Cost of Living Comparison Between An Najaf and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between An Najaf and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $673 per month in An Najaf vs $1,265 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $993 per month in An Najaf vs $2,297 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,313 per month in An Najaf vs $3,329 in Phuket, rent included.

An Najaf is about 47% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both An Najaf and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – An Najaf 50% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.17 IQD 5,458

$4.70 ฿153

-11.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.52 IQD 29.5K

$45.37 ฿1,482

-50.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.87 IQD 6,383

$8.43 ฿275

-42.23%

Cappuccino

$2.72 IQD 3,565

$2.93 ฿95.6

-7.17%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 IQD 481

$0.69 ฿22.40

-46.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 232

$0.37 ฿11.99

-51.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.48 IQD 4,562

$2.41 ฿78.6

44.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 IQD 3,646

$3.72 ฿122

-25.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 IQD 1,735

$2.23 ฿72.9

-40.36%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 IQD 1,040

$1.83 ฿59.8

-56.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 IQD 2,107

$2.17 ฿70.8

-25.81%

Eggs

$1.80 IQD 2,358

$2.21 ฿72.3

-18.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.32 IQD 3,042

$19.74 ฿645

-88.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.91 IQD 6,436

$3.63 ฿119

35.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.51 IQD 13.8K

$13.53 ฿442

-22.32%

Apples (1kg)

$1.24 IQD 1,617

$3.28 ฿107

-62.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,511

$1.61 ฿52.6

-28.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,386

$2.41 ฿78.6

-56.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 986

$2.08 ฿68.1

-63.94%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 849

$1.53 ฿49.93

-57.52%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 890

$1.48 ฿48.36

-54.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 IQD 862

$0.99 ฿32.29

-33.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 IQD 521

$0.51 ฿16.67

-21.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.50 IQD 1,966

$4.41 ฿144

-65.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.34 IQD 17.5K

$19.38 ฿633

-31.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 IQD 2,410

$1.78 ฿58.1

3.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 IQD 2,708

$2.71 ฿88.6

-23.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 IQD 478

$1.37 ฿44.79

-73.72%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$33.76 IQD 44.2K

$11.39 ฿372

196.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.94 IQD 2,544

$3.02 ฿98.6

-35.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 IQD 2,012

$0.99 ฿32.48

55.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.02 IQD 6,572

$14.10 ฿461

-64.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.44 IQD 579

$1.36 ฿44.51

-67.65%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$11.6K IQD 15.2M

$28.2K ฿921.1K

-58.93%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

$32.9K ฿1.1M

-39.05%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$59.9 IQD 78.4K

$122 ฿3,975

-50.78%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$22.72 IQD 29.7K

$13.57 ฿443

67.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.90 IQD 45.7K

$18.31 ฿598

90.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.23 IQD 38.3K

$60.2 ฿1,967

-51.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.76 IQD 19.3K

$17.14 ฿560

-13.89%

Cinema Ticket

$7.68 IQD 10.1K

$8.69 ฿284

-11.62%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$164 IQD 215.1K

$693 ฿22.6K

-76.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$923 IQD 1.2M

$15.7K ฿512.3K

-94.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.28 IQD 21.3K

$59.5 ฿1,944

-72.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.86 IQD 32.6K

$34.77 ฿1,136

-28.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.8 IQD 84.8K

$115 ฿3,743

-43.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$42.67 IQD 55.9K

$83.3 ฿2,720

-48.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$240 IQD 314.8K

$613 ฿20.0K

-60.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$134 IQD 175.4K

$437 ฿14.3K

-69.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$386 IQD 505.3K

$2,094 ฿68.4K

-81.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$150 IQD 196.5K

$1,509 ฿49.3K

-90.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,232 IQD 1.6M

$3,749 ฿122.5K

-67.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$481 IQD 630.0K

$2,616 ฿85.4K

-81.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$748 IQD 978.9K

$508 ฿16.6K

47.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.67

5.33

6.38%

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

Last update for An Najaf: June 1, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $240 in An Najaf versus $613 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 47% higher in An Najaf, 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 $23.00 in An Najaf versus $45.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $170 vs $293 – making An Najaf 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

An Najaf vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Phuket costs about 88% more than An Najaf, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,009 per month in An Najaf and $1,898 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in An Najaf, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $673 in An Najaf and $1,265 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 196% less in An Najaf. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in An Najaf, where all-in costs run around $673, than in Phuket at $1,265. In An Najaf it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. An Najaf costs $673 versus $1,265 in Phuket. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with An Najaf. 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.