ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,270 in Phuket versus $380 in Tinsukia.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $2,304 in Phuket versus $613 in Tinsukia.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,339 in Phuket versus $846 in Tinsukia.
ðLiving in Phuket is roughly 234% more expensive than Tinsukia, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
ðBoth cities sit below the global median: Phuket5% lower, Tinsukia72% lower.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Tinsukia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.66āļŋ150
$2.34âđ220
99.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.44āļŋ1,496
$15.22âđ1,429
205.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.68āļŋ280
$3.79âđ356
129.02%
Cappuccino
$2.95āļŋ95.0
$1.52âđ142
94.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70āļŋ22.52
$0.58âđ54.6
20.69%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39āļŋ12.70
$0.19âđ17.74
105.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.53āļŋ81.6
$1.75âđ165
44.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78āļŋ122
$3.09âđ290
22.33%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Tinsukia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.22āļŋ71.5
$0.71âđ66.3
212.68%
White Bread(500g)
$1.80āļŋ57.8
$0.49âđ45.60
267.35%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.19āļŋ70.4
$0.67âđ62.6
226.87%
Eggs
$2.31āļŋ74.5
$0.89âđ83.2
159.55%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.34āļŋ623
$5.11âđ480
278.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.77āļŋ121
$2.96âđ278
27.36%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.22āļŋ426
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$3.33āļŋ107
$2.03âđ191
64.04%
Banana(1kg)
$1.65āļŋ53.1
$0.72âđ67.5
129.17%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.29āļŋ73.7
$0.92âđ86.1
148.91%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.99āļŋ64.1
$0.50âđ46.78
298.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53āļŋ49.24
$0.39âđ36.28
292.31%
Onion(1kg)
$1.51āļŋ48.77
$0.45âđ42.30
235.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03āļŋ33.12
$0.45âđ42.53
128.89%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51āļŋ16.57
$0.34âđ32.12
50.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41āļŋ142
$3.91âđ367
12.79%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.41āļŋ625
$6.47âđ607
200.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80āļŋ58.0
$1.71âđ161
5.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68āļŋ86.4
$2.88âđ270
-6.94%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$5.23âđ491
-
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Tinsukia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.43āļŋ46.11
$0.30âđ28.56
376.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.70āļŋ377
$8.52âđ800
37.32%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.04āļŋ97.9
$0.80âđ75.1
280.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04āļŋ33.37
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.68āļŋ441
$1.42âđ134
863.38%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30āļŋ41.85
$1.17âđ110
11.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9Kāļŋ898.9K
$13.9Kâđ1.3M
100.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0Kāļŋ1.1M
$22.0Kâđ2.1M
50.41%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Tinsukia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123āļŋ3,962
$38.51âđ3,614
219.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.82āļŋ445
$3.50âđ329
294.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.86āļŋ608
$7.32âđ687
157.65%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Tinsukia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.2āļŋ1,970
$16.22âđ1,523
277.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.81āļŋ541
$6.87âđ645
144.69%
Cinema Ticket
$8.87āļŋ286
$2.83âđ266
213.43%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Tinsukia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$696āļŋ22.4K
$52.0âđ4,878
1240.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.1Kāļŋ517.4K
$1,523âđ142.9K
954.57%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Tinsukia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3āļŋ1,910
$24.67âđ2,316
140.29%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.85āļŋ1,123
$24.91âđ2,338
39.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,646
$42.54âđ3,993
166.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.1āļŋ2,740
$32.29âđ3,031
163.39%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Tinsukia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$615āļŋ19.8K
$126âđ11.9K
387.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$448āļŋ14.4K
$77.0âđ7,223
482.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,085āļŋ67.2K
$278âđ26.1K
649.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,496āļŋ48.2K
$180âđ16.9K
729.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,734āļŋ120.3K
$964âđ90.5K
287.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,662āļŋ85.8K
$515âđ48.4K
416.62%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Tinsukia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$534āļŋ17.2K
$335âđ31.4K
59.30%
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 Tinsukia: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $615 in Phuket and $126 in Tinsukia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ð°Phuket pays 59% 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 $15 in Tinsukia for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $291 vs $104 per month, with Tinsukia 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 Tinsukia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tinsukia cheaper than Phuket?
Tinsukia is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 234% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Tinsukia?
Phuket pays 59% 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 Tinsukia?
Rent for a central apartment: $615 in Phuket versus $126 in Tinsukia. 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 $52.0 in Tinsukia. 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 Tinsukia?
Supermarket bills run roughly 180% 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 Tinsukia?
At $380 in Tinsukia versus $1,270 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tinsukia but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Tinsukia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Tinsukia more family-friendly?
For families, Tinsukia 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 Tinsukia?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Tinsukia 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 Tinsukia gentler on the wallet â expenses run 234% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.