ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,270 in Phuket versus $315 in Shajapur.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $2,304 in Phuket versus $502 in Shajapur.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,339 in Phuket versus $688 in Shajapur.
ðLiving in Phuket is roughly 302% more expensive than Shajapur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
ðBoth cities sit below the global median: Phuket5% lower, Shajapur76% lower.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Shajapur
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.66āļŋ150
$1.14âđ107
308.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.44āļŋ1,496
$5.11âđ479
808.81%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.68āļŋ280
$2.94âđ276
195.24%
Cappuccino
$2.95āļŋ95.0
$1.08âđ101
173.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70āļŋ22.52
$0.45âđ42.70
55.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39āļŋ12.70
$0.13âđ11.87
200.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.53āļŋ81.6
$1.47âđ138
72.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78āļŋ122
$2.31âđ217
63.64%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Shajapur
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.22āļŋ71.5
$0.70âđ65.7
217.14%
White Bread(500g)
$1.80āļŋ57.8
$0.46âđ42.89
291.30%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.19āļŋ70.4
$0.74âđ69.7
195.95%
Eggs
$2.31āļŋ74.5
$0.93âđ87.5
148.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.34āļŋ623
$3.78âđ354
411.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.77āļŋ121
$2.91âđ274
29.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.22āļŋ426
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$3.33āļŋ107
$1.99âđ187
67.34%
Banana(1kg)
$1.65āļŋ53.1
$0.36âđ34.20
358.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.29āļŋ73.7
$0.59âđ55.7
288.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.99āļŋ64.1
$0.49âđ45.65
306.12%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53āļŋ49.24
$0.35âđ33.30
337.14%
Onion(1kg)
$1.51āļŋ48.77
$0.34âđ31.88
344.12%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03āļŋ33.12
$0.53âđ49.86
94.34%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51āļŋ16.57
$0.32âđ29.66
59.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41āļŋ142
$3.45âđ324
27.83%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.41āļŋ625
$2.59âđ243
649.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80āļŋ58.0
$1.88âđ176
-4.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68āļŋ86.4
$2.28âđ214
17.54%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$5.64âđ529
-
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Shajapur
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.43āļŋ46.11
$0.30âđ28.46
376.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.70āļŋ377
$8.52âđ800
37.32%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.04āļŋ97.9
$0.36âđ33.87
744.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04āļŋ33.37
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.68āļŋ441
$2.34âđ220
484.62%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30āļŋ41.85
$1.18âđ111
10.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9Kāļŋ898.9K
$13.5Kâđ1.3M
106.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0Kāļŋ1.1M
$21.3Kâđ2.0M
54.85%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Shajapur
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123āļŋ3,962
$28.61âđ2,686
329.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.82āļŋ445
$2.33âđ219
493.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.86āļŋ608
$8.34âđ782
126.14%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Shajapur
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.2āļŋ1,970
$15.97âđ1,499
282.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.81āļŋ541
$6.85âđ643
145.40%
Cinema Ticket
$8.87āļŋ286
$2.29âđ215
287.34%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Shajapur
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$696āļŋ22.4K
$49.05âđ4,604
1319.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.1Kāļŋ517.4K
$1,037âđ97.4K
1448.04%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Shajapur
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3āļŋ1,910
$17.15âđ1,610
245.66%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.85āļŋ1,123
$24.37âđ2,287
43.00%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,646
$29.49âđ2,768
283.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.1āļŋ2,740
$11.83âđ1,111
618.93%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Shajapur
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$615āļŋ19.8K
$122âđ11.5K
402.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$448āļŋ14.4K
$76.1âđ7,141
489.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,085āļŋ67.2K
$273âđ25.6K
664.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,496āļŋ48.2K
$179âđ16.8K
733.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,734āļŋ120.3K
$950âđ89.1K
293.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,662āļŋ85.8K
$523âđ49.1K
409.12%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Shajapur
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$534āļŋ17.2K
$158âđ14.8K
237.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
8.8
-39.43%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 20, 2026
Last update for Shajapur: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $615 in Phuket and $122 in Shajapur. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ð°Phuket pays 238% 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 $5 in Shajapur for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $291 vs $88 per month, with Shajapur 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 Shajapur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Shajapur cheaper than Phuket?
Shajapur is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 302% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Shajapur?
Phuket pays 238% 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 Shajapur?
Rent for a central apartment: $615 in Phuket versus $122 in Shajapur. 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 $49.05 in Shajapur. 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 Shajapur?
Supermarket bills run roughly 232% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Phuket or Shajapur?
At $315 in Shajapur versus $1,270 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Shajapur but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Shajapur the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Shajapur more family-friendly?
For families, Shajapur 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 Shajapur?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Shajapur 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 Shajapur gentler on the wallet â expenses run 302% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.