.8âđ7,290
480.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048āļŋ67.0K
$275âđ26.1K
645.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492āļŋ48.8K
$182âđ17.3K
718.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779āļŋ123.6K
$1,093âđ103.8K
245.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649āļŋ86.6K
$517âđ49.0K
412.70%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Rayagada
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524āļŋ17.1K
$615âđ58.4K
-14.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
8.3
-35.78%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Rayagada: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $616 in Phuket and $125 in Rayagada. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ð°Rayagada pays 17% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
ðDining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $9.00 in Rayagada for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $101 per month, with Rayagada 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 Rayagada: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rayagada cheaper than Phuket?
Rayagada is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 238% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Rayagada?
On paper, Rayagada earns 17% 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 Rayagada?
Rent for a central apartment: $616 in Phuket versus $125 in Rayagada. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $698 in Phuket versus $67.1 in Rayagada. 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 Rayagada?
Supermarket bills run roughly 189% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Phuket or Rayagada?
At $364 in Rayagada versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Rayagada but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Rayagada the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Rayagada more family-friendly?
For families, Rayagada 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 Rayagada?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Rayagada 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 Rayagada gentler on the wallet â expenses run 238% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.