Cost of Living Comparison Between Vellore and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Vellore and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $269 in Vellore versus $1,265 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $477 in Vellore versus $2,297 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $685 in Vellore versus $3,329 in Phuket.

Living in Vellore costs roughly 79% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Vellore 80% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vellore
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.39 ₹132
$4.70 ฿153
-70.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$7.39 ₹704
$45.37 ฿1,482
-83.71%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.40 ₹229
$8.43 ฿275
-71.53%
Cappuccino
$1.30 ₹123
$2.93 ฿95.6
-55.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40 ₹37.94
$0.69 ฿22.40
-42.03%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.15 ₹14.57
$0.37 ฿11.99
-59.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.73 ₹165
$2.41 ฿78.6
-28.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.42 ₹326
$3.72 ฿122
-8.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vellore
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.55 ₹52.2
$2.23 ฿72.9
-75.34%
White Bread (500g)
$0.43 ₹41.37
$1.83 ฿59.8
-76.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.69 ₹66.1
$2.17 ฿70.8
-68.20%
Eggs
$0.84 ₹79.9
$2.21 ฿72.3
-61.99%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$2.03 ₹194
$19.74 ฿645
-89.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.45 ₹233
$3.63 ฿119
-32.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$13.53 ฿442
-
Apples (1kg)
$1.71 ₹163
$3.28 ฿107
-47.87%
Banana (1kg)
$0.72 ₹68.1
$1.61 ฿52.6
-55.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.96 ₹91.0
$2.41 ฿78.6
-60.17%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.32 ₹30.61
$2.08 ฿68.1
-84.62%
Potato (1kg)
$0.37 ₹34.77
$1.53 ฿49.93
-75.82%
Onion (1kg)
$0.52 ₹49.87
$1.48 ฿48.36
-64.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.24 ₹22.97
$0.99 ฿32.29
-75.76%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.28 ₹26.84
$0.51 ฿16.67
-45.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.70 ₹162
$4.41 ฿144
-61.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$3.66 ₹349
$19.38 ฿633
-81.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84 ₹175
$1.78 ฿58.1
3.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ₹265
$2.71 ฿88.6
2.58%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
$5.74 ₹547
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Vellore
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.28 ₹26.27
$1.37 ฿44.79
-79.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.89 ₹847
$11.39 ฿372
-21.95%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 ₹42.58
$3.02 ฿98.6
-85.10%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 ₹33.71
$0.99 ฿32.48
-64.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.19 ₹113
$14.10 ฿461
-91.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.20 ₹115
$1.36 ฿44.51
-11.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$11.2K ₹1.1M
$28.2K ฿921.1K
-60.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.0K ₹1.6M
$32.9K ฿1.1M
-48.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vellore
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$35.59 ₹3,390
$122 ฿3,975
-70.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.44 ₹327
$13.57 ฿443
-74.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$4.26 ₹406
$18.31 ฿598
-76.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vellore
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$8.67 ₹826
$60.2 ฿1,967
-85.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.08 ₹484
$17.14 ฿560
-70.36%
Cinema Ticket
$2.29 ₹218
$8.69 ฿284
-73.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vellore
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$31.38 ₹2,989
$693 ฿22.6K
-95.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,293 ₹123.1K
$15.7K ฿512.3K
-91.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vellore
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$9.39 ₹895
$59.5 ฿1,944
-84.23%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.72 ₹1,973
$34.77 ฿1,136
-40.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$21.83 ₹2,079
$115 ฿3,743
-80.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$26.62 ₹2,535
$83.3 ฿2,720
-68.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vellore
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$63.0 ₹5,999
$613 ฿20.0K
-89.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$35.13 ₹3,346
$437 ฿14.3K
-91.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$183 ₹17.5K
$2,094 ฿68.4K
-91.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$179 ₹17.1K
$1,509 ฿49.3K
-88.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,104 ₹105.1K
$3,749 ฿122.5K
-70.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$673 ₹64.1K
$2,616 ฿85.4K
-74.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vellore
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$314 ₹29.9K
$508 ฿16.6K
-38.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.5
5.33
21.95%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Vellore: June 2, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $63.0 in Vellore and $613 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Phuket pays 62% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $7.00 in Vellore vs $45.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $81.0 vs $293 per month, with Vellore 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
Vellore vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Vellore?
Vellore is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 371% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Vellore or Phuket?
On paper, Phuket earns 62% 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 Vellore and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $63.0 in Vellore versus $613 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $31.38 in Vellore versus $693 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 Vellore and Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 261% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Vellore or Phuket?
At $269 in Vellore versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Vellore but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Vellore the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Vellore or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Vellore 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, Vellore or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Vellore 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 Vellore gentler on the wallet – expenses run 371% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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