😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,253 in Phuket versus $497 in Sheikhupura.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,043 in Phuket versus $780 in Sheikhupura.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,833 in Phuket versus $1,063 in Sheikhupura.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 152% more expensive than in Sheikhupura, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket9% lower, Sheikhupura64% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Sheikhupura
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56฿150
$3.67PKR 1,018
24.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.62฿1,072
$23.16PKR 6,421
40.85%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.90฿293
$5.45PKR 1,510
63.30%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.69PKR 1,024
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$6.77PKR 1,877
-
Cappuccino
$2.80฿92.2
$2.49PKR 689
12.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88฿28.93
$0.36PKR 98.7
144.44%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49฿16.08
$0.22PKR 60.7
122.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.39฿78.5
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.71฿122
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Sheikhupura
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.79฿58.7
$0.92PKR 255
94.57%
White Bread(500g)
$1.44฿47.38
$0.73PKR 203
97.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.58฿52.1
$1.23PKR 341
28.46%
Eggs
$2.13฿69.9
$1.30PKR 360
63.85%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.92฿655
$6.04PKR 1,674
229.80%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.43฿113
$3.09PKR 856
11.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.33฿372
$5.14PKR 1,426
120.43%
Apples(1kg)
$2.95฿96.9
$1.36PKR 377
116.91%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72฿56.6
$0.88PKR 245
95.45%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.32฿76.4
$1.06PKR 294
118.87%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿68.4
$0.48PKR 134
333.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.47฿48.33
$0.27PKR 73.8
444.44%
Onion(1kg)
$1.36฿44.64
$0.35PKR 97.7
288.57%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.10฿36.12
$0.27PKR 74.3
307.41%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57฿18.89
$0.38PKR 106
50.00%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$1.83PKR 507
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.39PKR 385
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.38PKR 660
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27฿140
$2.28PKR 633
87.28%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.42฿605
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.87฿61.5
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92฿96.0
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Sheikhupura
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.22฿72.9
$0.18PKR 50.9
1133.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.90฿753
$9.37PKR 2,599
144.40%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.03฿99.6
$1.25PKR 346
142.40%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.07฿35.31
$0.71PKR 196
50.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.93฿129
$1.60PKR 443
145.63%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49฿49.04
$1.26PKR 348
18.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.1K฿891.7K
$21.4KPKR 5.9M
26.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5K฿902.3K
$24.9KPKR 6.9M
10.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Sheikhupura
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$103฿3,379
$103PKR 28.5K
0.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.99฿361
$5.83PKR 1,616
88.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.51฿576
$16.06PKR 4,453
9.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Sheikhupura
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.5฿1,760
$16.22PKR 4,496
230.02%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.20฿368
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.48฿246
$5.00PKR 1,387
49.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Sheikhupura
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$557฿18.3K
$75.5PKR 20.9K
637.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.9K฿389.6K
$1,019PKR 282.4K
1063.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Sheikhupura
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.1฿2,106
$24.07PKR 6,673
166.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.07฿956
$32.98PKR 9,143
-11.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.0฿3,154
$82.9PKR 23.0K
15.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.3฿2,970
$40.60PKR 11.3K
122.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Sheikhupura
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$730฿24.0K
$137PKR 38.0K
432.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$500฿16.4K
$78.9PKR 21.9K
533.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,090฿68.7K
$248PKR 68.9K
741.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209฿39.7K
$127PKR 35.3K
848.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,596฿118.2K
$835PKR 231.6K
330.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,512฿82.6K
$445PKR 123.2K
465.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Sheikhupura
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$503฿16.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
13.08
-57.42%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026
Last update for Sheikhupura: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $730 in Phuket and $137 in Sheikhupura. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Phuket vs $23.00 in Sheikhupura for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $273 vs $102 per month, with Sheikhupura 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 Sheikhupura: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sheikhupura cheaper than Phuket?
Sheikhupura is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 152% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,880 in Phuket and $746 in Sheikhupura to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Sheikhupura?
Rent for a central apartment: $730 in Phuket versus $137 in Sheikhupura. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $557 in Phuket versus $75.5 in Sheikhupura. 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 Sheikhupura?
Supermarket bills run roughly 169% 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 Sheikhupura?
At $497 in Sheikhupura versus $1,253 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Sheikhupura but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Sheikhupura the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Sheikhupura more family-friendly?
For families, Sheikhupura 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 Sheikhupura?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Sheikhupura 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 Sheikhupura gentler on the wallet – expenses run 152% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.