Cost of Living Comparison Between Ahmadi and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Ahmadi and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,255 per month in Ahmadi vs $1,265 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,045 per month in Ahmadi vs $2,089 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,835 per month in Ahmadi vs $2,913 in Phuket, rent included.

Ahmadi is about 1% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Ahmadi and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Ahmadi 9% lower, Phuket 8% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ahmadi
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.32 KWD 2.55
$4.66 ฿154
78.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.22 KWD 13.56
$32.22 ฿1,065
37.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.87 KWD 2.41
$8.68 ฿287
-9.33%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.49 KWD 0.76
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 KWD 0.49
-
-
Cappuccino
$4.21 KWD 1.29
$2.90 ฿95.8
45.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60 KWD 0.18
$0.84 ฿27.89
-28.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 KWD 0.11
$0.49 ฿16.16
-24.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.48 ฿82.0
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.73 ฿123
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ahmadi
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.27 KWD 0.39
$1.89 ฿62.3
-32.80%
White Bread (500g)
$0.84 KWD 0.26
$1.41 ฿46.54
-40.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 KWD 0.50
$1.62 ฿53.6
0.62%
Eggs
$1.38 KWD 0.42
$2.24 ฿74.1
-38.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.16 KWD 0.97
$19.84 ฿656
-84.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.95 KWD 1.52
$3.48 ฿115
42.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.36 KWD 3.18
$11.37 ฿376
-8.88%
Apples (1kg)
$1.49 KWD 0.46
$2.90 ฿95.8
-48.62%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 KWD 0.44
$1.72 ฿57.0
-16.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.16 KWD 0.36
$2.27 ฿75.1
-48.90%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.80 KWD 0.24
$2.13 ฿70.4
-62.44%
Potato (1kg)
$0.51 KWD 0.16
$1.47 ฿48.72
-65.31%
Onion (1kg)
$0.51 KWD 0.16
$1.42 ฿46.92
-64.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.32 KWD 0.40
$1.10 ฿36.25
20.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 KWD 0.17
$0.60 ฿19.76
-10.00%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$3.26 KWD 1.00
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.05 KWD 0.32
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40 KWD 0.43
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.81 KWD 0.86
$4.31 ฿142
-34.80%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$18.60 ฿615
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.80 ฿59.5
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.97 ฿98.0
-
🚌 Getting Around
Ahmadi
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.96 KWD 0.29
$2.25 ฿74.2
-57.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.93 KWD 8.87
$23.49 ฿776
23.16%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.21 KWD 0.98
$3.10 ฿102
3.55%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.22 KWD 0.99
$1.08 ฿35.56
198.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.49 KWD 5.05
$3.87 ฿128
326.10%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.33 KWD 0.10
$1.43 ฿47.16
-76.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.5K KWD 6,582
$27.8K ฿918.0K
-22.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.0K KWD 5,507
$27.0K ฿891.5K
-33.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ahmadi
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$64.6 KWD 19.82
$105 ฿3,462
-38.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.43 KWD 5.04
$11.39 ฿376
44.25%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.02 KWD 9.21
$17.54 ฿580
71.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ahmadi
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$114 KWD 35.09
$54.3 ฿1,795
110.64%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$32.09 KWD 9.84
$11.44 ฿378
180.51%
Cinema Ticket
$10.32 KWD 3.16
$7.78 ฿257
32.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ahmadi
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$95.7 KWD 29.33
$576 ฿19.0K
-83.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,449 KWD 2,897
$11.6K ฿382.7K
-18.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ahmadi
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.82 KWD 11.60
$63.6 ฿2,103
-40.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.23 KWD 12.34
$29.10 ฿961
38.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.0 KWD 30.04
$96.2 ฿3,179
1.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.3 KWD 27.70
$90.0 ฿2,974
0.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ahmadi
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$648 KWD 199
$733 ฿24.2K
-11.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$525 KWD 161
$501 ฿16.5K
4.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,598 KWD 490
$2,126 ฿70.2K
-24.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,199 KWD 368
$1,252 ฿41.4K
-4.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,141 KWD 963
$3,534 ฿116.8K
-11.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,556 KWD 784
$2,622 ฿86.6K
-2.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ahmadi
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,502 KWD 1,074
$508 ฿16.8K
590.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.67
5.57
-16.16%

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

Last update for Ahmadi: September 6, 2026

Last update for Phuket: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $648 in Ahmadi versus $733 in Phuket. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 590% higher in Ahmadi, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Ahmadi versus $32.00 in Phuket. Groceries tell a different story – $137 in Ahmadi vs $275 in Phuket – so Ahmadi wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Ahmadi vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Ahmadi?
Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 1%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,883 per month in Ahmadi and $1,898 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ahmadi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $95.7 per month in Ahmadi and $576 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Ahmadi and in Phuket?
Groceries cost about 100% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Ahmadi or in Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ahmadi, where all-in costs run around $1,255, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Ahmadi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Ahmadi or Phuket more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Ahmadi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Ahmadi or Phuket?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Ahmadi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Ahmadi vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities