😐A single person spends $1,270 per month in Al Mubarraz vs $1,250 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,965 per month in Al Mubarraz vs $2,284 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,660 per month in Al Mubarraz vs $3,317 in Phuket, rent included.
😐Al Mubarraz costs about 2% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both Al Mubarraz and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Al Mubarraz5% lower, Phuket6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al Mubarraz
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.48SAR 28.08
$4.55฿153
64.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.94SAR 142
$46.18฿1,554
-17.84%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.12SAR 26.72
$8.84฿298
-19.46%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72SAR 6.44
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18SAR 8.18
-
-
Cappuccino
$4.00SAR 15.03
$3.06฿103
30.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66SAR 2.47
$0.73฿24.42
-9.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.19SAR 0.72
$0.40฿13.40
-52.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.43฿81.8
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.78฿127
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al Mubarraz
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68SAR 6.29
$2.26฿76.0
-25.66%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26SAR 4.73
$1.81฿60.9
-30.39%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.43SAR 9.11
$2.25฿75.8
8.00%
Eggs
$2.65SAR 9.93
$2.25฿75.6
17.78%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.36SAR 31.39
$19.51฿656
-57.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.16SAR 38.15
$3.65฿123
178.36%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.49SAR 54.4
$13.05฿439
11.03%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31SAR 8.69
$3.23฿109
-28.48%
Banana(1kg)
$1.67SAR 6.28
$1.62฿54.4
3.09%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.86SAR 6.99
$2.38฿80.2
-21.85%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.55SAR 5.80
$2.03฿68.2
-23.65%
Potato(1kg)
$1.28SAR 4.80
$1.53฿51.6
-16.34%
Onion(1kg)
$1.51SAR 5.67
$1.50฿50.5
0.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.44SAR 5.42
$0.98฿32.93
46.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53SAR 1.97
$0.52฿17.40
1.92%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$2.79SAR 10.48
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80SAR 6.75
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43SAR 9.13
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.52SAR 28.24
$4.44฿149
69.37%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$18.32฿616
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.86฿62.7
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.68฿90.2
-
🚌 Getting Around
Al Mubarraz
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.09SAR 4.08
$1.41฿47.49
-22.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.33SAR 151
$11.70฿394
244.70%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.29SAR 12.37
$3.11฿105
5.79%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91SAR 7.19
$1.04฿35.08
83.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.45SAR 50.5
$14.11฿475
-4.68%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.54SAR 2.04
$1.31฿44.13
-58.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.8KSAR 74.4K
$27.8K฿936.0K
-28.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6KSAR 88.5K
$33.2K฿1.1M
-29.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al Mubarraz
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$104SAR 392
$122฿4,120
-14.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.57SAR 134
$13.59฿457
161.74%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.3SAR 283
$18.70฿629
302.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al Mubarraz
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$87.7SAR 329
$60.5฿2,035
44.97%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.03SAR 132
$16.98฿572
106.30%
Cinema Ticket
$15.69SAR 58.9
$9.07฿305
72.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al Mubarraz
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$452SAR 1,697
$706฿23.8K
-36.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,474SAR 35.6K
$15.8K฿531.8K
-40.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al Mubarraz
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.6SAR 224
$58.6฿1,970
1.71%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$63.5SAR 239
$35.36฿1,190
79.61%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$107SAR 401
$115฿3,885
-7.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.6SAR 374
$83.7฿2,818
18.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al Mubarraz
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$438SAR 1,644
$626฿21.1K
-30.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$381SAR 1,429
$445฿15.0K
-14.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$848SAR 3,184
$2,040฿68.7K
-58.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$632SAR 2,375
$1,492฿50.2K
-57.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,117SAR 7,948
$3,483฿117.2K
-39.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,437SAR 5,398
$2,577฿86.7K
-44.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al Mubarraz
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,073SAR 4,028
$500฿16.8K
114.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.31
5.33
-0.38%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Al Mubarraz: July 13, 2026
Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $438 in Al Mubarraz versus $626 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 115% higher in Al Mubarraz, 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 $38.00 in Al Mubarraz versus $46.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $225 vs $289 – making Al Mubarraz 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 Mubarraz vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Al Mubarraz and in Phuket compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,270 in Al Mubarraz, $1,250 in Phuket – roughly 2% apart. Al Mubarraz costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Al Mubarraz compared to Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,905 per month in Al Mubarraz and $1,875 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Al Mubarraz and Phuket?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, 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 Mubarraz and Phuket?
Kindergarten costs $452 per month in Al Mubarraz and $706 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?
Interestingly, groceries are about 29% cheaper in Al Mubarraz – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,250, than in Al Mubarraz at $1,270. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Al Mubarraz it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Al Mubarraz and Phuket?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,250 in Phuket to $1,270 in Al Mubarraz. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Al Mubarraz 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 Mubarraz and Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Al Mubarraz makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Al Mubarraz vs other spots: cost of living compared