🙂A single person spends $951 per month in AL Kharj vs $1,232 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,473 per month in AL Kharj vs $2,054 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,996 per month in AL Kharj vs $2,876 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂AL Kharj is about 23% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both AL Kharj and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – AL Kharj31% lower, Phuket10% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
AL Kharj
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.68SAR 17.59
$4.41฿147
6.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.80SAR 101
$32.26฿1,077
-16.92%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.91SAR 29.71
$8.93฿298
-11.42%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.07SAR 7.79
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35SAR 5.08
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.07SAR 11.53
$2.90฿96.6
5.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84SAR 3.15
$0.88฿29.38
-4.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.13SAR 0.48
$0.48฿16.06
-72.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.35฿78.5
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.72฿124
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
AL Kharj
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44SAR 5.42
$1.87฿62.3
-22.99%
White Bread(500g)
$0.26SAR 0.97
$1.47฿48.94
-82.31%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.32SAR 8.73
$1.55฿51.8
49.68%
Eggs
$2.07SAR 7.78
$2.10฿70.1
-1.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.96SAR 37.40
$19.59฿654
-49.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.97SAR 18.66
$3.42฿114
45.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.58SAR 51.0
$11.38฿380
19.33%
Apples(1kg)
$1.76SAR 6.59
$2.98฿99.6
-40.94%
Banana(1kg)
$1.30SAR 4.90
$1.68฿56.2
-22.62%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.22SAR 4.59
$2.21฿73.7
-44.80%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.34SAR 5.03
$2.16฿72.1
-37.96%
Potato(1kg)
$1.04SAR 3.91
$1.52฿50.9
-31.58%
Onion(1kg)
$1.10SAR 4.12
$1.34฿44.67
-17.91%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.55SAR 2.05
$1.13฿37.67
-51.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59SAR 2.21
$0.55฿18.24
7.27%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$2.15SAR 8.09
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.10SAR 4.12
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46SAR 9.24
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.59SAR 24.74
$4.26฿142
54.69%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$19.09฿637
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.78฿59.4
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.78฿92.9
-
🚌 Getting Around
AL Kharj
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$2.23฿74.4
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.75SAR 85.4
$22.74฿759
0.04%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.70SAR 10.15
$3.03฿101
-10.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.55SAR 2.05
$1.02฿34.15
-46.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.40SAR 50.3
$3.89฿130
244.47%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.59SAR 2.22
$1.49฿49.77
-60.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3KSAR 132.6K
$26.6K฿887.3K
32.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.9KSAR 82.2K
$27.0K฿902.2K
-19.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
AL Kharj
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102SAR 384
$102฿3,420
-0.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.14SAR 102
$11.33฿378
139.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.5SAR 193
$17.40฿581
195.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
AL Kharj
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$73.8SAR 277
$52.1฿1,738
41.74%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$40.56SAR 152
$11.07฿370
266.40%
Cinema Ticket
$13.41SAR 50.4
$7.69฿257
74.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
AL Kharj
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$283SAR 1,064
$561฿18.7K
-49.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,710SAR 13.9K
$11.5K฿384.1K
-67.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
AL Kharj
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.4SAR 223
$63.0฿2,104
-5.74%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.1SAR 199
$29.52฿986
79.88%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$46.69SAR 175
$98.0฿3,272
-52.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.7SAR 299
$88.5฿2,954
-9.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
AL Kharj
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$676SAR 2,539
$738฿24.6K
-8.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$260SAR 976
$482฿16.1K
-46.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$591SAR 2,219
$2,107฿70.3K
-71.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$467SAR 1,756
$1,226฿40.9K
-61.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,617฿120.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,603฿86.9K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
AL Kharj
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,869SAR 10.8K
$494฿16.5K
481.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.54
5.57
-0.54%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for AL Kharj: September 14, 2026
Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $676 in AL Kharj versus $738 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 481% higher in AL Kharj, 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 $27.00 in AL Kharj versus $32.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $173 vs $274 – making AL Kharj 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 Kharj vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in AL Kharj and in Phuket compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $951 in AL Kharj, $1,232 in Phuket – roughly 30% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in AL Kharj compared to Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,426 per month in AL Kharj and $1,847 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between AL Kharj and Phuket?
Rent is clearly cheaper in AL Kharj, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What is the difference in childcare costs between AL Kharj and Phuket?
Kindergarten costs $283 per month in AL Kharj and $561 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 58% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in AL Kharj, where all-in costs run around $951, than in Phuket at $1,232. In AL Kharj it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between AL Kharj and Phuket?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $951 in AL Kharj to $1,232 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is AL Kharj or Phuket safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between AL Kharj and Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with AL Kharj. 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.