😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,264 in Phuket versus $351 in Rudrapur.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,256 in Phuket versus $568 in Rudrapur.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,248 in Phuket versus $784 in Rudrapur.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 260% more expensive than in Rudrapur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket5% lower, Rudrapur74% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Rudrapur
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.48฿151
$2.12₹204
111.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.59฿1,532
$9.21₹883
395.01%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.76฿294
$4.03₹387
117.37%
Cappuccino
$2.97฿99.7
$0.72₹69.5
312.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿23.07
$0.41₹39.24
68.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39฿13.13
$0.18₹17.01
116.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.53฿85.1
$1.14₹109
121.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75฿126
$2.32₹222
61.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Rudrapur
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.15฿72.1
$0.60₹57.3
258.33%
White Bread(500g)
$1.82฿61.0
$0.24₹23.13
658.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.18฿73.4
$0.65₹62.1
235.38%
Eggs
$2.25฿75.6
$0.54₹51.7
316.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$20.00฿672
$4.72₹453
323.73%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63฿122
$1.96₹188
85.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.56฿455
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$3.24฿109
$1.70₹163
90.59%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64฿55.0
$0.56₹53.7
192.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.33฿78.3
$0.48₹46.11
385.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.07฿69.6
$0.30₹29.13
590.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.55฿52.0
$0.18₹17.28
761.11%
Onion(1kg)
$1.46฿48.89
$0.22₹20.99
563.64%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98฿33.09
$0.22₹21.08
345.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.21
$0.30₹28.78
60.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35฿146
$4.12₹395
5.58%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.57฿624
$8.22₹788
125.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿62.4
$1.68₹161
10.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65฿89.2
$1.78₹171
48.88%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$5.91₹567
-
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Rudrapur
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.42฿47.62
$0.28₹26.55
407.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.57฿389
$8.96₹859
29.13%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.17฿106
$0.84₹80.3
277.38%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.03฿34.66
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.89฿467
$2.06₹198
574.27%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34฿45.16
$1.15₹110
16.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿933.8K
$12.7K₹1.2M
119.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4K฿1.1M
$20.2K₹1.9M
65.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Rudrapur
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123฿4,134
$41.87₹4,015
193.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77฿463
$3.69₹353
273.17%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.33฿616
$7.69₹738
138.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Rudrapur
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.7฿2,039
$16.13₹1,547
276.26%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.16฿577
$7.00₹671
145.14%
Cinema Ticket
$8.87฿298
$1.79₹171
395.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Rudrapur
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$688฿23.1K
$45.64₹4,377
1407.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8K฿530.2K
$1,107₹106.2K
1325.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Rudrapur
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3฿1,992
$21.81₹2,091
171.89%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.69฿1,166
$28.83₹2,764
20.33%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,870
$46.64₹4,473
146.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.8฿2,814
$41.97₹4,025
99.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Rudrapur
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$621฿20.9K
$124₹11.9K
402.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446฿15.0K
$75.2₹7,211
493.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,034฿68.3K
$271₹26.0K
650.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,496฿50.3K
$180₹17.3K
730.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,455฿116.1K
$980₹94.0K
252.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,531฿85.0K
$509₹48.8K
397.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Rudrapur
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494฿16.6K
$315₹30.3K
56.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
8.25
-35.39%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026
Last update for Rudrapur: July 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $621 in Phuket and $124 in Rudrapur. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Phuket pays 56% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $46.00 in Phuket vs $9.00 in Rudrapur for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $291 vs $86.0 per month, with Rudrapur 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 Rudrapur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rudrapur cheaper than Phuket?
Rudrapur is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 260% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Rudrapur?
Average pay runs 56% higher in Phuket, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Rudrapur?
Rent for a central apartment: $621 in Phuket versus $124 in Rudrapur. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $688 in Phuket versus $45.64 in Rudrapur. 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 Rudrapur?
Supermarket bills run roughly 237% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Rudrapur?
At $351 in Rudrapur versus $1,264 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Rudrapur but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Rudrapur the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Rudrapur more family-friendly?
For families, Rudrapur 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 Rudrapur?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Rudrapur 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 Rudrapur gentler on the wallet – expenses run 260% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.