Which place is cheaper, Kolkata (Calcutta) or Phuket?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Phuket or Kolkata (Calcutta)?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Phuket or Kolkata (Calcutta), this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Phuket or Kolkata (Calcutta)?
Phuket
Phuket Island is the holiday gem of southern Thailand. Known for its beaches and resorts, the island brings in a massive amount of travelers from all over the world, year round. Although the beaches are beautiful, Phuket has also become more westernized and tourist-oriented in recent decades, leaving many travelers to venture elsewhere to find that amazing beach with a more authentic Thai vibe. However, Phuket Island is quite large, and hidden gems can still be found.
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Formerly known as Calcutta, Kolkata is the capital of West Bengal, India. Featuring colonial architecture, galleries, temples, and festivals, the city has flourished from its roots as an East India Company trading post in the 18th Century to a thriving metropolis. Today Kolkata is a diverse center of culture and bustling activity.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Thailand, The Best 2-Week Tours in Thailand, The Best 4-Week (1-Month) Tours in India, and The Best Bicycle Tours in India.
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Phuket Prices
Thailand PricesKolkata (Calcutta) Prices
India Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPhuket $132Kolkata (Calcutta) $42
The average daily cost (per person) in Phuket is $132, while the average daily cost in Kolkata (Calcutta) is $42. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Phuket and Kolkata (Calcutta) in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPhuket $61Kolkata (Calcutta) $15
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPhuket $122Kolkata (Calcutta) $30
Compare Hotels in Phuket and Kolkata (Calcutta)
Looking for a hotel in Phuket or Kolkata (Calcutta)? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Phuket Hotel Prices and Kolkata (Calcutta) Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Phuket $12Kolkata (Calcutta) $4.48
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Phuket
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Phuket:
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Longtail Taxi (for Two)$8.95
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Taxi from Airport to Phuket Town$7.46
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Phuket
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Phuket:
- Phuket Airport (HKT) Arrival Transfer to Phuket Hotels (Shared or Private): $11
- Phuket Airport Private Transfer To or From All Phuket Hotels: $13
- One-Way to/from Phi Phi Premium Ferry Transfer: $13
- Private Transfers to/from Phuket Intl. Airport(HKT): $14
- Private Phuket Airport Transfer to Hotel and Vice Versa: $15
- Phuket Private Transfer from/to Phuket Airport HKT (one way): $15
- Ferry Transfer to/from Phi Phi Tonsai or Laem Tong: $16
- One-Way Ferry Transfer to/from Koh Phi Phi: $16
- One Way Cruise Transfer from Phuket to Phi Phi – Multiple Classes: $17
- (Privet)Phuket Transfer: $17
- Phuket Airport Arrival Transfer – Domestic & International: $18
- Phuket Private Transfer To or From Phuket Hotel by Van & WiFi: $19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kolkata (Calcutta)
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kolkata (Calcutta):
- Build Your Own: custom private tour of Kolkata with transfers: $73
- Kolkata Airport to Kolkata Hotels drop: Private Transfers: $32
Is it cheaper to fly into Phuket or Kolkata (Calcutta)?
Prices for flights to both Kolkata (Calcutta) and Phuket change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayPhuket $41Kolkata (Calcutta) $22
Typical Food Prices in Phuket
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Phuket:
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Casual Dinner (for Two)$8.62
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$5.07
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Sit Down Dinner (for Two)$13
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Thai Noodles$2.68
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Bananas$0.75
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Pizza (for Two)$8.95
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Phuket
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Phuket.
- Catamaran Sunset Cruise in Phuket with Dinner at Promthep Cape: $41
- Express Thai Cooking Class in Phuket: $50
- Vegetarian Organic Thai Cooking Class and Market Tour in Phuket: $52
- Phuket 10+ Tastings Food Tour & Charming Old Town: $52
- Phuket Express Thai Cooking Course with Authentic Recipes: $52
- Phuket Coral Island & Sunset Dinner Cruise by Catamaran Yacht: $54
- Southern Flavors Phuket Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $59
- Phuket City Tour with Sunset and Thai Cooking: $61
- Thai Cooking Class in Phuket: $61
- Phuket Food Tour and City Walk by Jane: $61
- Phuket Thai Cooking Class with Market Tour Option: $61
- Hands on Thai Cooking Class and Market Tour in Phuket: $61
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kolkata (Calcutta)
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kolkata (Calcutta).
- Hooghly River Dinner Cruise: $39
- Bengali Nights Kolkata Food Tour with 13+ Tastings: $39
- Alleyway Food Tour: $40
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Phuket $46Kolkata (Calcutta) $13
Typical Entertainment Prices in Phuket
Here are a few typical costs in Phuket for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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One Day Boat Tour$27
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Scuba Diving (Two Dives)$75
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Thai Oil Massage$19
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Surfboard Rental$8.95
Tours and Activities in Phuket
Here are a few actual costs in Phuket for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Phuket Self Guided Island Tour: $1.15
- Phuket Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.00
- Phuket Tour with Wat Chalong, Karon View Point, Old Town: $15
- Feed Me Banana Elephant Experience Short Activity: $15
- Phuket Rock Beach Swing Tickets: $16
- Phuket Circus : The Adrenaline Rush Show Tickets (Aqua Circus): $17
- Ultimate Virtual Reality Gaming Park Ticket at VAR Live in Phuket: $17
- Phuket Bird Park Admission Ticket: $18
- Half Day Phuket City tour + Hotel Pick Up and Drop Off: $18
- Phuket City Discovery Tour with Chalong Temple and Coastal Views: $19
- Phuket Highlights: Half Day City Tour with Landmark & Viewpoint: $20
- Rock Beach Swing Ticket with Karon Viewpoint in Phuket: $20
Tours and Activities in Kolkata (Calcutta)
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kolkata (Calcutta) are as follows:
- Audio Guided Tour of Pathuriaghata – Finding the Tagores, Kolkata: $6.12
- Kolkata Colonial Walk (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $17
- Hello Calcutta Walk Tour: $20
- Walking Tour of Kolkata Heritage and Food: $21
- Walk Through Tales ( Heritage Tour ): $32
- Hooghly River Evening Cruise: $34
- Chasing The Sun Experience Kolkata's Culture: $35
- Kolkata's English History - European Calcutta Tour: $38
- Kolkata's Flower Market - Hooghly's Flower Fest Tour: $38
- Cultural Confluence of Kolkata - Culture Kaleidoscope Tour: $38
- Magic Hour Tour: $40
- Heritage sightseeing tours(Walking tours): $41
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPhuket $6.95Kolkata (Calcutta) $7.25
Typical Alcohol Prices in Phuket
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Phuket from other travelers:
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Cocktails (for Two)$5.97
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Beer$2.54
Sample the Local Flavors in Phuket
Also in Phuket, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl Rooftop, Bars, GoGo & 3 Clubs with Shots: $21
- Phuket Guided Pub Crawl: $29
- Chalong Bay Rum Distillery Experience and Lunch: $52
- Phuket Real City Tour with Rum Cocktail Distillery: $86
- Phuket Rum Distillery Cocktail Workshop And Wat Chalong Temple: $172
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Phuket and Kolkata (Calcutta), we can see that Phuket is more expensive. And not only is Kolkata (Calcutta) much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Kolkata (Calcutta) would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kolkata (Calcutta) and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Phuket would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Phuket than you might in Kolkata (Calcutta).
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Phuket Expensive? and Is Kolkata (Calcutta) Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Phuket or Kolkata (Calcutta)?
Kolkata (Calcutta) has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Phuket. When comparing the sizes of Phuket and Kolkata (Calcutta), keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.