Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mahdia and Phuket

For one person, living is cheaper in Mahdia: $556 a month against $1,278 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $8,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Mahdia, Tunisia
Phuket, Thailand
Mahdia
🇹🇳 Tunisia
$556
/mo nomad
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,278
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Mahdia and in Phuket

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Mahdia and in Phuket actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $556 per month in Mahdia vs $1,278 in Phuket, rent included.

  • Mahdia $556
  • Phuket $1,278

A couple spends around $878 per month in Mahdia vs $2,216 in Phuket, rent included.

  • Mahdia $878
  • Phuket $2,216

A family of three spends $1,201 per month in Mahdia vs $3,154 in Phuket, rent included.

  • Mahdia $1,201
  • Phuket $3,154

Mahdia is about 57% cheaper than Phuket, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Mahdia and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Mahdia 59% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mahdia
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.53 TND 7.61
$4.47 ฿151
-43.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.87 TND 59.7
$32.41 ฿1,093
-38.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.88 TND 14.65
$8.81 ฿297
-44.61%
Cappuccino
$0.93 TND 2.78
$2.83 ฿95.4
-67.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61 TND 1.83
$0.87 ฿29.41
-29.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.17 TND 0.52
$0.49 ฿16.65
-65.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.02 TND 3.07
$2.56 ฿86.3
-60.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54 TND 4.63
$3.68 ฿124
-58.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mahdia
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.42 TND 1.27
$1.66 ฿55.9
-74.70%
White Bread (500g)
$0.28 TND 0.84
$1.46 ฿49.31
-80.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.32 TND 3.96
$1.50 ฿50.5
-12.00%
Eggs
$1.52 TND 4.57
$2.09 ฿70.5
-27.27%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.67 TND 35.06
$19.07 ฿643
-38.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.14 TND 15.44
$3.30 ฿111
55.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.29 TND 42.93
$10.91 ฿368
30.98%
Apples (1kg)
$2.81 TND 8.46
$2.93 ฿98.9
-4.10%
Banana (1kg)
$2.88 TND 8.66
$1.69 ฿57.0
70.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.37 TND 4.13
$2.25 ฿75.8
-39.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.73 TND 2.20
$2.08 ฿70.0
-64.90%
Potato (1kg)
$0.64 TND 1.92
$1.51 ฿51.0
-57.62%
Onion (1kg)
$0.32 TND 0.95
$1.38 ฿46.52
-76.81%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.41 TND 1.23
$1.07 ฿35.96
-61.68%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.35 TND 1.04
$0.52 ฿17.51
-32.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.41 TND 10.23
$4.20 ฿142
-18.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$3.37 TND 10.13
$18.79 ฿634
-82.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 TND 4.86
$1.82 ฿61.5
-10.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.26 TND 3.78
$2.84 ฿95.8
-55.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Mahdia
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 TND 1.02
$1.45 ฿48.98
-76.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$13.10 TND 39.36
$56.7 ฿1,912
-76.88%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.31 TND 0.94
$3.02 ฿102
-89.74%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.28 TND 0.84
$1.02 ฿34.33
-72.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$3.69 ฿125
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 TND 2.46
$1.47 ฿49.76
-44.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.6K TND 121.9K
$26.8K ฿903.4K
51.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.6K TND 119.1K
$26.7K ฿900.5K
48.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mahdia
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$54.7 TND 164
$96.4 ฿3,251
-43.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.32 TND 22.00
$11.26 ฿380
-34.99%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.16 TND 60.6
$16.85 ฿568
19.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mahdia
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$20.73 TND 62.3
$67.2 ฿2,268
-69.17%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.47 TND 22.44
$10.73 ฿362
-30.38%
Cinema Ticket
$6.58 TND 19.78
$7.50 ฿253
-12.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mahdia
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$110 TND 331
$476 ฿16.1K
-76.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,001 TND 3,007
$11.3K ฿380.0K
-91.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mahdia
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$38.99 TND 117
$62.4 ฿2,104
-37.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.67 TND 98.2
$28.41 ฿958
14.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.2 TND 235
$94.3 ฿3,181
-17.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$23.09 TND 69.4
$85.8 ฿2,895
-73.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mahdia
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$128 TND 384
$716 ฿24.2K
-82.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$100 TND 301
$491 ฿16.6K
-79.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$294 TND 884
$1,927 ฿65.0K
-84.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$170 TND 512
$1,431 ฿48.3K
-88.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$673 TND 2,023
$4,175 ฿140.9K
-83.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$201 TND 604
$3,045 ฿102.7K
-93.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mahdia
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$237 TND 711
$502 ฿16.9K
-52.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.33
5.57
85.46%

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

Last update for Mahdia: October 25, 2026

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Mahdia
$188
Phuket
$266 41.5% $78
Accommodation & Living
Mahdia
$100
Phuket
$491 390% $391
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mahdia
$82
Phuket
$124 51.5% $42
Clothing & Footwear
Mahdia
$78
Phuket
$122 56.6% $44
Eating Out
Mahdia
$57
Phuket
$122 112% $64
Sport & Entertainment
Mahdia
$34
Phuket
$82 143% $48
Getting Around
Mahdia
$16
Phuket
$71 336% $54

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $128 in Mahdia versus $716 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 in Phuket are about 2.1 times higher, 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 $20 in Mahdia versus $32 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $266 – making Mahdia the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇳 Mahdia
🇹🇭 Phuket
🕒 Local time
07:33 7:33 AM
13:33 1:33 PM
6 h ahead of Mahdia
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,545
79,308
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to TND – Tunisian Dinar Converter

Tunisian Dinar exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 3 TND (1 TND = 0.333 USD). 1 EUR = 3.35 TND (1 TND = 0.298 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 33.74 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.67 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Mahdia Phuket 9,260 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Mahdia
  • Phuket

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Mahdia vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mahdia cheaper than Phuket?
Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 130%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $834 per month in Mahdia and $1,917 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mahdia, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $128 there versus $716 in Phuket.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $110 per month in Mahdia and $476 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Mahdia and in Phuket?
Groceries cost about 42% more in Phuket, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Mahdia or in Phuket?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Mahdia, where all-in costs run around $556, than in Phuket at $1,278. In Mahdia it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Mahdia or Phuket more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Mahdia – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Mahdia or Phuket?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Mahdia. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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