Cost of Living Comparison Between 'ali and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between 'ali and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $807 in 'ali versus $1,250 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,328 in 'ali versus $2,284 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,849 in 'ali versus $3,317 in Phuket.

Living in 'ali costs roughly 35% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: 'ali 40% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.79 BHD 2.56

$4.55 ฿153

49.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.9 BHD 19.94

$46.18 ฿1,554

14.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.19 BHD 1.96

$8.84 ฿298

-41.29%

Cappuccino

$5.16 BHD 1.95

$3.06 ฿103

68.63%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 BHD 0.29

$0.73 ฿24.42

5.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 BHD 0.14

$0.40 ฿13.40

-7.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.80 BHD 2.94

$2.43 ฿81.8

220.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.58 BHD 3.99

$3.78 ฿127

179.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 BHD 0.64

$2.26 ฿76.0

-24.78%

White Bread (500g)

$1.32 BHD 0.50

$1.81 ฿60.9

-27.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.37 BHD 0.89

$2.25 ฿75.8

5.33%

Eggs

$2.51 BHD 0.94

$2.25 ฿75.6

11.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.90 BHD 3.35

$19.51 ฿656

-54.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.52 BHD 2.83

$3.65 ฿123

106.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.02 BHD 3.78

$13.05 ฿439

-23.22%

Apples (1kg)

$2.37 BHD 0.89

$3.23 ฿109

-26.63%

Banana (1kg)

$2.04 BHD 0.77

$1.62 ฿54.4

25.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.67 BHD 0.63

$2.38 ฿80.2

-29.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.21 BHD 0.46

$2.03 ฿68.2

-40.39%

Potato (1kg)

$0.93 BHD 0.35

$1.53 ฿51.6

-39.22%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 BHD 0.40

$1.50 ฿50.5

-28.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.45 BHD 0.55

$0.98 ฿32.93

47.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 BHD 0.33

$0.52 ฿17.40

69.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.58 BHD 2.48

$4.44 ฿149

48.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.82 BHD 7.09

$18.32 ฿616

2.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.47 BHD 1.31

$1.86 ฿62.7

86.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 BHD 1.21

$2.68 ฿90.2

19.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.41 ฿47.49

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.70 ฿394

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.61 BHD 1.74

$3.11 ฿105

48.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.88 BHD 1.46

$1.04 ฿35.08

273.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.03 BHD 10.19

$14.11 ฿475

91.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.52 BHD 0.19

$1.31 ฿44.13

-60.31%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$37.2K BHD 14.0K

$27.8K ฿936.0K

33.69%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$20.6K BHD 7,753

$33.2K ฿1.1M

-38.07%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$121 BHD 45.54

$122 ฿4,120

-1.31%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$26.75 BHD 10.08

$13.59 ฿457

96.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.21 BHD 14.40

$18.70 ฿629

104.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.5 ฿2,035

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.98 ฿572

Cinema Ticket

$10.49 BHD 3.95

$9.07 ฿305

15.66%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$385 BHD 145

$706 ฿23.8K

-45.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,940 BHD 3,370

$15.8K ฿531.8K

-43.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.23 BHD 17.05

$58.6 ฿1,970

-22.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.1 BHD 23.78

$35.36 ฿1,190

78.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 BHD 31.86

$115 ฿3,885

-26.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.9 BHD 33.88

$83.7 ฿2,818

7.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$626 ฿21.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$445 ฿15.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,040 ฿68.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,492 ฿50.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,483 ฿117.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,577 ฿86.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,720 BHD 1,402

$500 ฿16.8K

644.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.56

5.33

60.60%

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

Last update for 'ali: July 13, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

'ali pays 644% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $53.0 in 'ali vs $46.00 in Phuket. Groceries flip the comparison at $264 vs $289, with 'ali cheaper for home cooking.

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

'ali vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

'ali is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 55% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 644% higher in 'ali, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Supermarket bills run roughly 10% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $807 per month in 'ali versus $1,250 in Phuket – a 55% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $807 in 'ali versus $1,250 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in 'ali but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes 'ali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, 'ali 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.

Safety-wise, 'ali 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.

Expats usually find 'ali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 55% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.