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 $1,206 per month in Madinat Hamad vs $1,264 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,905 per month in Madinat Hamad vs $2,256 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,603 per month in Madinat Hamad vs $3,248 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 9% lower, Phuket 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.57 BHD 0.97

$4.48 ฿150

-42.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.5 BHD 20.18

$45.59 ฿1,521

17.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.50 BHD 2.83

$8.76 ฿292

-14.38%

Cappuccino

$2.68 BHD 1.01

$2.97 ฿99.0

-9.76%

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

$0.85 BHD 0.32

$0.69 ฿22.90

23.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 BHD 0.15

$0.39 ฿13.04

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.90 BHD 2.98

$2.53 ฿84.4

212.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.57 BHD 3.98

$3.75 ฿125

181.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 BHD 0.61

$2.15 ฿71.6

-24.65%

White Bread (500g)

$1.04 BHD 0.39

$1.82 ฿60.6

-42.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.41 BHD 0.91

$2.18 ฿72.9

10.55%

Eggs

$2.04 BHD 0.77

$2.25 ฿75.0

-9.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.59 BHD 3.24

$20.00 ฿667

-57.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.85 BHD 2.96

$3.63 ฿121

116.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.36 BHD 3.90

$13.56 ฿452

-23.60%

Apples (1kg)

$2.14 BHD 0.81

$3.24 ฿108

-33.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 BHD 0.58

$1.64 ฿54.6

-5.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.73 BHD 0.65

$2.33 ฿77.8

-25.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.21 BHD 0.46

$2.07 ฿69.1

-41.55%

Potato (1kg)

$0.93 BHD 0.35

$1.55 ฿51.6

-40.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.04 BHD 0.39

$1.46 ฿48.54

-28.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.50 BHD 0.57

$0.98 ฿32.86

53.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 BHD 0.20

$0.48 ฿16.09

8.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.50 BHD 2.45

$4.35 ฿145

49.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.49 BHD 6.97

$18.57 ฿620

-0.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.46 BHD 1.30

$1.86 ฿61.9

86.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 BHD 1.23

$2.65 ฿88.6

23.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 BHD 0.26

$1.42 ฿47.28

-52.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.98 BHD 13.18

$11.57 ฿386

202.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.74 BHD 1.78

$3.17 ฿106

49.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.34 BHD 1.26

$1.03 ฿34.41

224.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.68 BHD 10.06

$13.89 ฿463

92.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.35 BHD 0.13

$1.34 ฿44.84

-73.88%

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

$37.1K BHD 14.0K

$27.8K ฿927.1K

33.49%

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

$21.1K BHD 7,969

$33.4K ฿1.1M

-36.66%

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

$123 BHD 46.52

$123 ฿4,105

0.30%

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

$23.61 BHD 8.90

$13.77 ฿459

71.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.26 BHD 6.88

$18.33 ฿611

-0.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$118 BHD 44.42

$60.7 ฿2,025

94.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$53.3 BHD 20.10

$17.16 ฿573

210.72%

Cinema Ticket

$5.33 BHD 2.01

$8.87 ฿296

-39.91%

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

$382 BHD 144

$688 ฿22.9K

-44.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,807 BHD 3,319

$15.8K ฿526.4K

-44.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.43 BHD 17.12

$59.3 ฿1,978

-23.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.1 BHD 23.80

$34.69 ฿1,157

82.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.4 BHD 31.80

$115 ฿3,843

-26.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.2 BHD 33.99

$83.8 ฿2,794

7.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$391 BHD 147

$621 ฿20.7K

-37.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$312 BHD 118

$446 ฿14.9K

-30.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$796 BHD 300

$2,034 ฿67.8K

-60.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$670 BHD 253

$1,496 ฿49.9K

-55.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,455 ฿115.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,531 ฿84.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$655 BHD 247

$494 ฿16.5K

32.77%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $391 in Madinat Hamad versus $621 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 33% 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 $54.0 in Madinat Hamad versus $46.00 in Phuket. Groceries tell a different story – $251 in Madinat Hamad vs $291 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: $1,206 in Madinat Hamad, $1,264 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 $1,809 per month in Madinat Hamad and $1,896 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 202% less in Madinat Hamad. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $382 per month in Madinat Hamad and $688 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 $1,206, than in Phuket at $1,264. 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 $1,206 in Madinat Hamad to $1,264 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.