ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $371 in Shivamogga versus $1,232 in Phuket.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $606 in Shivamogga versus $2,255 in Phuket.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $841 in Shivamogga versus $3,279 in Phuket.
ðLiving in Shivamogga costs roughly 70% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
ðBoth cities sit below the global median: Shivamogga72% lower, Phuket8% lower.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Shivamogga
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.29âđ311
$4.63āļŋ151
-28.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.24âđ1,442
$46.84āļŋ1,523
-67.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.18âđ490
$8.84āļŋ287
-41.40%
Cappuccino
$1.33âđ126
$3.00āļŋ97.4
-55.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35âđ33.56
$0.74āļŋ24.11
-52.70%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23âđ21.79
$0.37āļŋ11.88
-37.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.26âđ119
$2.44āļŋ79.3
-48.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99âđ283
$3.61āļŋ117
-17.17%
ð Groceries & Markets
Shivamogga
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.54âđ50.7
$2.26āļŋ73.5
-76.11%
White Bread(500g)
$0.47âđ44.39
$1.84āļŋ59.8
-74.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.74âđ70.5
$2.24āļŋ73.0
-66.96%
Eggs
$0.84âđ79.8
$2.32āļŋ75.3
-63.79%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.40âđ417
$19.67āļŋ639
-77.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.18âđ301
$3.65āļŋ119
-12.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$13.10āļŋ426
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.12âđ200
$3.39āļŋ110
-37.46%
Banana(1kg)
$0.69âđ64.9
$1.64āļŋ53.4
-57.93%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.54âđ51.5
$2.41āļŋ78.5
-77.59%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.42âđ40.10
$2.03āļŋ66.0
-79.31%
Potato(1kg)
$0.42âđ39.56
$1.56āļŋ50.6
-73.08%
Onion(1kg)
$0.47âđ44.07
$1.50āļŋ48.66
-68.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.24âđ22.85
$1.02āļŋ33.30
-76.47%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.42âđ39.75
$0.49āļŋ15.91
-14.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.59âđ339
$4.45āļŋ145
-19.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.74âđ638
$18.88āļŋ614
-64.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.98âđ92.9
$1.78āļŋ57.7
-44.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77âđ167
$2.75āļŋ89.5
-35.64%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$4.56âđ432
-
-
ð Getting Around
Shivamogga
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.28âđ26.26
$1.40āļŋ45.54
-80.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.61âđ814
$11.48āļŋ373
-25.00%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.18âđ111
$3.12āļŋ101
-62.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.00āļŋ32.48
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.38âđ225
$14.09āļŋ458
-83.11%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15âđ109
$1.35āļŋ43.93
-14.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$11.4Kâđ1.1M
$27.2Kāļŋ883.7K
-57.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.8Kâđ3.1M
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
-0.40%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shivamogga
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$23.55âđ2,228
$125āļŋ4,063
-81.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$1.96âđ186
$13.57āļŋ441
-85.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.50âđ804
$18.52āļŋ602
-54.10%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Shivamogga
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$8.31âđ786
$61.5āļŋ1,999
-86.48%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.86âđ649
$16.84āļŋ547
-59.26%
Cinema Ticket
$2.37âđ224
$9.19āļŋ299
-74.21%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Shivamogga
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$51.8âđ4,900
$698āļŋ22.7K
-92.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,916âđ181.3K
$15.6Kāļŋ506.9K
-87.71%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Shivamogga
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$33.58âđ3,178
$57.8āļŋ1,878
-41.86%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.68âđ2,713
$35.24āļŋ1,146
-18.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$52.0âđ4,922
$113āļŋ3,677
-54.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$23.65âđ2,237
$86.4āļŋ2,808
-72.62%
ð Accommodation & Living
Shivamogga
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$122âđ11.5K
$616āļŋ20.0K
-80.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$86.0âđ8,134
$446āļŋ14.5K
-80.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$273âđ25.8K
$2,048āļŋ66.6K
-86.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$178âđ16.8K
$1,492āļŋ48.5K
-88.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,779āļŋ122.8K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,649āļŋ86.1K
-
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Shivamogga
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$422âđ39.9K
$524āļŋ17.0K
-19.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.47
5.33
58.91%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Shivamogga: April 28, 2026
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $122 in Shivamogga and $616 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ð°Phuket pays 24% 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: $15 in Shivamogga vs $47 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $95 vs $292 per month, with Shivamogga 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
Shivamogga vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Shivamogga?
Shivamogga is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 232% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Shivamogga or Phuket?
On paper, Phuket earns 24% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Shivamogga and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $122 in Shivamogga versus $616 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $51.8 in Shivamogga versus $698 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Shivamogga and Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 209% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Shivamogga or Phuket?
At $371 in Shivamogga versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Shivamogga but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Shivamogga the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Shivamogga or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Shivamogga 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, Shivamogga or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Shivamogga and Phuket 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 Shivamogga gentler on the wallet â expenses run 232% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Shivamogga vs other spots: cost of living compared