ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,270 in Phuket versus $384 in Udhampur.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $2,304 in Phuket versus $604 in Udhampur.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,339 in Phuket versus $824 in Udhampur.
ðLiving in Phuket is roughly 231% more expensive than Udhampur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
ðBoth cities sit below the global median: Phuket5% lower, Udhampur71% lower.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Udhampur
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.66āļŋ150
$2.31âđ217
101.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.44āļŋ1,496
$10.41âđ977
346.11%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.68āļŋ280
$3.76âđ353
130.85%
Cappuccino
$2.95āļŋ95.0
$1.51âđ142
95.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70āļŋ22.52
$0.40âđ37.96
75.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39āļŋ12.70
$0.14âđ13.28
178.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.53āļŋ81.6
$1.69âđ159
49.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78āļŋ122
$3.13âđ293
20.77%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Udhampur
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.22āļŋ71.5
$0.65âđ61.0
241.54%
White Bread(500g)
$1.80āļŋ57.8
$0.46âđ43.06
291.30%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.19āļŋ70.4
$0.67âđ63.1
226.87%
Eggs
$2.31āļŋ74.5
$0.94âđ88.4
145.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.34āļŋ623
$5.15âđ483
275.53%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.77āļŋ121
$3.02âđ284
24.83%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.22āļŋ426
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$3.33āļŋ107
$2.00âđ188
66.50%
Banana(1kg)
$1.65āļŋ53.1
$0.67âđ63.1
146.27%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.29āļŋ73.7
$0.91âđ85.7
151.65%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.99āļŋ64.1
$0.53âđ49.90
275.47%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53āļŋ49.24
$0.39âđ36.18
292.31%
Onion(1kg)
$1.51āļŋ48.77
$0.42âđ38.96
259.52%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03āļŋ33.12
$0.48âđ45.30
114.58%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51āļŋ16.57
$0.32âđ29.67
59.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41āļŋ142
$3.92âđ368
12.50%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.41āļŋ625
$7.35âđ690
164.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80āļŋ58.0
$1.72âđ161
4.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68āļŋ86.4
$2.87âđ270
-6.62%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$5.24âđ492
-
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Udhampur
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.43āļŋ46.11
$0.30âđ28.32
376.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.70āļŋ377
$8.56âđ803
36.68%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.04āļŋ97.9
$0.83âđ78.1
266.27%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04āļŋ33.37
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.68āļŋ441
$1.44âđ135
850.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30āļŋ41.85
$1.16âđ109
12.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9Kāļŋ898.9K
$13.9Kâđ1.3M
101.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0Kāļŋ1.1M
$22.1Kâđ2.1M
49.57%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Udhampur
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123āļŋ3,962
$38.74âđ3,636
217.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.82āļŋ445
$3.51âđ329
293.73%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.86āļŋ608
$7.30âđ685
158.36%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Udhampur
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.2āļŋ1,970
$16.00âđ1,502
282.19%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.81āļŋ541
$7.18âđ674
134.12%
Cinema Ticket
$8.87āļŋ286
$2.95âđ277
200.68%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Udhampur
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$696āļŋ22.4K
$50.8âđ4,770
1270.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.1Kāļŋ517.4K
$1,509âđ141.7K
963.78%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Udhampur
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3āļŋ1,910
$23.86âđ2,240
148.45%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.85āļŋ1,123
$25.00âđ2,346
39.40%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,646
$42.90âđ4,027
163.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.1āļŋ2,740
$31.16âđ2,925
172.95%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Udhampur
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$615āļŋ19.8K
$125âđ11.8K
391.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$448āļŋ14.4K
$76.6âđ7,192
485.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,085āļŋ67.2K
$273âđ25.7K
662.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,496āļŋ48.2K
$178âđ16.7K
742.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,734āļŋ120.3K
$965âđ90.6K
287.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,662āļŋ85.8K
$525âđ49.2K
407.39%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Udhampur
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$534āļŋ17.2K
$370âđ34.7K
44.18%
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 Udhampur: April 19, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $615 in Phuket and $125 in Udhampur. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ð°Phuket pays 44% 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 $10 in Udhampur for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $291 vs $105 per month, with Udhampur 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 Udhampur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Udhampur cheaper than Phuket?
Udhampur is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 231% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Udhampur?
Phuket pays 44% 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 Udhampur?
Rent for a central apartment: $615 in Phuket versus $125 in Udhampur. 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 $50.8 in Udhampur. 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 Udhampur?
Supermarket bills run roughly 177% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Phuket or Udhampur?
At $384 in Udhampur versus $1,270 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Udhampur but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Udhampur the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Udhampur more family-friendly?
For families, Udhampur 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 Udhampur?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Udhampur 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 Udhampur gentler on the wallet â expenses run 231% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.