ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,270 in Phuket versus $356 in Rudrapur.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $2,304 in Phuket versus $567 in Rudrapur.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,339 in Phuket versus $779 in Rudrapur.
ðLiving in Phuket is roughly 256% more expensive than Rudrapur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
ðBoth cities sit below the global median: Phuket5% lower, Rudrapur73% lower.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Rudrapur
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.66āļŋ150
$2.06âđ194
126.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.44āļŋ1,496
$9.12âđ856
409.21%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.68āļŋ280
$3.97âđ372
118.64%
Cappuccino
$2.95āļŋ95.0
$0.68âđ63.6
333.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70āļŋ22.52
$0.41âđ38.08
70.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39āļŋ12.70
$0.18âđ17.18
116.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.53āļŋ81.6
$1.13âđ106
123.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78āļŋ122
$2.26âđ213
67.26%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Rudrapur
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.22āļŋ71.5
$0.61âđ57.0
263.93%
White Bread(500g)
$1.80āļŋ57.8
$0.22âđ20.52
718.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.19āļŋ70.4
$0.64âđ60.1
242.19%
Eggs
$2.31āļŋ74.5
$0.58âđ54.8
298.28%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.34āļŋ623
$4.70âđ441
311.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.77āļŋ121
$1.94âđ182
94.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.22āļŋ426
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$3.33āļŋ107
$1.77âđ167
88.14%
Banana(1kg)
$1.65āļŋ53.1
$0.59âđ55.7
179.66%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.29āļŋ73.7
$0.49âđ45.74
367.35%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.99āļŋ64.1
$0.28âđ26.10
610.71%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53āļŋ49.24
$0.16âđ14.61
856.25%
Onion(1kg)
$1.51āļŋ48.77
$0.22âđ20.57
586.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03āļŋ33.12
$0.24âđ22.55
329.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51āļŋ16.57
$0.30âđ28.53
70.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41āļŋ142
$4.00âđ375
10.25%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.41āļŋ625
$8.76âđ822
121.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80āļŋ58.0
$1.71âđ161
5.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68āļŋ86.4
$1.70âđ160
57.65%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$5.72âđ537
-
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Rudrapur
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.43āļŋ46.11
$0.30âđ28.42
376.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.70āļŋ377
$8.89âđ834
31.61%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.04āļŋ97.9
$0.82âđ77.2
270.73%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04āļŋ33.37
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.68āļŋ441
$1.99âđ187
587.44%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30āļŋ41.85
$1.16âđ108
12.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9Kāļŋ898.9K
$13.0Kâđ1.2M
114.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0Kāļŋ1.1M
$20.0Kâđ1.9M
65.37%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Rudrapur
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123āļŋ3,962
$41.01âđ3,850
199.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.82āļŋ445
$3.85âđ361
258.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.86āļŋ608
$7.57âđ710
149.14%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Rudrapur
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.2āļŋ1,970
$16.03âđ1,505
281.47%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.81āļŋ541
$6.82âđ640
146.48%
Cinema Ticket
$8.87āļŋ286
$1.77âđ166
401.13%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Rudrapur
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$696āļŋ22.4K
$47.24âđ4,434
1374.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.1Kāļŋ517.4K
$1,119âđ105.0K
1334.99%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Rudrapur
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3āļŋ1,910
$21.70âđ2,036
173.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.85āļŋ1,123
$28.22âđ2,649
23.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,646
$47.77âđ4,483
136.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.1āļŋ2,740
$43.12âđ4,047
97.24%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Rudrapur
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$615āļŋ19.8K
$125âđ11.8K
390.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$448āļŋ14.4K
$74.9âđ7,029
498.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,085āļŋ67.2K
$276âđ25.9K
656.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,496āļŋ48.2K
$181âđ17.0K
724.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,734āļŋ120.3K
$964âđ90.5K
287.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,662āļŋ85.8K
$532âđ49.9K
400.40%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Rudrapur
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$534āļŋ17.2K
$325âđ30.5K
64.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
8.25
-35.39%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 20, 2026
Last update for Rudrapur: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $615 in Phuket and $125 in Rudrapur. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ð°Phuket pays 64% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
ðDining out: $46 in Phuket vs $9 in Rudrapur for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $291 vs $88 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 256% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Rudrapur?
Phuket pays 64% more on average, 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: $615 in Phuket versus $125 in Rudrapur. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $696 in Phuket versus $47.24 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 Rudrapur?
Supermarket bills run roughly 232% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Rudrapur?
At $356 in Rudrapur versus $1,270 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 â expenses run 256% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.