Cost of Living Comparison Between Al Hidd and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Al Hidd and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,756 in Al Hidd versus $1,232 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,145 in Al Hidd versus $2,054 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,535 in Al Hidd versus $2,876 in Phuket.

Living in Al Hidd is roughly 43% more expensive than in Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Al Hidd is 28% above, Phuket is 10% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al Hidd
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.73 BHD 2.54
$4.41 ฿147
52.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.33 BHD 15.20
$32.26 ฿1,077
25.02%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.57 BHD 2.85
$8.93 ฿298
-15.23%
Cappuccino
$3.78 BHD 1.43
$2.90 ฿96.6
30.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 BHD 0.31
$0.88 ฿29.38
-6.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.15 BHD 0.06
$0.48 ฿16.06
-68.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.81 BHD 2.57
$2.35 ฿78.5
189.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.18 BHD 3.84
$3.72 ฿124
173.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al Hidd
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 BHD 0.53
$1.87 ฿62.3
-24.60%
White Bread (500g)
$1.06 BHD 0.40
$1.47 ฿48.94
-27.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.35 BHD 0.89
$1.55 ฿51.8
51.61%
Eggs
$2.29 BHD 0.86
$2.10 ฿70.1
9.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.82 BHD 3.32
$19.59 ฿654
-54.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.33 BHD 2.01
$3.42 ฿114
55.85%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.38 BHD 2.03
$11.38 ฿380
-52.72%
Apples (1kg)
$2.29 BHD 0.86
$2.98 ฿99.6
-23.15%
Banana (1kg)
$2.24 BHD 0.84
$1.68 ฿56.2
33.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.88 BHD 0.71
$2.21 ฿73.7
-14.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.41 BHD 0.53
$2.16 ฿72.1
-34.72%
Potato (1kg)
$1.01 BHD 0.38
$1.52 ฿50.9
-33.55%
Onion (1kg)
$1.36 BHD 0.51
$1.34 ฿44.67
1.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.51 BHD 0.57
$1.13 ฿37.67
33.63%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83 BHD 0.31
$0.55 ฿18.24
50.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.21 BHD 1.96
$4.26 ฿142
22.30%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.75 BHD 7.07
$19.09 ฿637
-1.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.54 BHD 1.34
$1.78 ฿59.4
98.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 BHD 1.01
$2.78 ฿92.9
-3.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Al Hidd
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.62 BHD 0.61
$2.23 ฿74.4
-27.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$52.1 BHD 19.62
$22.74 ฿759
128.89%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.33 BHD 2.01
$3.03 ฿101
75.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.47 BHD 1.31
$1.02 ฿34.15
240.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$15.82 BHD 5.96
$3.89 ฿130
306.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.65 BHD 0.24
$1.49 ฿49.77
-56.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.7K BHD 7,434
$26.6K ฿887.3K
-25.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.8K BHD 7,835
$27.0K ฿902.2K
-23.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al Hidd
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$154 BHD 58.1
$102 ฿3,420
50.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.76 BHD 9.33
$11.33 ฿378
118.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.48 BHD 13.37
$17.40 ฿581
103.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al Hidd
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$52.1 ฿1,738
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$52.1 BHD 19.64
$11.07 ฿370
370.82%
Cinema Ticket
$10.67 BHD 4.02
$7.69 ฿257
38.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al Hidd
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$493 BHD 186
$561 ฿18.7K
-12.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.9K BHD 4,118
$11.5K ฿384.1K
-5.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al Hidd
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.7 BHD 19.50
$63.0 ฿2,104
-17.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.4 BHD 21.63
$29.52 ฿986
94.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.5 BHD 33.35
$98.0 ฿3,272
-9.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.0 BHD 33.53
$88.5 ฿2,954
0.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al Hidd
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$675 BHD 255
$738 ฿24.6K
-8.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$942 BHD 355
$482 ฿16.1K
95.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$789 BHD 298
$2,107 ฿70.3K
-62.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$651 BHD 245
$1,226 ฿40.9K
-46.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,617 ฿120.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,603 ฿86.9K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al Hidd
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,916 BHD 722
$494 ฿16.5K
288.24%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.21
5.57
11.49%

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

Last update for Al Hidd: September 13, 2026

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $675 in Al Hidd and $738 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Al Hidd pays 288% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $40.00 in Al Hidd vs $32.00 in Phuket. Groceries flip the comparison at $234 vs $274, with Al Hidd 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
Al Hidd vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Al Hidd?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 43% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Al Hidd or Phuket?
Average pay runs 288% higher in Al Hidd, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Al Hidd and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $675 in Al Hidd versus $738 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Phuket runs roughly 129% less than in Al Hidd. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $493 in Al Hidd versus $561 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Al Hidd or in Phuket?
At $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,756 in Al Hidd, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Al Hidd. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Al Hidd or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Al Hidd, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Al Hidd or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Al Hidd 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 43% less than in Al Hidd. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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