ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $347 in Siliguri.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $568 in Siliguri.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $790 in Siliguri.
ðLiving in Phuket is roughly 255% more expensive than Siliguri, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
ðBoth cities sit below the global median: Phuket8% lower, Siliguri74% lower.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Siliguri
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63āļŋ151
$2.86âđ271
61.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84āļŋ1,532
$14.03âđ1,332
233.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84āļŋ289
$6.50âđ617
36.00%
Cappuccino
$3.00āļŋ98.0
$1.51âđ144
98.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74āļŋ24.25
$0.37âđ35.56
100.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37āļŋ11.95
$0.20âđ19.24
85.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44āļŋ79.8
$1.47âđ139
65.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61āļŋ118
$2.37âđ225
52.32%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Siliguri
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26āļŋ73.9
$0.57âđ53.8
296.49%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84āļŋ60.1
$0.29âđ27.52
534.48%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24āļŋ73.4
$0.54âđ51.2
314.81%
Eggs
$2.32āļŋ75.7
$0.84âđ79.9
176.19%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67āļŋ643
$5.27âđ501
273.24%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65āļŋ119
$2.18âđ207
67.43%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10āļŋ428
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$3.39āļŋ111
$2.04âđ194
66.18%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64āļŋ53.7
$0.82âđ77.5
100.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41āļŋ79.0
$1.07âđ102
125.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03āļŋ66.4
$0.47âđ44.56
331.91%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56āļŋ50.9
$0.25âđ23.83
524.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50āļŋ48.94
$0.42âđ39.55
257.14%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02āļŋ33.50
$0.37âđ35.34
175.68%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49āļŋ16.00
$0.35âđ33.37
40.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45āļŋ145
$3.41âđ324
30.50%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88āļŋ617
$4.34âđ412
335.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78āļŋ58.1
$1.44âđ137
23.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75āļŋ90.1
$3.61âđ343
-23.82%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$7.34âđ697
-
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Siliguri
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40āļŋ45.81
$0.22âđ20.80
536.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48āļŋ376
$8.84âđ839
29.86%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12āļŋ102
$1.43âđ136
118.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00āļŋ32.67
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09āļŋ461
$1.36âđ129
936.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35āļŋ44.19
$1.23âđ117
9.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2Kāļŋ888.9K
$12.2Kâđ1.2M
123.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
$22.9Kâđ2.2M
43.98%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Siliguri
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125āļŋ4,087
$37.32âđ3,543
234.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57āļŋ444
$3.15âđ299
330.79%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52āļŋ606
$7.88âđ748
135.03%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Siliguri
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5āļŋ2,010
$6.77âđ642
808.12%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84āļŋ551
$5.03âđ477
234.79%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19āļŋ300
$2.34âđ222
292.74%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Siliguri
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698āļŋ22.8K
$40.56âđ3,850
1621.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6Kāļŋ509.9K
$2,004âđ190.3K
678.02%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Siliguri
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8āļŋ1,889
$27.85âđ2,644
107.40%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24āļŋ1,152
$11.44âđ1,086
208.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,699
$42.29âđ4,015
167.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4āļŋ2,825
$36.72âđ3,486
135.24%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Siliguri
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616āļŋ20.1K
$166âđ15.7K
271.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446āļŋ14.6K
$53.0âđ5,028
742.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048āļŋ67.0K
$383âđ36.4K
434.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492āļŋ48.8K
$144âđ13.7K
932.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779āļŋ123.6K
$771âđ73.2K
390.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649āļŋ86.6K
$427âđ40.5K
520.47%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Siliguri
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524āļŋ17.1K
$374âđ35.5K
40.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
9.7
-45.05%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Siliguri: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $616 in Phuket and $166 in Siliguri. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ð°Phuket pays 40% 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: $47.00 in Phuket vs $14.00 in Siliguri for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $93.0 per month, with Siliguri 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 Siliguri: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Siliguri cheaper than Phuket?
Siliguri is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 255% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Siliguri?
Phuket pays 40% 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 Siliguri?
Rent for a central apartment: $616 in Phuket versus $166 in Siliguri. 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 $40.56 in Siliguri. 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 Siliguri?
Supermarket bills run roughly 214% 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 Siliguri?
At $347 in Siliguri versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Siliguri but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Siliguri the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Siliguri more family-friendly?
For families, Siliguri 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 Siliguri?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Siliguri 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 Siliguri gentler on the wallet â expenses run 255% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.