Which place is cheaper, Mumbai or Phuket?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Phuket or Mumbai?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Phuket or Mumbai, 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 Mumbai?
Phuket
Phuket Island is the tourist mecca 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.
Mumbai
Mumbai is the largest city in India and the capital of Maharashtra state. It is still occasionally referred to as Bombay, but most people know it now as Mumbai. It's the commercial capital of the country and is a major port city. It's also famous for Bollywood, which is the movie capital of the country and famous for it's music filled Bollywood flicks that have become popular around the world. Mumbai is arguably the most cosmopolitan city in India and has some of the most liberal views of an otherwise conservative country. Many immigrants and expats live in Mumbai and it's easy to see the blend of cultures.
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 2-Week Tours from Mumbai, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to India.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPhuket $105Mumbai $69
The average daily cost (per person) in Phuket is $105, while the average daily cost in Mumbai is $69. 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 Mumbai in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPhuket $56Mumbai $34
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPhuket $112Mumbai $68
Compare Hotels in Phuket and Mumbai
Looking for a hotel in Phuket or Mumbai? 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 Mumbai Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Phuket $11Mumbai $7.77
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)$8.18
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Taxi from Airport to Phuket Town$6.82
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Phuket
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Phuket:
- From Krabi: Phuket Transfer with Phi Phi Longtail Boat Tour: $362
- From Krabi Transfer with Phi Phi Longtail Boat Tour: $362
- Phuket Jet Ski Tour to 7 Islands with Pickup and Transfer: $212
- Flying Hanuman Ziplining Experience in Phuket with Return Transfer: $149
- ATV Bike 1 hr + ziplines 30 platforms with Roundtrip Transfer : $139
- Private Transfer from Phuket to Krabi: $137
- Morning Blue Sky Spa Package with Private Transfer: $125
- Full Day Guided Banana Beach Paradise Trip With Lunch & Hotel Transfers: $123
- Private Airport Arrival Transfer : Airport to Hotel in Krabi: $117
- ATV Bike 1 hr+ Skyline Adventure 28 platforms with free Transfer: $116
- Private Transfer from Phuket to Krabi with 2h of Sightseeing: $113
- Flying Hanuman Ziplines 42 platforms With Lunch & Transfer RoundTrips: $108
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mumbai
Also for Mumbai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Affordable transfer from Mumbai Airport to Pune: $28
- Arrival Private Transfers: Mumbai Airport BOM to Mumbai City in Business Car: $60
- Arrival Private Transfers: Mumbai Airport BOM to Mumbai City in Luxury Van: $93
- Departure Private Transfers: Mumbai City to Mumbai Airport BOM in Business Car: $60
- Departure Private Transfers: Mumbai City to Mumbai Airport BOM in Luxury Van: $93
- Dharavi Slum Tour in Mumbai with Combo Packages & Transfers: $12
- Dharavi Tour Including Car Transfer: $42
- Global Vipassana Pagoda : Half Day Tour with Transfer: $84
- Luxury Mumbai Package with Hotel,Private Airport Transfers and Sightseeing Tour: $270
- Mumbai & Beyond transfer & travel in a Insured vehicle: Goa-Rajasthan-Gujrat etc: $53
- Mumbai - private arrival transfer from Airport to Hotel : $64
- Mumbai Airport Transfer in Private Vehicle: $28
Is it cheaper to fly into Phuket or Mumbai?
Prices for flights to both Mumbai 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 $22Mumbai $26
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)$7.88
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$4.64
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Sit Down Dinner (for Two)$12
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Thai Noodles$2.45
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Bananas$0.68
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Pizza (for Two)$8.18
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Phuket
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Phuket.
