ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,270 in Phuket versus $384 in Sibsagar.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $2,304 in Phuket versus $604 in Sibsagar.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,339 in Phuket versus $824 in Sibsagar.
ðLiving in Phuket is roughly 231% more expensive than Sibsagar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
ðBoth cities sit below the global median: Phuket5% lower, Sibsagar71% lower.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Sibsagar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.66āļŋ150
$2.36âđ221
97.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.44āļŋ1,496
$10.51âđ987
341.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.68āļŋ280
$3.78âđ354
129.63%
Cappuccino
$2.95āļŋ95.0
$1.54âđ145
91.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70āļŋ22.52
$0.38âđ35.44
84.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39āļŋ12.70
$0.18âđ17.18
116.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.53āļŋ81.6
$1.76âđ165
43.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78āļŋ122
$3.02âđ283
25.17%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Sibsagar
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.22āļŋ71.5
$0.71âđ66.6
212.68%
White Bread(500g)
$1.80āļŋ57.8
$0.49âđ46.21
267.35%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.19āļŋ70.4
$0.67âđ63.0
226.87%
Eggs
$2.31āļŋ74.5
$0.89âđ83.2
159.55%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.34āļŋ623
$4.91âđ461
293.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.77āļŋ121
$2.93âđ275
28.67%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.22āļŋ426
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$3.33āļŋ107
$2.00âđ188
66.50%
Banana(1kg)
$1.65āļŋ53.1
$0.68âđ63.8
142.65%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.29āļŋ73.7
$0.91âđ85.8
151.65%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.99āļŋ64.1
$0.50âđ46.77
298.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53āļŋ49.24
$0.35âđ33.22
337.14%
Onion(1kg)
$1.51āļŋ48.77
$0.45âđ42.28
235.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03āļŋ33.12
$0.48âđ45.36
114.58%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51āļŋ16.57
$0.34âđ32.02
50.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41āļŋ142
$3.99âđ374
10.53%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.41āļŋ625
$8.05âđ755
141.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80āļŋ58.0
$1.71âđ160
5.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68āļŋ86.4
$2.92âđ274
-8.22%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$5.22âđ490
-
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Sibsagar
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.43āļŋ46.11
$0.30âđ28.56
376.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.70āļŋ377
$8.71âđ817
34.33%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.04āļŋ97.9
$0.77âđ72.6
294.81%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04āļŋ33.37
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.68āļŋ441
$1.43âđ135
856.64%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30āļŋ41.85
$1.22âđ115
6.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9Kāļŋ898.9K
$14.2Kâđ1.3M
96.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0Kāļŋ1.1M
$22.0Kâđ2.1M
50.17%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Sibsagar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123āļŋ3,962
$39.68âđ3,724
209.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.82āļŋ445
$3.40âđ319
306.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.86āļŋ608
$7.60âđ713
148.16%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Sibsagar
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.2āļŋ1,970
$16.04âđ1,506
281.23%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.81āļŋ541
$6.96âđ653
141.52%
Cinema Ticket
$8.87āļŋ286
$2.98âđ279
197.65%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Sibsagar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$696āļŋ22.4K
$51.2âđ4,803
1260.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.1Kāļŋ517.4K
$1,531âđ143.7K
948.66%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Sibsagar
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3āļŋ1,910
$24.67âđ2,315
140.29%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.85āļŋ1,123
$24.81âđ2,329
40.47%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,646
$42.26âđ3,967
167.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.1āļŋ2,740
$32.21âđ3,023
164.05%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Sibsagar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$615āļŋ19.8K
$123âđ11.5K
401.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$448āļŋ14.4K
$76.5âđ7,180
486.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,085āļŋ67.2K
$277âđ26.0K
651.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,496āļŋ48.2K
$179âđ16.8K
735.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,734āļŋ120.3K
$861âđ80.8K
333.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,662āļŋ85.8K
$466âđ43.8K
470.83%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Sibsagar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$534āļŋ17.2K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
8.67
-38.52%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 20, 2026
Last update for Sibsagar: April 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $615 in Phuket and $123 in Sibsagar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ðDining out: $46 in Phuket vs $11 in Sibsagar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $291 vs $106 per month, with Sibsagar 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 Sibsagar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sibsagar cheaper than Phuket?
Sibsagar is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 231% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,904 in Phuket and $576 in Sibsagar 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 Sibsagar?
Rent for a central apartment: $615 in Phuket versus $123 in Sibsagar. 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 $51.2 in Sibsagar. 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 Sibsagar?
Supermarket bills run roughly 174% 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 Sibsagar?
At $384 in Sibsagar versus $1,270 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Sibsagar but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Sibsagar the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Sibsagar more family-friendly?
For families, Sibsagar 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 Sibsagar?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Sibsagar 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 Sibsagar gentler on the wallet â expenses run 231% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.