Cost of Living Comparison Between Madinat Hamad and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Madinat Hamad and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,173 per month in Madinat Hamad vs $1,232 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,899 per month in Madinat Hamad vs $2,255 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,625 per month in Madinat Hamad vs $3,279 in Phuket, rent included.

Madinat Hamad is about 5% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Madinat Hamad and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Madinat Hamad 12% lower, Phuket 8% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.71 BHD 1.02

$4.63 ฿151

-41.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.8 BHD 19.87

$46.84 ฿1,532

12.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.33 BHD 2.75

$8.84 ฿289

-17.08%

Cappuccino

$2.62 BHD 0.98

$3.00 ฿98.0

-12.67%

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

$0.81 BHD 0.30

$0.74 ฿24.25

9.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 BHD 0.14

$0.37 ฿11.95

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.82 BHD 2.94

$2.44 ฿79.8

220.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.70 BHD 4.02

$3.61 ฿118

196.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.55 BHD 0.58

$2.26 ฿73.9

-31.42%

White Bread (500g)

$1.08 BHD 0.40

$1.84 ฿60.1

-41.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.39 BHD 0.90

$2.24 ฿73.4

6.70%

Eggs

$1.98 BHD 0.74

$2.32 ฿75.7

-14.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.46 BHD 3.18

$19.67 ฿643

-56.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.53 BHD 2.83

$3.65 ฿119

106.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.29 BHD 3.87

$13.10 ฿428

-21.45%

Apples (1kg)

$2.16 BHD 0.81

$3.39 ฿111

-36.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 BHD 0.61

$1.64 ฿53.7

-1.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.75 BHD 0.66

$2.41 ฿79.0

-27.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.21 BHD 0.45

$2.03 ฿66.4

-40.39%

Potato (1kg)

$0.93 BHD 0.35

$1.56 ฿50.9

-40.38%

Onion (1kg)

$1.03 BHD 0.39

$1.50 ฿48.94

-31.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.52 BHD 0.57

$1.02 ฿33.50

49.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 BHD 0.21

$0.49 ฿16.00

12.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.77 BHD 2.54

$4.45 ฿145

52.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.42 BHD 6.93

$18.88 ฿617

-2.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.32 BHD 1.25

$1.78 ฿58.1

86.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.32 BHD 1.25

$2.75 ฿90.1

20.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.63 BHD 0.24

$1.40 ฿45.81

-55.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.92 BHD 13.13

$11.48 ฿376

204.18%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.55 BHD 1.71

$3.12 ฿102

45.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.39 BHD 1.28

$1.00 ฿32.67

239.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.32 BHD 9.89

$14.09 ฿461

86.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.36 BHD 0.13

$1.35 ฿44.19

-73.33%

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

$37.3K BHD 14.0K

$27.2K ฿888.9K

37.15%

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

$20.7K BHD 7,782

$32.9K ฿1.1M

-37.14%

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

$120 BHD 44.97

$125 ฿4,087

-4.31%

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

$23.99 BHD 9.02

$13.57 ฿444

76.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.72 BHD 7.04

$18.52 ฿606

1.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$118 BHD 44.45

$61.5 ฿2,010

92.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$52.0 BHD 19.54

$16.84 ฿551

208.67%

Cinema Ticket

$5.37 BHD 2.02

$9.19 ฿300

-41.57%

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

$387 BHD 145

$698 ฿22.8K

-44.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,985 BHD 3,378

$15.6K ฿509.9K

-42.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.29 BHD 17.41

$57.8 ฿1,889

-19.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$62.6 BHD 23.54

$35.24 ฿1,152

77.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.9 BHD 30.79

$113 ฿3,699

-27.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.4 BHD 33.25

$86.4 ฿2,825

2.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$402 BHD 151

$616 ฿20.1K

-34.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$320 BHD 120

$446 ฿14.6K

-28.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$809 BHD 304

$2,048 ฿67.0K

-60.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$652 BHD 245

$1,492 ฿48.8K

-56.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,779 ฿123.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,649 ฿86.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$661 BHD 249

$524 ฿17.1K

26.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.56

5.33

60.60%

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

Last update for Madinat Hamad: April 26, 2026

Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $402 in Madinat Hamad 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.

Salaries run about 26% higher in Madinat Hamad, 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 $53.0 in Madinat Hamad versus $47.00 in Phuket. Groceries tell a different story – $249 in Madinat Hamad vs $292 in Phuket – so Madinat Hamad wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Madinat Hamad vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,173 in Madinat Hamad, $1,232 in Phuket – roughly 5% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,760 per month in Madinat Hamad and $1,847 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 204% less in Madinat Hamad. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $387 per month in Madinat Hamad and $698 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Madinat Hamad, where all-in costs run around $1,173, than in Phuket at $1,232. In Madinat Hamad it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,173 in Madinat Hamad to $1,232 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Madinat Hamad. 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.