- Thai Cooking Class 1.5 Hrs ( 2 Dishes Menu): $36
- Express Thai Cooking Class in Phuket: $43
- Coral Island Catamaran Cruise with Sunset Dinner: $43
- Vegetarian Organic Thai Cooking Class and Market Tour in Phuket: $52
- Flavours of the South Guided Food Tour: $52
- Coral Island & Sunset Dinner by Sailing Catamaran: $53
- Phuket Coral Island Sunset with Dinner by Catamaran Yacht: $53
- Thai Cooking Class in Phuket: $55
- Phuket Cooking Class Thai activity: $55
- Thai Cooking Class in Phuket: $55
- Phuket Thai Cooking Class with Market Tour Option: $55
- Organic Thai Cooking Class and Market Tour in Phuket: $55
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Mumbai
For Mumbai, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Virtual Authentic Indian Tea and Paratha Cooking Class: $14
- Hidden Gems and Street Food Tour: $15
- Discover Mumbai's street & beach with food tour: $17
- Mumbai Food Tour: $20
- Vegetarian Indian Cuisine Virtual Cooking Class Experience from Mumbai: $20
- Mumbai Food Tour: $25
- Street Food Tour - Eat like a Local with sunset view: $26
- Old Bombay Bazaar and Food Tour with local Guide: $27
- Guided Food Tour Through the Vibrant Markets of Old Bombay: $28
- Street Food Tour: $32
- Indian cusine demonstration cum hands on with Hi Tea / Dinner at a Family home: $33
- Mumbai Street Food Tour with Sun Set View: $38
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Phuket $42Mumbai $2.66
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$25
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Scuba Diving (Two Dives)$68
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Thai Oil Massage$17
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Surfboard Rental$8.18
Tours and Activities in Phuket
Here are a few actual costs in Phuket for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 3 Khai Islands Snorkeling Tour by Speed Boat: $43
- Activities In & Around Full Day Customizable Tour: $90
- Amazing Krabi Private 1 day tour from Phuket by VAN: $218
- James Bond Island Highlights Tour from Phuket with Lunch: $115
- Khai Island Half Day Tour by Speedboat from Phuket (SHA Plus): $61
- Phi Phi Islands Adventure Day Tour with Seaview Lunch from Phuket: $68
- Whitewater Rafting & ATV Adventure Tour from Phuket including Lunch: $118
- Zipline Adventure 32 Platforms + Roller + Skywalk: $108
- 2 Hours Phuket Old Town Street Food Walking Tour: $45
- 2-Hour ATV Tour from Phuket: $77
- 2x Snorkelling Phi Phi, Maiton, Maya Bay, khai islands tour: $58
- 4 Waters Eco Adventure: $96
Tours and Activities in Mumbai
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Mumbai.
- Audio Guided Walking Tour on HopOn India App – From Gateway to Fountain, Mumbai: $5.32
- Elephanta Caves Audio Guided Walking Tour, Mumbai on HopOn India App: $5.34
- Highlights Bus Full-Day Tour in Hindi: $5.40
- Dharavi Slum Tour with Local guide: $6.00
- Audio Guided Tour of Matunga & Dadar Parsi Colony, Mumbai: $6.14
- Malabar District, Scavenger Hunt & Self-Guided Tour: $6.56
- Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $6.56
- Mumbai (Malabar District) Self-Guided Tour: $6.67
- Dharavi Slum Tour: $8.63
- Dharavi Slum Tour: $8.99
- Inside Dharavi: Unveiling Mumbai's Slum Culture Tour: $9.11
- Dharavi Slum Experience with Local Resident English Guide: $9.50
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPhuket $6.35Mumbai $3.69
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)$5.46
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Beer$2.32
Sample the Local Flavors in Phuket
Also in Phuket, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- All-Night Bar Crawl with Drinks & 4 Venues: $22
- Phuket Guided Pub Crawl: $25
- Pub Crawl Tour: $25
- Phuket Real City Tour with Rum Cocktail Distillery: $77
- Big Buddha & The Distillery Phuket: $97
- Phuket Rum Distillery Cocktail Workshop And Wat Chalong Temple : $172
- Phuket Rum Distillery Cocktail Workshop & Wat Chalong Temple: $213
Sample the Local Flavors in Mumbai
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Mumbai:
- Bombay Party (Bar Crawl): $25
- South Bombay Pub Crawl: $39
- South Bombay Pub Crawl: $39
- Mumbai Pub Crawl: History, Iconic Bars, Cocktail Workshop, Stories and Drinks : $90
- Mumbai Private Bar Crawl with City Night Tour: $124
- Nashik: Private Full-Day Wine Tour with Tastings From Mumbai: $128
- Full-Day Private Wine Tour at Sula Vineyards from Mumbai: $152
- Wine Tasting Tour Sula Vineyards Nashik - (Day excursion from Mumbai): $163
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Phuket and Mumbai, we can see that Phuket is more expensive. And not only is Mumbai much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Mumbai would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mumbai 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 Mumbai.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Phuket Expensive? and Is Mumbai Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Phuket or Mumbai?
