😐A single person spends $1,379 per month in Al-Qurain vs $1,265 in Phuket, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,295 per month in Al-Qurain vs $2,089 in Phuket, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,212 per month in Al-Qurain vs $2,913 in Phuket, rent included.
😐Al-Qurain costs about 9% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Al-Qurain sits 0% above the global median, while Phuket is 8% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al-Qurain
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.77KWD 3.91
$4.66฿154
174.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.9KWD 19.89
$32.22฿1,065
101.30%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.12KWD 2.80
$8.68฿287
5.07%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.28KWD 1.01
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.79KWD 1.47
-
-
Cappuccino
$5.51KWD 1.69
$2.90฿95.8
90.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70KWD 0.21
$0.84฿27.89
-16.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38KWD 0.12
$0.49฿16.16
-22.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.48฿82.0
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.73฿123
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al-Qurain
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65KWD 0.51
$1.89฿62.3
-12.70%
White Bread(500g)
$1.53KWD 0.47
$1.41฿46.54
8.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.90KWD 0.58
$1.62฿53.6
17.28%
Eggs
$2.14KWD 0.66
$2.24฿74.1
-4.46%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.51KWD 1.38
$19.84฿656
-77.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.83KWD 2.09
$3.48฿115
96.26%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.43KWD 3.20
$11.37฿376
-8.27%
Apples(1kg)
$2.44KWD 0.75
$2.90฿95.8
-15.86%
Banana(1kg)
$1.94KWD 0.59
$1.72฿57.0
12.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85KWD 0.57
$2.27฿75.1
-18.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.54KWD 0.47
$2.13฿70.4
-27.70%
Potato(1kg)
$1.37KWD 0.42
$1.47฿48.72
-6.80%
Onion(1kg)
$1.49KWD 0.46
$1.42฿46.92
4.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.39KWD 0.73
$1.10฿36.25
117.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59KWD 0.18
$0.60฿19.76
-1.67%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$3.26KWD 1.00
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.07KWD 0.33
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40KWD 0.43
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.81KWD 0.86
$4.31฿142
-34.80%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$18.60฿615
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.80฿59.5
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.97฿98.0
-
🚌 Getting Around
Al-Qurain
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79KWD 0.24
$2.25฿74.2
-64.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$23.49฿776
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.74KWD 1.45
$3.10฿102
52.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.30KWD 1.01
$1.08฿35.56
205.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$16.34KWD 5.01
$3.87฿128
322.22%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.32KWD 0.10
$1.43฿47.16
-77.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1KKWD 6,478
$27.8K฿918.0K
-23.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.6KKWD 6,310
$27.0K฿891.5K
-23.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al-Qurain
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$65.2KWD 19.98
$105฿3,462
-37.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.10KWD 7.08
$11.39฿376
102.81%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.40KWD 9.32
$17.54฿580
73.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al-Qurain
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$96.1KWD 29.45
$54.3฿1,795
76.76%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$11.44฿378
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.12KWD 3.41
$7.78฿257
42.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al-Qurain
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$296KWD 90.7
$576฿19.0K
-48.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,269KWD 2,842
$11.6K฿382.7K
-19.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al-Qurain
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.71KWD 11.56
$63.6฿2,103
-40.74%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.47KWD 12.10
$29.10฿961
35.64%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.7KWD 30.25
$96.2฿3,179
2.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.5KWD 27.76
$90.0฿2,974
0.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al-Qurain
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$737KWD 226
$733฿24.2K
0.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$586KWD 180
$501฿16.5K
17.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,795KWD 550
$2,126฿70.2K
-15.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,365KWD 418
$1,252฿41.4K
8.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,534฿116.8K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,622฿86.6K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al-Qurain
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,559KWD 1,398
$508฿16.8K
798.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.53
5.57
17.24%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Al-Qurain: September 7, 2026
Last update for Phuket: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $737 in Al-Qurain versus $733 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 798% higher in Al-Qurain, 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 $65.0 in Al-Qurain versus $32.00 in Phuket. Groceries tell a different story – $190 in Al-Qurain vs $275 in Phuket – so Al-Qurain 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-Qurain vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Al-Qurain?
Yes – Al-Qurain is pricier by about 9%, 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 $2,068 per month in Al-Qurain and $1,898 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
Is eating out cheaper in Al-Qurain or in Phuket?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $65.0 in Al-Qurain 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-Qurain and in Phuket?
Interestingly, groceries are about 45% cheaper in Al-Qurain – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Al-Qurain or in Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,265, than in Al-Qurain at $1,379. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Al-Qurain it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Al-Qurain or Phuket more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Phuket – 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-Qurain 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 Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Al-Qurain makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.