😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,264 in Phuket versus $351 in Siliguri.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,256 in Phuket versus $566 in Siliguri.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,248 in Phuket versus $780 in Siliguri.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 260% more expensive than in Siliguri, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket5% lower, Siliguri74% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Siliguri
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.48฿150
$2.98₹284
50.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.59฿1,521
$13.87₹1,322
228.70%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.76฿292
$6.49₹619
34.98%
Cappuccino
$2.97฿99.0
$1.57₹150
89.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.90
$0.40₹38.58
72.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39฿13.04
$0.21₹20.44
85.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.53฿84.4
$1.48₹141
70.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75฿125
$2.28₹218
64.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Siliguri
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.15฿71.6
$0.55₹52.6
290.91%
White Bread(500g)
$1.82฿60.6
$0.29₹27.28
527.59%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.18฿72.9
$0.56₹53.6
289.29%
Eggs
$2.25฿75.0
$0.89₹84.8
152.81%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$20.00฿667
$5.25₹501
280.95%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63฿121
$2.23₹212
62.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.56฿452
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$3.24฿108
$2.06₹196
57.28%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64฿54.6
$0.83₹78.8
97.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.33฿77.8
$1.06₹101
119.81%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.07฿69.1
$0.47₹44.46
340.43%
Potato(1kg)
$1.55฿51.6
$0.25₹23.90
520.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.46฿48.54
$0.41₹39.52
256.10%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98฿32.86
$0.38₹36.10
157.89%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.09
$0.33₹31.16
45.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35฿145
$3.41₹326
27.57%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.57฿620
$4.15₹396
347.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿61.9
$1.39₹132
33.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65฿88.6
$3.56₹340
-25.56%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$7.58₹723
-
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Siliguri
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.42฿47.28
$0.22₹20.91
545.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.57฿386
$8.88₹847
30.29%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.17฿106
$1.47₹140
115.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.03฿34.41
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.89฿463
$1.37₹131
913.87%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34฿44.84
$1.18₹113
13.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿927.1K
$12.4K₹1.2M
123.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4K฿1.1M
$22.9K₹2.2M
45.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Siliguri
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123฿4,105
$37.26₹3,554
230.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77฿459
$3.11₹297
342.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.33฿611
$7.62₹726
140.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Siliguri
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.7฿2,025
$6.61₹630
818.15%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.16฿573
$5.03₹479
241.15%
Cinema Ticket
$8.87฿296
$2.21₹211
301.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Siliguri
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$688฿22.9K
$40.41₹3,854
1602.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8K฿526.4K
$1,981₹188.9K
696.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Siliguri
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3฿1,978
$28.52₹2,720
107.92%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.69฿1,157
$11.19₹1,067
210.01%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,843
$41.35₹3,944
178.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.8฿2,794
$36.24₹3,457
131.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Siliguri
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$621฿20.7K
$163₹15.6K
280.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446฿14.9K
$53.2₹5,076
738.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,034฿67.8K
$389₹37.1K
422.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,496฿49.9K
$141₹13.5K
960.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,455฿115.3K
$742₹70.8K
365.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,531฿84.4K
$420₹40.1K
502.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Siliguri
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494฿16.5K
$368₹35.1K
34.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
9.7
-45.05%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026
Last update for Siliguri: July 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $621 in Phuket and $163 in Siliguri. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Phuket pays 34% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $46.00 in Phuket vs $14.00 in Siliguri for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $291 vs $92.0 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 260% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Siliguri?
Average pay runs 34% higher in Phuket, 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: $621 in Phuket versus $163 in Siliguri. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $688 in Phuket versus $40.41 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 in Siliguri?
Supermarket bills run roughly 215% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Siliguri?
At $351 in Siliguri versus $1,264 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 – expenses run 260% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.