Mumbai has a larger population, and is about 140 times larger than the population of Phuket. When comparing the sizes of Phuket and Mumbai, 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.
When is the best time to visit Phuket or Mumbai?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit Phuket or Mumbai in the Summer?
Both Mumbai and Phuket during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Phuket because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Mumbai year-round.
Mumbai gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Phuket. Phuket usually gets less rain in July than Mumbai. Phuket gets 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain, while Mumbai receives 640 mm (25.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
It's quite sunny in Phuket. In the summer, Phuket often gets more sunshine than Mumbai. Phuket gets 206 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Mumbai receives 73 hours of full sun.
In July, Phuket is generally around the same temperature as Mumbai. Daily temperatures in Phuket average around 28°C (82°F), and Mumbai fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPhuket 28°C (82°F)Mumbai 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Phuket or Mumbai in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Phuket and Mumbai. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Phuket year-round. Mumbai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
December to March in Phuket is the dry season. Also, June to October is the rainy season in Phuket. Phuket gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Phuket usually receives more rain than Mumbai. Phuket gets 304 mm (12 in) of rain, while Mumbai receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Mumbai this time of the year. Phuket usually receives less sunshine than Mumbai during autumn. Phuket gets 181 hours of sunny skies, while Mumbai receives 240 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Phuket is around the same temperature as Mumbai in the autumn. The daily temperature in Phuket averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Mumbai fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPhuket 27°C (81°F)Mumbai 29°C (84°F)
Should I visit Phuket or Mumbai in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Phuket as well as Mumbai. Phuket attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Mumbai throughout the year.
Also, December to March in Phuket is the dry season. Phuket usually gets more rain in January than Mumbai. Phuket gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Mumbai receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Mumbai. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Phuket this time of the year. In the winter, Phuket often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Mumbai. Phuket gets 287 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Mumbai receives 270 hours of full sun.
In the winter, Phuket is a little warmer than Mumbai. Typically, the winter temperatures in Phuket in January average around 28°C (82°F), and Mumbai averages at about 24°C (75°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPhuket 28°C (82°F)Mumbai 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Phuket or Mumbai in the Spring?
Both Mumbai and Phuket are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Phuket throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Mumbai because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The rainy season in Phuket is June to October. It's quite rainy in Phuket. In April, Phuket usually receives more rain than Mumbai. Phuket gets 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain, while Mumbai receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
It's quite sunny in Mumbai. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Phuket. Phuket usually receives less sunshine than Mumbai during spring. Phuket gets 249 hours of sunny skies, while Mumbai receives 284 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Phuket is generally around the same temperature as Mumbai. Daily temperatures in Phuket average around 29°C (84°F), and Mumbai fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPhuket 29°C (84°F)Mumbai 29°C (84°F)
Typical Weather for Mumbai and Phuket
| Phuket | Mumbai | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 318 mm (12.5 in) | 30°C (86°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 279 mm (11 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 560 mm (22 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 287 mm (11.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 640 mm (25.2 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 262 mm (10.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 520 mm (20.5 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 399 mm (15.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 320 mm (12.6 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 304 mm (12 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 165 mm (6.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
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.