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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,217 per month in Al-Ula vs $1,232 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,851 per month in Al-Ula vs $2,255 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,485 per month in Al-Ula vs $3,279 in Phuket, rent included.

Al-Ula is about 1% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Al-Ula and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Al-Ula 9% lower, Phuket 8% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al-Ula
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.72 SAR 25.20
$4.63 ฿151
45.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.32 SAR 166
$46.84 ฿1,523
-5.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.08 SAR 30.29
$8.84 ฿287
-8.60%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.71 SAR 6.41
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78 SAR 6.68
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.56 SAR 13.37
$3.00 ฿97.4
18.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 SAR 2.83
$0.74 ฿24.11
1.35%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29 SAR 1.08
$0.37 ฿11.88
-21.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.44 ฿79.3
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.61 ฿117
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al-Ula
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.69 SAR 6.33
$2.26 ฿73.5
-25.22%
White Bread (500g)
$0.95 SAR 3.57
$1.84 ฿59.8
-48.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.30 SAR 8.62
$2.24 ฿73.0
2.68%
Eggs
$2.41 SAR 9.03
$2.32 ฿75.3
3.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.94 SAR 26.02
$19.67 ฿639
-64.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.71 SAR 28.91
$3.65 ฿119
111.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.84 SAR 48.15
$13.10 ฿426
-1.98%
Apples (1kg)
$2.18 SAR 8.18
$3.39 ฿110
-35.69%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 SAR 6.12
$1.64 ฿53.4
-0.61%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.67 SAR 6.26
$2.41 ฿78.5
-30.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.56 SAR 5.85
$2.03 ฿66.0
-23.15%
Potato (1kg)
$1.27 SAR 4.77
$1.56 ฿50.6
-18.59%
Onion (1kg)
$1.32 SAR 4.96
$1.50 ฿48.66
-12.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 SAR 4.47
$1.02 ฿33.30
16.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59 SAR 2.22
$0.49 ฿15.91
20.41%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$2.82 SAR 10.56
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 SAR 6.32
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 SAR 7.47
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.06 SAR 26.49
$4.45 ฿145
58.65%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$18.88 ฿614
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.78 ฿57.7
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.75 ฿89.5
-
🚌 Getting Around
Al-Ula
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.05 SAR 3.93
$1.40 ฿45.54
-25.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$39.40 SAR 148
$11.48 ฿373
243.21%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.67 SAR 10.02
$3.12 ฿101
-14.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.86 SAR 6.96
$1.00 ฿32.48
86.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.06 SAR 48.96
$14.09 ฿458
-7.31%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.61 SAR 2.29
$1.35 ฿43.93
-54.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K SAR 100.3K
$27.2K ฿883.7K
-1.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.1K SAR 83.0K
$32.9K ฿1.1M
-32.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al-Ula
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$107 SAR 400
$125 ฿4,063
-14.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.21 SAR 128
$13.57 ฿441
152.10%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.9 SAR 270
$18.52 ฿602
288.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al-Ula
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$87.0 SAR 326
$61.5 ฿1,999
41.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.52 SAR 133
$16.84 ฿547
110.93%
Cinema Ticket
$15.79 SAR 59.2
$9.19 ฿299
71.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al-Ula
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$346 SAR 1,297
$698 ฿22.7K
-50.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,057 SAR 26.5K
$15.6K ฿506.9K
-54.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al-Ula
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.3 SAR 226
$57.8 ฿1,878
4.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.7 SAR 227
$35.24 ฿1,146
72.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.6 SAR 298
$113 ฿3,677
-29.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.6 SAR 306
$86.4 ฿2,808
-5.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al-Ula
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$446 SAR 1,671
$616 ฿20.0K
-27.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$377 SAR 1,413
$446 ฿14.5K
-15.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$850 SAR 3,188
$2,048 ฿66.6K
-58.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$634 SAR 2,377
$1,492 ฿48.5K
-57.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,323 SAR 8,710
$3,779 ฿122.8K
-38.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,352 SAR 5,070
$2,649 ฿86.1K
-48.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al-Ula
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$524 ฿17.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.42
5.33
-17.07%

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

Last update for Al-Ula: April 27, 2026

Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $446 in Al-Ula versus $616 in Phuket. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Al-Ula versus $47.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $197 vs $292 – making Al-Ula 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-Ula vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Al-Ula and Phuket compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,217 in Al-Ula, $1,232 in Phuket – roughly 1% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Al-Ula compared to Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,825 per month in Al-Ula 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-Ula and Phuket?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Al-Ula, 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-Ula and Phuket?
Kindergarten costs $346 per month in Al-Ula and $698 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 49% 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-Ula, where all-in costs run around $1,217, than in Phuket at $1,232. In Al-Ula 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-Ula and Phuket?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,217 in Al-Ula to $1,232 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Al-Ula 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-Ula and Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Al-Ula. 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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