šA single person spends $465 per month in Al-hawamidiyah vs $1,270 in Phuket, rent included.
šA couple spends around $755 per month in Al-hawamidiyah vs $2,304 in Phuket, rent included.
šA family of three spends $1,045 per month in Al-hawamidiyah vs $3,339 in Phuket, rent included.
šAl-hawamidiyah is about 63% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
šBoth Al-hawamidiyah and Phuket are more affordable than the global median ā Al-hawamidiyah65% lower, Phuket5% lower.
Currency
š½ Eating Out
Al-hawamidiyah
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.62EĀ£190
$4.66ąøæ151
-22.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.74EĀ£828
$46.44ąøæ1,505
-66.11%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.70EĀ£247
$8.68ąøæ281
-45.85%
Cappuccino
$1.48EĀ£78.1
$2.95ąøæ95.5
-49.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29EĀ£15.00
$0.70ąøæ22.65
-58.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.12EĀ£6.36
$0.39ąøæ12.77
-69.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.22EĀ£64.3
$2.53ąøæ82.1
-51.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97EĀ£156
$3.78ąøæ122
-21.43%
š Groceries & Markets
Al-hawamidiyah
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.86EĀ£45.36
$2.22ąøæ71.8
-61.26%
White Bread(500g)
$0.73EĀ£38.17
$1.80ąøæ58.2
-59.44%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.65EĀ£34.09
$2.19ąøæ70.8
-70.32%
Eggs
$1.45EĀ£76.4
$2.31ąøæ74.9
-37.23%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.95EĀ£208
$19.34ąøæ627
-79.58%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.46EĀ£235
$3.77ąøæ122
18.30%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.80EĀ£516
$13.22ąøæ428
-25.87%
Apples(1kg)
$1.43EĀ£75.3
$3.33ąøæ108
-57.06%
Banana(1kg)
$0.55EĀ£28.84
$1.65ąøæ53.4
-66.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.42EĀ£22.27
$2.29ąøæ74.2
-81.66%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.37EĀ£19.31
$1.99ąøæ64.4
-81.41%
Potato(1kg)
$0.38EĀ£19.98
$1.53ąøæ49.51
-75.16%
Onion(1kg)
$0.43EĀ£22.88
$1.51ąøæ49.04
-71.52%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.24EĀ£12.68
$1.03ąøæ33.30
-76.70%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.22EĀ£11.33
$0.51ąøæ16.66
-56.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.02EĀ£106
$4.41ąøæ143
-54.20%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.97EĀ£262
$19.41ąøæ629
-74.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.42EĀ£74.5
$1.80ąøæ58.3
-21.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69EĀ£141
$2.68ąøæ86.8
0.37%
š Getting Around
Al-hawamidiyah
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.19EĀ£10.10
$1.43ąøæ46.37
-86.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$11.70ąøæ379
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.56EĀ£29.56
$3.04ąøæ98.4
-81.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.46EĀ£24.07
$1.04ąøæ33.56
-55.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.01EĀ£106
$13.68ąøæ443
-85.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.31EĀ£16.15
$1.30ąøæ42.08
-76.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0KEĀ£1.8M
$27.9Kąøæ903.9K
25.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.8KEĀ£1.8M
$33.0Kąøæ1.1M
2.30%
š§¾ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al-hawamidiyah
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$11.50EĀ£605
$123ąøæ3,984
-90.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.66EĀ£298
$13.82ąøæ448
-59.04%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.09EĀ£531
$18.86ąøæ611
-46.50%
š Sport & Entertainment
Al-hawamidiyah
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.05EĀ£1,160
$61.2ąøæ1,981
-63.94%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.81ąøæ545
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.03EĀ£160
$8.87ąøæ287
-65.84%
š§ø Childcare & Education
Al-hawamidiyah
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$88.1EĀ£4,635
$696ąøæ22.6K
-87.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,870EĀ£98.4K
$16.1Kąøæ520.3K
-88.36%
šš Clothing & Footwear
Al-hawamidiyah
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$28.03EĀ£1,475
$59.3ąøæ1,921
-52.72%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.65EĀ£2,560
$34.85ąøæ1,129
39.60%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$106EĀ£5,601
$113ąøæ3,667
-5.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$51.0EĀ£2,685
$85.1ąøæ2,756
-39.99%
š Accommodation & Living
Al-hawamidiyah
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$188EĀ£9,884
$615ąøæ19.9K
-69.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$100EĀ£5,278
$448ąøæ14.5K
-77.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$312EĀ£16.4K
$2,085ąøæ67.6K
-85.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$176EĀ£9,264
$1,496ąøæ48.5K
-88.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$764EĀ£40.2K
$3,734ąøæ121.0K
-79.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$434EĀ£22.9K
$2,662ąøæ86.2K
-83.68%
šµ Salaries & Financials
Al-hawamidiyah
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$534ąøæ17.3K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
17
5.33
218.95%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input ā minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Al-hawamidiyah: April 22, 2026
Last update for Phuket: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
š A central one-bedroom costs $188 in Al-hawamidiyah versus $615 in Phuket. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
šA mid-range dinner for two costs $16 in Al-hawamidiyah versus $46 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $130 vs $291 ā making Al-hawamidiyah 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-hawamidiyah vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Al-hawamidiyah or Phuket?
Phuket costs about 173% more than Al-hawamidiyah, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Al-hawamidiyah vs Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $698 per month in Al-hawamidiyah and $1,904 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled ā not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Al-hawamidiyah or Phuket?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Al-hawamidiyah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Al-hawamidiyah vs Phuket?
Are groceries more expensive in Al-hawamidiyah or Phuket?
Groceries cost about 125% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Al-hawamidiyah or Phuket?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Al-hawamidiyah, where all-in costs run around $465, than in Phuket at $1,270. In Al-hawamidiyah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Al-hawamidiyah or Phuket?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Al-hawamidiyah costs $465 versus $1,270 in Phuket. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Al-hawamidiyah compared to 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 ā central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Al-hawamidiyah or Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Al-hawamidiyah. 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.
Al-hawamidiyah vs other spots: cost of living compared