Cost of Living Comparison Between Ar-rustaq and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Ar-rustaq and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $966 per month in Ar-rustaq vs $1,250 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,335 per month in Ar-rustaq vs $2,284 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,705 per month in Ar-rustaq vs $3,317 in Phuket, rent included.

Ar-rustaq is about 23% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ar-rustaq and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Ar-rustaq 28% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.13 OMR 1.97

$4.55 ฿153

12.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.59 OMR 9.85

$46.18 ฿1,554

-44.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.95 OMR 3.06

$8.84 ฿298

-10.07%

Cappuccino

$4.75 OMR 1.83

$3.06 ฿103

55.23%

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

$0.50 OMR 0.19

$0.73 ฿24.42

-31.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 OMR 0.10

$0.40 ฿13.40

-32.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.36 OMR 4.76

$2.43 ฿81.8

408.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.66 OMR 4.49

$3.78 ฿127

208.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.93 OMR 0.74

$2.26 ฿76.0

-14.60%

White Bread (500g)

$1.22 OMR 0.47

$1.81 ฿60.9

-32.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.68 OMR 0.65

$2.25 ฿75.8

-25.33%

Eggs

$1.91 OMR 0.73

$2.25 ฿75.6

-15.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.67 OMR 1.41

$19.51 ฿656

-81.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.26 OMR 1.64

$3.65 ฿123

16.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.72 OMR 2.97

$13.05 ฿439

-40.84%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 OMR 0.88

$3.23 ฿109

-29.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.75 OMR 0.67

$1.62 ฿54.4

8.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.84 OMR 0.71

$2.38 ฿80.2

-22.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.12 OMR 0.43

$2.03 ฿68.2

-44.83%

Potato (1kg)

$0.95 OMR 0.37

$1.53 ฿51.6

-37.91%

Onion (1kg)

$0.99 OMR 0.38

$1.50 ฿50.5

-34.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 OMR 0.40

$0.98 ฿32.93

6.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 OMR 0.21

$0.52 ฿17.40

1.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.48 OMR 2.49

$4.44 ฿149

45.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.88 OMR 6.11

$18.32 ฿616

-13.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.20 OMR 1.62

$1.86 ฿62.7

125.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.62 OMR 2.93

$2.68 ฿90.2

184.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.26 OMR 0.49

$1.41 ฿47.49

-10.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.70 ฿394

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.58 OMR 0.61

$3.11 ฿105

-49.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.80 OMR 0.31

$1.04 ฿35.08

-23.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.47 OMR 4.03

$14.11 ฿475

-25.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 OMR 0.25

$1.31 ฿44.13

-51.15%

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

$22.5K OMR 8,649

$27.8K ฿936.0K

-19.22%

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

$21.5K OMR 8,261

$33.2K ฿1.1M

-35.39%

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

$106 OMR 40.84

$122 ฿4,120

-13.34%

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

$40.86 OMR 15.73

$13.59 ฿457

200.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.3 OMR 26.69

$18.70 ฿629

270.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.5 ฿2,035

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$2.56 OMR 0.98

$16.98 ฿572

-84.92%

Cinema Ticket

$10.45 OMR 4.02

$9.07 ฿305

15.21%

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

$129 OMR 49.74

$706 ฿23.8K

-81.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,739 OMR 1,439

$15.8K ฿531.8K

-76.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.56 OMR 7.92

$58.6 ฿1,970

-64.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.17 OMR 10.07

$35.36 ฿1,190

-25.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$39.16 OMR 15.07

$115 ฿3,885

-66.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$52.4 OMR 20.17

$83.7 ฿2,818

-37.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$154 OMR 59.2

$626 ฿21.1K

-75.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$208 OMR 80.1

$445 ฿15.0K

-53.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$397 OMR 153

$2,040 ฿68.7K

-80.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$212 OMR 81.5

$1,492 ฿50.2K

-85.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,483 ฿117.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,577 ฿86.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,373 OMR 1,683

$500 ฿16.8K

774.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.15

5.33

-3.38%

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

Last update for Ar-rustaq: July 14, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $154 in Ar-rustaq 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 775% higher in Ar-rustaq, 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 $26.00 in Ar-rustaq versus $46.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $220 vs $289 – making Ar-rustaq 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

Ar-rustaq vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 29%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,449 per month in Ar-rustaq and $1,875 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ar-rustaq, 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 $966 in Ar-rustaq and $1,250 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $129 per month in Ar-rustaq and $706 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ar-rustaq, where all-in costs run around $966, than in Phuket at $1,250. In Ar-rustaq it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ar-rustaq – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Ar-rustaq. 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.