Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-'amarah and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-'amarah and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $671 per month in Al-'amarah vs $1,261 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,086 per month in Al-'amarah vs $2,286 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,501 per month in Al-'amarah vs $3,310 in Phuket, rent included.

Al-'amarah is about 47% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Al-'amarah and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Al-'amarah 50% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al-'amarah
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.02 IQD 5,267
$4.56 ฿149
-11.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.90 IQD 32.6K
$46.63 ฿1,519
-46.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.02 IQD 9,193
$8.47 ฿276
-17.12%
Cappuccino
$2.60 IQD 3,401
$3.03 ฿98.6
-14.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40 IQD 521
$0.69 ฿22.45
-42.03%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.19 IQD 255
$0.37 ฿11.92
-48.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.85 IQD 3,736
$2.49 ฿81.0
14.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89 IQD 3,779
$3.66 ฿119
-21.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al-'amarah
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.81 IQD 2,364
$2.18 ฿71.0
-16.97%
White Bread (500g)
$0.79 IQD 1,030
$1.90 ฿62.0
-58.42%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.12 IQD 1,462
$2.20 ฿71.6
-49.09%
Eggs
$1.55 IQD 2,027
$2.22 ฿72.4
-30.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.54 IQD 5,951
$19.99 ฿651
-77.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.64 IQD 6,074
$3.66 ฿119
26.78%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.96 IQD 17.0K
$13.25 ฿432
-2.19%
Apples (1kg)
$0.91 IQD 1,197
$3.23 ฿105
-71.83%
Banana (1kg)
$1.08 IQD 1,416
$1.70 ฿55.3
-36.47%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.87 IQD 1,136
$2.39 ฿78.0
-63.60%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.39 IQD 514
$2.08 ฿67.7
-81.25%
Potato (1kg)
$0.76 IQD 989
$1.59 ฿51.8
-52.20%
Onion (1kg)
$0.35 IQD 452
$1.48 ฿48.31
-76.35%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.63 IQD 827
$1.03 ฿33.54
-38.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.47 IQD 617
$0.52 ฿16.83
-9.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.97 IQD 2,573
$4.25 ฿138
-53.65%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$18.79 ฿612
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 IQD 2,341
$1.76 ฿57.2
1.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11 IQD 2,769
$2.76 ฿89.8
-23.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Al-'amarah
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.37 IQD 484
$1.36 ฿44.32
-72.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$31.73 IQD 41.5K
$11.36 ฿370
179.31%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.67 IQD 2,188
$3.14 ฿102
-46.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.48 IQD 1,936
$1.04 ฿33.74
42.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.10 IQD 7,988
$13.77 ฿448
-55.70%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.31 IQD 404
$1.34 ฿43.79
-76.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4K IQD 25.4M
$27.7K ฿901.4K
-29.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3K IQD 26.6M
$33.9K ฿1.1M
-40.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al-'amarah
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$76.1 IQD 99.6K
$124 ฿4,025
-38.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.95 IQD 23.5K
$13.52 ฿440
32.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.06 IQD 44.6K
$18.69 ฿609
82.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al-'amarah
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.68 IQD 29.7K
$61.8 ฿2,013
-63.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.99 IQD 22.2K
$17.25 ฿562
-1.51%
Cinema Ticket
$7.72 IQD 10.1K
$9.14 ฿298
-15.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al-'amarah
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$154 IQD 201.2K
$703 ฿22.9K
-78.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,248 IQD 4.3M
$15.9K ฿517.0K
-79.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al-'amarah
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.51 IQD 36.0K
$59.5 ฿1,937
-53.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.93 IQD 32.6K
$35.07 ฿1,142
-28.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$61.8 IQD 80.9K
$115 ฿3,754
-46.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$41.10 IQD 53.8K
$84.1 ฿2,737
-51.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al-'amarah
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$331 IQD 434.1K
$619 ฿20.1K
-46.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$132 IQD 173.3K
$433 ฿14.1K
-69.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$441 IQD 578.0K
$2,062 ฿67.2K
-78.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$346 IQD 452.8K
$1,511 ฿49.2K
-77.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$581 IQD 760.9K
$3,646 ฿118.7K
-84.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,626 ฿85.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al-'amarah
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$506 IQD 663.1K
$507 ฿16.5K
-0.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.67
5.33
6.38%

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

Last update for Al-'amarah: June 8, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $331 in Al-'amarah versus $619 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 0% higher in Phuket, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Al-'amarah versus $47.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $153 vs $293 – making Al-'amarah the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Al-'amarah vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Al-'amarah?
Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 88%, 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 $1,006 per month in Al-'amarah and $1,892 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 Al-'amarah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Al-'amarah and Phuket?
Groceries cost about 91% 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 eating out cheaper in Al-'amarah or Phuket?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Al-'amarah and $47.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Al-'amarah or Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Al-'amarah, where all-in costs run around $671, than in Phuket at $1,261. In Al-'amarah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Al-'amarah or Phuket more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Al-'amarah – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Al-'amarah 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 Al-'amarah. 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.

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