🙂A single person spends $682 per month in Az-zarqa' vs $1,261 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,061 per month in Az-zarqa' vs $2,286 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,440 per month in Az-zarqa' vs $3,310 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂Az-zarqa' is about 46% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Az-zarqa' and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Az-zarqa'49% lower, Phuket6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Az-zarqa'
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.27JOD 3.02
$4.56฿149
-6.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.08JOD 17.76
$46.63฿1,519
-46.21%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.47JOD 3.87
$8.47฿276
-35.42%
Cappuccino
$0.81JOD 0.57
$3.03฿98.6
-73.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45JOD 0.32
$0.69฿22.45
-34.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36JOD 0.26
$0.37฿11.92
-2.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.17JOD 2.95
$2.49฿81.0
67.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.01JOD 4.96
$3.66฿119
91.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Az-zarqa'
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.45JOD 1.03
$2.18฿71.0
-33.49%
White Bread(500g)
$0.51JOD 0.36
$1.90฿62.0
-73.16%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.68JOD 1.19
$2.20฿71.6
-23.64%
Eggs
$1.88JOD 1.33
$2.22฿72.4
-15.32%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.55JOD 4.64
$19.99฿651
-67.23%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.27JOD 3.02
$3.66฿119
16.67%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.49JOD 6.71
$13.25฿432
-28.38%
Apples(1kg)
$1.61JOD 1.14
$3.23฿105
-50.15%
Banana(1kg)
$1.33JOD 0.94
$1.70฿55.3
-21.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.01JOD 0.71
$2.39฿78.0
-57.74%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.73JOD 0.52
$2.08฿67.7
-64.90%
Potato(1kg)
$0.80JOD 0.57
$1.59฿51.8
-49.69%
Onion(1kg)
$0.72JOD 0.51
$1.48฿48.31
-51.35%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.49JOD 0.35
$1.03฿33.54
-52.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55JOD 0.39
$0.52฿16.83
5.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.45JOD 2.44
$4.25฿138
-18.82%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.90JOD 4.89
$18.79฿612
-63.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.12JOD 2.91
$1.76฿57.2
134.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.32JOD 3.06
$2.76฿89.8
56.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Az-zarqa'
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.61JOD 0.43
$1.36฿44.32
-55.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$21.18JOD 14.99
$11.36฿370
86.44%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.74JOD 0.52
$3.14฿102
-76.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.96JOD 0.68
$1.04฿33.74
-7.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.93JOD 3.49
$13.77฿448
-64.20%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36JOD 0.96
$1.34฿43.79
1.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.6KJOD 19.5K
$27.7K฿901.4K
-0.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.8KJOD 19.7K
$33.9K฿1.1M
-17.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Az-zarqa'
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$97.6JOD 69.1
$124฿4,025
-21.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.18JOD 9.33
$13.52฿440
-2.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.84JOD 16.17
$18.69฿609
22.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Az-zarqa'
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.63JOD 20.97
$61.8฿2,013
-52.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.34JOD 6.61
$17.25฿562
-45.86%
Cinema Ticket
$9.97JOD 7.06
$9.14฿298
9.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Az-zarqa'
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$81.8JOD 57.9
$703฿22.9K
-88.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,796JOD 1,979
$15.9K฿517.0K
-82.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Az-zarqa'
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$22.54JOD 15.95
$59.5฿1,937
-62.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.75JOD 18.23
$35.07฿1,142
-26.58%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$45.18JOD 31.98
$115฿3,754
-60.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$56.9JOD 40.29
$84.1฿2,737
-32.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Az-zarqa'
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$161JOD 114
$619฿20.1K
-73.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$121JOD 85.6
$433฿14.1K
-72.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$275JOD 195
$2,062฿67.2K
-86.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$230JOD 163
$1,511฿49.2K
-84.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$564JOD 399
$3,646฿118.7K
-84.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$357JOD 253
$2,626฿85.5K
-86.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Az-zarqa'
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$503JOD 356
$507฿16.5K
-0.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.27
5.33
36.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Az-zarqa': June 7, 2026
Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $161 in Az-zarqa' versus $619 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 1% higher in Phuket, 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 $25.00 in Az-zarqa' versus $47.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $183 vs $293 – making Az-zarqa' 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
Az-zarqa' vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Az-zarqa' and Phuket compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $682 in Az-zarqa', $1,261 in Phuket – roughly 85% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Az-zarqa' compared to Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,023 per month in Az-zarqa' and $1,892 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Az-zarqa' and Phuket?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Az-zarqa', 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 Az-zarqa' and Phuket?
Public transport costs about 86% less in Az-zarqa'. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Az-zarqa' and Phuket?
Kindergarten costs $81.8 per month in Az-zarqa' and $703 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 Az-zarqa', where all-in costs run around $682, than in Phuket at $1,261. In Az-zarqa' it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Az-zarqa' and Phuket?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $682 in Az-zarqa' to $1,261 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Az-zarqa' 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 Az-zarqa' and Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Az-zarqa'. 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.
Az-zarqa' vs other spots: cost of living compared