Cost of Living Comparison Between Arar and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Arar and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,198 per month in Arar vs $1,250 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,849 per month in Arar vs $2,284 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,501 per month in Arar vs $3,317 in Phuket, rent included.

Arar is about 4% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Arar and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Arar 10% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Arar
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.54 SAR 24.55
$4.55 ฿153
43.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.74 SAR 168
$46.18 ฿1,553
-3.12%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.91 SAR 29.69
$8.84 ฿297
-10.52%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.77 SAR 6.65
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 SAR 6.56
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.70 SAR 13.88
$3.06 ฿103
20.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 SAR 2.77
$0.73 ฿24.40
1.37%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29 SAR 1.07
$0.40 ฿13.39
-27.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.43 ฿81.8
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.78 ฿127
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Arar
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.62 SAR 6.09
$2.26 ฿76.0
-28.32%
White Bread (500g)
$0.95 SAR 3.57
$1.81 ฿60.9
-47.51%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.40 SAR 9.00
$2.25 ฿75.8
6.67%
Eggs
$2.48 SAR 9.31
$2.25 ฿75.5
10.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.83 SAR 25.64
$19.51 ฿656
-64.99%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.35 SAR 27.59
$3.65 ฿123
101.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.96 SAR 48.67
$13.05 ฿439
-0.69%
Apples (1kg)
$2.17 SAR 8.16
$3.23 ฿109
-32.82%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 SAR 5.91
$1.62 ฿54.4
-3.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.68 SAR 6.32
$2.38 ฿80.1
-29.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.56 SAR 5.88
$2.03 ฿68.1
-23.15%
Potato (1kg)
$1.29 SAR 4.84
$1.53 ฿51.6
-15.69%
Onion (1kg)
$1.26 SAR 4.74
$1.50 ฿50.5
-16.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.24 SAR 4.65
$0.98 ฿32.91
26.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59 SAR 2.22
$0.52 ฿17.39
13.46%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$2.97 SAR 11.17
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 SAR 6.58
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 SAR 7.64
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.99 SAR 26.25
$4.44 ฿149
57.43%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$18.32 ฿616
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.86 ฿62.7
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.68 ฿90.1
-
🚌 Getting Around
Arar
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.04 SAR 3.91
$1.41 ฿47.46
-26.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.26 SAR 151
$11.70 ฿393
244.10%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.61 SAR 9.80
$3.11 ฿105
-16.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.86 SAR 6.98
$1.04 ฿35.06
78.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.54 SAR 50.9
$14.11 ฿474
-4.04%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.63 SAR 2.37
$1.31 ฿44.10
-51.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K SAR 99.9K
$27.8K ฿935.4K
-4.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0K SAR 82.8K
$33.2K ฿1.1M
-33.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Arar
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$106 SAR 397
$122 ฿4,118
-13.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.50 SAR 126
$13.59 ฿457
146.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.5 SAR 283
$18.70 ฿629
303.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Arar
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$88.6 SAR 333
$60.5 ฿2,034
46.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.68 SAR 134
$16.98 ฿571
110.13%
Cinema Ticket
$15.91 SAR 59.7
$9.07 ฿305
75.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Arar
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$351 SAR 1,317
$706 ฿23.8K
-50.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,890 SAR 25.9K
$15.8K ฿531.5K
-56.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Arar
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.4 SAR 223
$58.6 ฿1,969
1.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.8 SAR 225
$35.36 ฿1,189
69.20%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.6 SAR 292
$115 ฿3,883
-32.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.0 SAR 312
$83.7 ฿2,816
-0.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Arar
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$433 SAR 1,628
$626 ฿21.0K
-30.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$383 SAR 1,439
$445 ฿15.0K
-13.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$844 SAR 3,170
$2,040 ฿68.6K
-58.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$627 SAR 2,355
$1,492 ฿50.2K
-57.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,082 SAR 7,816
$3,483 ฿117.1K
-40.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,467 SAR 5,507
$2,577 ฿86.7K
-43.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Arar
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$500 ฿16.8K
-
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 Arar: July 14, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $433 in Arar 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Arar versus $46.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $195 vs $289 – making Arar 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
Arar vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Arar and in Phuket compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,198 in Arar, $1,250 in Phuket – roughly 4% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Arar compared to Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,797 per month in Arar and $1,875 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Arar and Phuket?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Arar, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do commuting costs compare in Arar and in Phuket?
Public transport costs about 244% less in Arar. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Arar and Phuket?
Kindergarten costs $351 per month in Arar and $706 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Arar, where all-in costs run around $1,198, than in Phuket at $1,250. In Arar it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Arar and Phuket?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,198 in Arar to $1,250 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Arar 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 Arar and Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Arar. 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.

Arar vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities