Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and TumkurCost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Tumkur
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $377 in Tumkur.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $597 in Tumkur.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $818 in Tumkur.
😐Living in Phuket is roughly 236% more expensive than Tumkur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket6% lower, Tumkur72% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Tumkur
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70฿153
$2.29₹219
105.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37฿1,482
$8.35₹799
443.35%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.43฿275
$3.52₹337
139.49%
Cappuccino
$2.93฿95.6
$1.25₹120
134.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.40
$0.49₹47.36
40.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿11.99
$0.14₹13.09
164.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.41฿78.6
$2.27₹217
6.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿122
$1.71₹164
117.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Tumkur
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.23฿72.9
$0.59₹56.7
277.97%
White Bread(500g)
$1.83฿59.8
$0.32₹30.53
471.88%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.17฿70.8
$0.67₹63.8
223.88%
Eggs
$2.21฿72.3
$0.83₹79.4
166.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.74฿645
$8.99₹861
119.58%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63฿119
$2.83₹271
28.27%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.53฿442
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$3.28฿107
$2.03₹194
61.58%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61฿52.6
$0.71₹68.1
126.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿78.6
$1.56₹149
54.49%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿68.1
$0.45₹43.56
362.22%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿49.93
$0.49₹46.81
212.24%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48฿48.36
$0.30₹28.90
393.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99฿32.29
$0.22₹21.02
350.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51฿16.67
$0.41₹39.10
24.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41฿144
$2.98₹285
47.99%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.38฿633
$5.79₹554
234.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿58.1
$1.80₹172
-1.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71฿88.6
$2.74₹262
-1.09%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$5.46₹523
-
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Tumkur
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.37฿44.79
$0.30₹28.83
356.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.39฿372
$8.58₹822
32.75%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.02฿98.6
$0.59₹56.6
411.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.99฿32.48
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.10฿461
$1.19₹114
1084.87%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36฿44.51
$0.78₹74.8
74.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K฿921.1K
$16.9K₹1.6M
66.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K฿1.1M
$28.8K₹2.8M
14.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Tumkur
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿3,975
$34.40₹3,295
253.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57฿443
$3.45₹330
293.33%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31฿598
$5.80₹555
215.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Tumkur
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.2฿1,967
$15.94₹1,527
277.79%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14฿560
$7.08₹678
142.09%
Cinema Ticket
$8.69฿284
$2.29₹219
279.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Tumkur
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$693฿22.6K
$31.78₹3,044
2081.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.7K฿512.3K
$1,307₹125.2K
1100.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Tumkur
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5฿1,944
$21.63₹2,072
175.22%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77฿1,136
$23.43₹2,244
48.40%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,743
$40.27₹3,857
184.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3฿2,720
$28.07₹2,689
196.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Tumkur
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$613฿20.0K
$122₹11.7K
401.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$437฿14.3K
$77.6₹7,431
463.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,094฿68.4K
$275₹26.4K
660.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,509฿49.3K
$183₹17.6K
722.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,749฿122.5K
$986₹94.5K
280.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,616฿85.4K
$514₹49.3K
408.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Tumkur
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$508฿16.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
9.47
-43.72%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026
Last update for Tumkur: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $613 in Phuket and $122 in Tumkur. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $45.00 in Phuket vs $8.00 in Tumkur for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $113 per month, with Tumkur 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 Tumkur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tumkur cheaper than Phuket?
Tumkur is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 236% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,898 in Phuket and $565 in Tumkur 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 Tumkur?
Rent for a central apartment: $613 in Phuket versus $122 in Tumkur. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $693 in Phuket versus $31.78 in Tumkur. 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 Tumkur?
Supermarket bills run roughly 159% 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 Tumkur?
At $377 in Tumkur versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tumkur but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Tumkur the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Tumkur more family-friendly?
For families, Tumkur 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 Tumkur?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Tumkur 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 Tumkur gentler on the wallet – expenses run 236% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.