ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,270 in Phuket versus $345 in Srikakulam.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $2,304 in Phuket versus $545 in Srikakulam.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,339 in Phuket versus $745 in Srikakulam.
ðLiving in Phuket is roughly 268% more expensive than Srikakulam, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
ðBoth cities sit below the global median: Phuket5% lower, Srikakulam74% lower.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Srikakulam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.66āļŋ150
$2.31âđ217
101.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.44āļŋ1,496
$9.17âđ860
406.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.68āļŋ280
$3.52âđ331
146.59%
Cappuccino
$2.95āļŋ95.0
$1.59âđ150
85.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70āļŋ22.52
$0.37âđ34.34
89.19%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39āļŋ12.70
$0.14âđ12.87
178.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.53āļŋ81.6
$0.88âđ83.1
187.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78āļŋ122
$1.76âđ165
114.77%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Srikakulam
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.22āļŋ71.5
$0.63âđ59.6
252.38%
White Bread(500g)
$1.80āļŋ57.8
$0.48âđ44.67
275.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.19āļŋ70.4
$0.50âđ47.17
338.00%
Eggs
$2.31āļŋ74.5
$0.91âđ85.8
153.85%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.34āļŋ623
$3.82âđ359
406.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.77āļŋ121
$2.33âđ219
61.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.22āļŋ426
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$3.33āļŋ107
$1.75âđ164
90.29%
Banana(1kg)
$1.65āļŋ53.1
$0.45âđ42.06
266.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.29āļŋ73.7
$0.72âđ67.1
218.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.99āļŋ64.1
$0.22âđ20.60
804.55%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53āļŋ49.24
$0.37âđ34.26
313.51%
Onion(1kg)
$1.51āļŋ48.77
$0.33âđ31.44
357.58%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03āļŋ33.12
$0.30âđ28.35
243.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51āļŋ16.57
$0.28âđ26.24
82.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41āļŋ142
$2.69âđ253
63.94%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.41āļŋ625
$6.98âđ655
178.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80āļŋ58.0
$1.38âđ130
30.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68āļŋ86.4
$3.01âđ282
-10.96%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$5.83âđ547
-
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Srikakulam
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.43āļŋ46.11
$0.28âđ25.93
410.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.70āļŋ377
$8.56âđ804
36.68%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.04āļŋ97.9
$1.13âđ106
169.03%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04āļŋ33.37
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.68āļŋ441
$2.28âđ214
500.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30āļŋ41.85
$1.21âđ114
7.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9Kāļŋ898.9K
$11.5Kâđ1.1M
142.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0Kāļŋ1.1M
$13.8Kâđ1.3M
139.78%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Srikakulam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123āļŋ3,962
$29.09âđ2,731
322.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.82āļŋ445
$3.37âđ316
310.09%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.86āļŋ608
$8.33âđ781
126.41%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Srikakulam
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.2āļŋ1,970
$23.45âđ2,201
160.77%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.81āļŋ541
$11.77âđ1,105
42.82%
Cinema Ticket
$8.87āļŋ286
$3.40âđ319
160.88%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Srikakulam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$696āļŋ22.4K
$84.2âđ7,906
726.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.1Kāļŋ517.4K
$2,071âđ194.3K
675.53%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Srikakulam
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3āļŋ1,910
$26.57âđ2,493
123.11%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.85āļŋ1,123
$17.68âđ1,660
97.12%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,646
$22.91âđ2,150
393.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.1āļŋ2,740
$17.27âđ1,621
392.47%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Srikakulam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$615āļŋ19.8K
$125âđ11.8K
391.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$448āļŋ14.4K
$77.2âđ7,246
480.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,085āļŋ67.2K
$269âđ25.3K
673.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,496āļŋ48.2K
$180âđ16.9K
731.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,734āļŋ120.3K
$846âđ79.4K
341.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,662āļŋ85.8K
$467âđ43.8K
469.86%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Srikakulam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$534āļŋ17.2K
$217âđ20.4K
145.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
8.33
-36.01%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 20, 2026
Last update for Srikakulam: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $615 in Phuket and $125 in Srikakulam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ð°Phuket pays 146% 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: $46 in Phuket vs $9 in Srikakulam for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $291 vs $89 per month, with Srikakulam 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 Srikakulam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Srikakulam cheaper than Phuket?
Srikakulam is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 268% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Srikakulam?
Phuket pays 146% 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 Srikakulam?
Rent for a central apartment: $615 in Phuket versus $125 in Srikakulam. 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 $84.2 in Srikakulam. 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 Srikakulam?
Supermarket bills run roughly 229% 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 Srikakulam?
At $345 in Srikakulam versus $1,270 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Srikakulam but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Srikakulam the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Srikakulam more family-friendly?
For families, Srikakulam 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 Srikakulam?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Srikakulam 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 Srikakulam gentler on the wallet â expenses run 268% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.