🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $345 in Al Ghubra versus $1,265 in Phuket.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $465 in Al Ghubra versus $2,297 in Phuket.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $585 in Al Ghubra versus $3,329 in Phuket.
🙂Living in Al Ghubra costs roughly 73% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Al Ghubra74% lower, Phuket6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al Ghubra
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$4.70฿153
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$45.37฿1,482
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$8.43฿275
-
Cappuccino
-
$2.93฿95.6
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.69฿22.40
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27OMR 0.10
$0.37฿11.99
-27.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.41฿78.6
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.72฿122
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al Ghubra
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.87OMR 0.72
$2.23฿72.9
-16.14%
White Bread(500g)
-
$1.83฿59.8
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.12OMR 0.82
$2.17฿70.8
-2.30%
Eggs
$5.18OMR 1.99
$2.21฿72.3
134.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$19.74฿645
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
-
$3.63฿119
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$13.53฿442
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.12OMR 0.82
$3.28฿107
-35.37%
Banana(1kg)
$1.87OMR 0.72
$1.61฿52.6
16.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85OMR 0.71
$2.41฿78.6
-23.24%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.31OMR 0.51
$2.08฿68.1
-37.02%
Potato(1kg)
$0.68OMR 0.26
$1.53฿49.93
-55.56%
Onion(1kg)
$0.68OMR 0.26
$1.48฿48.36
-54.05%
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$0.99฿32.29
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50OMR 0.19
$0.51฿16.67
-1.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.41฿144
-
Wine(Bottle)
-
$19.38฿633
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.78฿58.1
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.71฿88.6
-
🚌 Getting Around
Al Ghubra
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$1.37฿44.79
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$11.39฿372
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$3.02฿98.6
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$0.99฿32.48
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$14.10฿461
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
-
$1.36฿44.51
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$28.2K฿921.1K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$32.9K฿1.1M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al Ghubra
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$113OMR 43.36
$122฿3,975
-7.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$13.57฿443
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$84.3OMR 32.46
$18.31฿598
360.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al Ghubra
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.59OMR 16.78
$60.2฿1,967
-27.62%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.90OMR 14.21
$17.14฿560
115.29%
Cinema Ticket
$9.02OMR 3.47
$8.69฿284
3.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al Ghubra
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$185OMR 71.1
$693฿22.6K
-73.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.6KOMR 4,066
$15.7K฿512.3K
-32.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al Ghubra
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$59.5฿1,944
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$34.77฿1,136
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$115฿3,743
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$83.3฿2,720
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al Ghubra
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$613฿20.0K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$437฿14.3K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,094฿68.4K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,509฿49.3K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,749฿122.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,616฿85.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al Ghubra
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,669OMR 1,028
$508฿16.6K
425.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
5.33
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Al Ghubra: June 2, 2026
Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Al Ghubra pays 425% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
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 Ghubra vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Al Ghubra and Phuket?
Al Ghubra and Phuket differ by about 267% in total monthly costs ($345 vs $1,265 including rent). Al Ghubra is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Al Ghubra or Phuket?
Al Ghubra pays 425% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Al Ghubra and Phuket?
Childcare runs $185 in Al Ghubra versus $693 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more expensive overall: Al Ghubra or Phuket?
All in, you'll spend $345 per month in Al Ghubra versus $1,265 in Phuket – a 267% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $345 in Al Ghubra versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Al Ghubra but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Al Ghubra the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Al Ghubra and Phuket?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Al Ghubra or Phuket safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Al Ghubra 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.
Where should expats move: Al Ghubra or Phuket?
Expats usually find Al Ghubra gentler on the wallet – expenses run 267% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.