ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $380 in Tinsukia versus $1,270 in Phuket.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $613 in Tinsukia versus $2,304 in Phuket.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $846 in Tinsukia versus $3,339 in Phuket.
ðLiving in Tinsukia costs roughly 70% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
ðBoth cities sit below the global median: Tinsukia72% lower, Phuket5% lower.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Tinsukia
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.34âđ220
$4.66āļŋ150
-49.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.22âđ1,429
$46.44āļŋ1,496
-67.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.79âđ356
$8.68āļŋ280
-56.34%
Cappuccino
$1.52âđ142
$2.95āļŋ95.0
-48.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58âđ54.6
$0.70āļŋ22.52
-17.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.19âđ17.74
$0.39āļŋ12.70
-51.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.75âđ165
$2.53āļŋ81.6
-30.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.09âđ290
$3.78āļŋ122
-18.25%
ð Groceries & Markets
Tinsukia
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.71âđ66.3
$2.22āļŋ71.5
-68.02%
White Bread(500g)
$0.49âđ45.60
$1.80āļŋ57.8
-72.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.67âđ62.6
$2.19āļŋ70.4
-69.41%
Eggs
$0.89âđ83.2
$2.31āļŋ74.5
-61.47%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.11âđ480
$19.34āļŋ623
-73.58%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.96âđ278
$3.77āļŋ121
-21.49%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$13.22āļŋ426
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.03âđ191
$3.33āļŋ107
-39.04%
Banana(1kg)
$0.72âđ67.5
$1.65āļŋ53.1
-56.36%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.92âđ86.1
$2.29āļŋ73.7
-59.83%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.50âđ46.78
$1.99āļŋ64.1
-74.87%
Potato(1kg)
$0.39âđ36.28
$1.53āļŋ49.24
-74.51%
Onion(1kg)
$0.45âđ42.30
$1.51āļŋ48.77
-70.20%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.45âđ42.53
$1.03āļŋ33.12
-56.31%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.34âđ32.12
$0.51āļŋ16.57
-33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.91âđ367
$4.41āļŋ142
-11.34%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.47âđ607
$19.41āļŋ625
-66.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71âđ161
$1.80āļŋ58.0
-5.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88âđ270
$2.68āļŋ86.4
7.46%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$5.23âđ491
-
-
ð Getting Around
Tinsukia
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.30âđ28.56
$1.43āļŋ46.11
-79.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.52âđ800
$11.70āļŋ377
-27.18%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.80âđ75.1
$3.04āļŋ97.9
-73.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.04āļŋ33.37
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.42âđ134
$13.68āļŋ441
-89.62%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.17âđ110
$1.30āļŋ41.85
-10.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$13.9Kâđ1.3M
$27.9Kāļŋ898.9K
-50.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0Kâđ2.1M
$33.0Kāļŋ1.1M
-33.51%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tinsukia
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$38.51âđ3,614
$123āļŋ3,962
-68.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.50âđ329
$13.82āļŋ445
-74.67%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.32âđ687
$18.86āļŋ608
-61.19%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Tinsukia
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$16.22âđ1,523
$61.2āļŋ1,970
-73.48%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.87âđ645
$16.81āļŋ541
-59.13%
Cinema Ticket
$2.83âđ266
$8.87āļŋ286
-68.09%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Tinsukia
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$52.0âđ4,878
$696āļŋ22.4K
-92.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,523âđ142.9K
$16.1Kāļŋ517.4K
-90.52%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Tinsukia
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.67âđ2,316
$59.3āļŋ1,910
-58.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.91âđ2,338
$34.85āļŋ1,123
-28.52%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$42.54âđ3,993
$113āļŋ3,646
-62.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$32.29âđ3,031
$85.1āļŋ2,740
-62.03%
ð Accommodation & Living
Tinsukia
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$126âđ11.9K
$615āļŋ19.8K
-79.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$77.0âđ7,223
$448āļŋ14.4K
-82.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$278âđ26.1K
$2,085āļŋ67.2K
-86.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$180âđ16.9K
$1,496āļŋ48.2K
-87.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$964âđ90.5K
$3,734āļŋ120.3K
-74.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$515âđ48.4K
$2,662āļŋ85.8K
-80.64%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Tinsukia
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$335âđ31.4K
$534āļŋ17.2K
-37.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.67
5.33
62.66%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tinsukia: April 20, 2026
Last update for Phuket: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $126 in Tinsukia and $615 in Phuket. 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: $15 in Tinsukia vs $46 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $104 vs $291 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
Tinsukia vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Tinsukia?
Tinsukia is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 234% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Tinsukia or Phuket?
On paper, Phuket earns 59% 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 Tinsukia and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $126 in Tinsukia versus $615 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $52.0 in Tinsukia versus $696 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 Tinsukia and Phuket?
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 Tinsukia or Phuket?
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 Tinsukia or Phuket 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, Tinsukia or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Tinsukia 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 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.