🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $431 in Vijayawada versus $1,232 in Phuket.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $703 in Vijayawada versus $2,255 in Phuket.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $975 in Vijayawada versus $3,279 in Phuket.
🙂Living in Vijayawada costs roughly 65% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Vijayawada68% lower, Phuket8% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vijayawada
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.72₹163
$4.63฿151
-62.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.50₹1,089
$46.84฿1,523
-75.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.71₹446
$8.84฿287
-46.72%
Cappuccino
$3.77₹356
$3.00฿97.4
25.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45₹43.02
$0.74฿24.11
-39.19%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20₹19.14
$0.37฿11.88
-45.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.32₹219
$2.44฿79.3
-4.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57₹243
$3.61฿117
-28.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vijayawada
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.87₹82.2
$2.26฿73.5
-61.50%
White Bread(500g)
$0.51₹48.58
$1.84฿59.8
-72.28%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.68₹64.4
$2.24฿73.0
-69.64%
Eggs
$0.89₹84.1
$2.32฿75.3
-61.64%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.53₹618
$19.67฿639
-66.80%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.01₹284
$3.65฿119
-17.53%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$13.10฿426
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.21₹209
$3.39฿110
-34.81%
Banana(1kg)
$0.87₹82.0
$1.64฿53.4
-46.95%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.93₹88.2
$2.41฿78.5
-61.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.49₹46.14
$2.03฿66.0
-75.86%
Potato(1kg)
$0.40₹38.01
$1.56฿50.6
-74.36%
Onion(1kg)
$0.39₹36.46
$1.50฿48.66
-74.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67₹63.6
$1.02฿33.30
-34.31%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.34₹31.81
$0.49฿15.91
-30.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.06₹384
$4.45฿145
-8.76%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.18₹585
$18.88฿614
-67.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.51₹237
$1.78฿57.7
41.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21₹303
$2.75฿89.5
16.73%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$4.32₹409
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Vijayawada
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.28₹26.17
$1.40฿45.54
-80.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.38₹698
$11.48฿373
-35.71%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.69₹160
$3.12฿101
-45.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.53₹50.4
$1.00฿32.48
-47.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.27₹215
$14.09฿458
-83.89%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.22₹115
$1.35฿43.93
-9.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K₹1.7M
$27.2K฿883.7K
-35.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.6K₹2.1M
$32.9K฿1.1M
-31.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vijayawada
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$27.82₹2,632
$125฿4,063
-77.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.63₹343
$13.57฿441
-73.25%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.22₹778
$18.52฿602
-55.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vijayawada
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$20.10₹1,902
$61.5฿1,999
-67.31%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.95₹1,130
$16.84฿547
-29.04%
Cinema Ticket
$3.54₹335
$9.19฿299
-61.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vijayawada
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$75.9₹7,181
$698฿22.7K
-89.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,787₹169.1K
$15.6K฿506.9K
-88.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vijayawada
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.28₹2,297
$57.8฿1,878
-57.96%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.59₹2,421
$35.24฿1,146
-27.38%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$41.76₹3,952
$113฿3,677
-63.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$42.97₹4,066
$86.4฿2,808
-50.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vijayawada
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$139₹13.1K
$616฿20.0K
-77.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$87.6₹8,293
$446฿14.5K
-80.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$320₹30.2K
$2,048฿66.6K
-84.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$216₹20.4K
$1,492฿48.5K
-85.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$707₹66.9K
$3,779฿122.8K
-81.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$389₹36.8K
$2,649฿86.1K
-85.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vijayawada
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$300₹28.4K
$524฿17.0K
-42.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.8
5.33
102.63%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Vijayawada: April 26, 2026
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $139 in Vijayawada and $616 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Phuket pays 75% 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: $12.00 in Vijayawada vs $47.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $117 vs $292 per month, with Vijayawada 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
Vijayawada vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Vijayawada?
Vijayawada is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 186% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Vijayawada or Phuket?
On paper, Phuket earns 75% 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 Vijayawada and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $139 in Vijayawada 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 $75.9 in Vijayawada 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 Vijayawada and Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 149% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Vijayawada or Phuket?
At $431 in Vijayawada versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Vijayawada but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Vijayawada the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Vijayawada or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Vijayawada 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, Vijayawada or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Vijayawada 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 Vijayawada gentler on the wallet – expenses run 186% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Vijayawada vs other spots: cost of living compared