Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-qardahah and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-qardahah and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $640 per month in Al-qardahah vs $1,232 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,016 per month in Al-qardahah vs $2,054 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,393 per month in Al-qardahah vs $2,876 in Phuket, rent included.

Al-qardahah is about 48% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Al-qardahah and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Al-qardahah 53% lower, Phuket 10% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al-qardahah
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.83 SYP 1,194
$4.41 ฿147
122.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.94 SYP 5,460
$32.26 ฿1,074
39.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.86 SYP 833
$8.93 ฿297
-23.18%
Cappuccino
$3.79 SYP 460
$2.90 ฿96.4
30.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 SYP 278
$0.88 ฿29.30
160.23%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 SYP 106
$0.48 ฿16.01
81.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.92 SYP 233
$2.35 ฿78.3
-18.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06 SYP 372
$3.72 ฿124
-17.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al-qardahah
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 SYP 133
$1.87 ฿62.1
-41.71%
White Bread (500g)
$0.42 SYP 51.0
$1.47 ฿48.81
-71.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.64 SYP 200
$1.55 ฿51.7
5.81%
Eggs
$1.57 SYP 191
$2.10 ฿70.0
-25.24%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.87 SYP 471
$19.59 ฿652
-80.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.69 SYP 691
$3.42 ฿114
66.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.55 SYP 1,647
$11.38 ฿379
19.07%
Apples (1kg)
$1.02 SYP 124
$2.98 ฿99.3
-65.77%
Banana (1kg)
$1.41 SYP 172
$1.68 ฿56.1
-16.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.09 SYP 132
$2.21 ฿73.5
-50.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.03 SYP 125
$2.16 ฿72.0
-52.31%
Potato (1kg)
$0.75 SYP 91.6
$1.52 ฿50.8
-50.66%
Onion (1kg)
$0.79 SYP 96.2
$1.34 ฿44.55
-41.04%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.40 SYP 48.87
$1.13 ฿37.57
-64.60%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61 SYP 74.2
$0.55 ฿18.19
10.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.82 SYP 343
$4.26 ฿142
-33.80%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.07 SYP 737
$19.09 ฿635
-68.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.10 SYP 134
$1.78 ฿59.2
-38.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 SYP 354
$2.78 ฿92.6
4.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Al-qardahah
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$2.23 ฿74.2
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$22.74 ฿757
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.02 SYP 124
$3.03 ฿101
-66.34%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.54 SYP 187
$1.02 ฿34.06
50.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.84 SYP 953
$3.89 ฿130
101.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$3.67 SYP 446
$1.49 ฿49.63
146.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$14.8K SYP 1.8M
$26.6K ฿884.9K
-44.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.0K SYP 2.3M
$27.0K ฿899.8K
-29.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al-qardahah
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$137 SYP 16.7K
$102 ฿3,411
33.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.45 SYP 1,148
$11.33 ฿377
-16.59%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.65 SYP 5,547
$17.40 ฿579
162.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al-qardahah
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$52.1 ฿1,734
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$11.07 ฿369
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.40 SYP 656
$7.69 ฿256
-29.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al-qardahah
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$66.7 SYP 8,108
$561 ฿18.7K
-88.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,806 SYP 219.5K
$11.5K ฿383.0K
-84.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al-qardahah
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$28.38 SYP 3,449
$63.0 ฿2,098
-54.97%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.11 SYP 4,873
$29.52 ฿983
35.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$60.0 SYP 7,288
$98.0 ฿3,263
-38.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.9 SYP 7,032
$88.5 ฿2,946
-34.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al-qardahah
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$738 ฿24.6K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$482 ฿16.1K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$2,107 ฿70.1K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,226 ฿40.8K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,617 ฿120.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,603 ฿86.7K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al-qardahah
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$494 ฿16.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
14.25
5.57
155.83%

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

Last update for Al-qardahah: September 12, 2026

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Al-qardahah versus $32.00 in Phuket. Groceries tell a different story – $168 in Al-qardahah vs $274 in Phuket – so Al-qardahah wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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-qardahah vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Al-qardahah?
Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 93%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $960 per month in Al-qardahah and $1,847 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Is eating out cheaper in Al-qardahah or in Phuket?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Al-qardahah and $32.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Al-qardahah and in Phuket?
Groceries cost about 63% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Al-qardahah or in Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Al-qardahah, where all-in costs run around $640, than in Phuket at $1,232. In Al-qardahah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Al-qardahah or Phuket more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Al-qardahah – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Al-qardahah or 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 – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Al-qardahah. 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.

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