ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $371 in Shivamogga.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $606 in Shivamogga.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $841 in Shivamogga.
ðLiving in Phuket is roughly 232% more expensive than Shivamogga, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
ðBoth cities sit below the global median: Phuket8% lower, Shivamogga72% lower.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Shivamogga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63āļŋ151
$3.29âđ311
40.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84āļŋ1,523
$15.24âđ1,442
207.35%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84āļŋ287
$5.18âđ490
70.66%
Cappuccino
$3.00āļŋ97.4
$1.33âđ126
125.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74āļŋ24.11
$0.35âđ33.56
111.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37āļŋ11.88
$0.23âđ21.79
60.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44āļŋ79.3
$1.26âđ119
93.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61āļŋ117
$2.99âđ283
20.74%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Shivamogga
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26āļŋ73.5
$0.54âđ50.7
318.52%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84āļŋ59.8
$0.47âđ44.39
291.49%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24āļŋ73.0
$0.74âđ70.5
202.70%
Eggs
$2.32āļŋ75.3
$0.84âđ79.8
176.19%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67āļŋ639
$4.40âđ417
347.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65āļŋ119
$3.18âđ301
14.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10āļŋ426
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$3.39āļŋ110
$2.12âđ200
59.91%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64āļŋ53.4
$0.69âđ64.9
137.68%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41āļŋ78.5
$0.54âđ51.5
346.30%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03āļŋ66.0
$0.42âđ40.10
383.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56āļŋ50.6
$0.42âđ39.56
271.43%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50āļŋ48.66
$0.47âđ44.07
219.15%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02āļŋ33.30
$0.24âđ22.85
325.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49āļŋ15.91
$0.42âđ39.75
16.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45āļŋ145
$3.59âđ339
23.96%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88āļŋ614
$6.74âđ638
180.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78āļŋ57.7
$0.98âđ92.9
81.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75āļŋ89.5
$1.77âđ167
55.37%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$4.56âđ432
-
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Shivamogga
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40āļŋ45.54
$0.28âđ26.26
400.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48āļŋ373
$8.61âđ814
33.33%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12āļŋ101
$1.18âđ111
164.41%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00āļŋ32.48
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09āļŋ458
$2.38âđ225
492.02%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35āļŋ43.93
$1.15âđ109
17.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2Kāļŋ883.7K
$11.4Kâđ1.1M
138.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
$32.8Kâđ3.1M
0.40%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Shivamogga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125āļŋ4,063
$23.55âđ2,228
430.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57āļŋ441
$1.96âđ186
592.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52āļŋ602
$8.50âđ804
117.88%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Shivamogga
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5āļŋ1,999
$8.31âđ786
639.83%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84āļŋ547
$6.86âđ649
145.48%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19āļŋ299
$2.37âđ224
287.76%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Shivamogga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698āļŋ22.7K
$51.8âđ4,900
1248.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6Kāļŋ506.9K
$1,916âđ181.3K
713.90%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Shivamogga
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8āļŋ1,878
$33.58âđ3,178
72.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24āļŋ1,146
$28.68âđ2,713
22.87%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,677
$52.0âđ4,922
117.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4āļŋ2,808
$23.65âđ2,237
265.24%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Shivamogga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616āļŋ20.0K
$122âđ11.5K
405.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446āļŋ14.5K
$86.0âđ8,134
418.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048āļŋ66.6K
$273âđ25.8K
651.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492āļŋ48.5K
$178âđ16.8K
737.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779āļŋ122.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649āļŋ86.1K
-
-
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Shivamogga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524āļŋ17.0K
$422âđ39.9K
24.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
8.47
-37.07%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Shivamogga: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $616 in Phuket and $122 in Shivamogga. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ð°Phuket pays 24% 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: $47 in Phuket vs $15 in Shivamogga for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $95 per month, with Shivamogga 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 Shivamogga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Shivamogga cheaper than Phuket?
Shivamogga is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 232% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Shivamogga?
Phuket pays 24% 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 Shivamogga?
Rent for a central apartment: $616 in Phuket versus $122 in Shivamogga. 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 $51.8 in Shivamogga. 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 Shivamogga?
Supermarket bills run roughly 209% 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 Shivamogga?
At $371 in Shivamogga versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Shivamogga but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Shivamogga the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Shivamogga more family-friendly?
For families, Shivamogga 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 Shivamogga?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Shivamogga 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 Shivamogga gentler on the wallet â expenses run 232% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.