Cost of Living Comparison Between Mahdia and PhuketCost of Living Comparison Between Mahdia and Phuket
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂A single person spends $570 per month in Mahdia vs $1,232 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $913 per month in Mahdia vs $2,054 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,256 per month in Mahdia vs $2,876 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂Mahdia is about 54% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Mahdia and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Mahdia58% lower, Phuket10% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mahdia
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.58TND 7.47
$4.41฿147
-41.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.59TND 59.7
$32.26฿1,077
-36.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.83TND 14.02
$8.93฿298
-45.91%
Cappuccino
$1.01TND 2.93
$2.90฿96.6
-65.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64TND 1.85
$0.88฿29.38
-27.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.18TND 0.53
$0.48฿16.06
-62.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.02TND 2.95
$2.35฿78.5
-56.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57TND 4.54
$3.72฿124
-57.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mahdia
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.44TND 1.27
$1.87฿62.3
-76.47%
White Bread(500g)
$0.27TND 0.78
$1.47฿48.94
-81.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.40TND 4.07
$1.55฿51.8
-9.68%
Eggs
$1.58TND 4.60
$2.10฿70.1
-24.76%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.75TND 34.07
$19.59฿654
-40.02%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.15TND 14.93
$3.42฿114
50.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.09TND 43.77
$11.38฿380
32.60%
Apples(1kg)
$2.89TND 8.38
$2.98฿99.6
-3.02%
Banana(1kg)
$2.97TND 8.60
$1.68฿56.2
76.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.43TND 4.14
$2.21฿73.7
-35.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.76TND 2.20
$2.16฿72.1
-64.81%
Potato(1kg)
$0.66TND 1.91
$1.52฿50.9
-56.58%
Onion(1kg)
$0.35TND 1.02
$1.34฿44.67
-73.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.44TND 1.28
$1.13฿37.67
-61.06%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.33TND 0.95
$0.55฿18.24
-40.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.52TND 10.20
$4.26฿142
-17.37%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.43TND 9.96
$19.09฿637
-82.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67TND 4.86
$1.78฿59.4
-6.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30TND 3.77
$2.78฿92.9
-53.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Mahdia
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.32TND 0.94
$2.23฿74.4
-85.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$13.45TND 39.00
$22.74฿759
-40.85%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.32TND 0.94
$3.03฿101
-89.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28TND 0.81
$1.02฿34.15
-72.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$3.89฿130
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.90TND 2.61
$1.49฿49.77
-39.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.5KTND 117.5K
$26.6K฿887.3K
52.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.7KTND 120.9K
$27.0K฿902.2K
54.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mahdia
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$56.7TND 164
$102฿3,420
-44.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.48TND 21.68
$11.33฿378
-33.98%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.75TND 60.2
$17.40฿581
19.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mahdia
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.37TND 62.0
$52.1฿1,738
-58.97%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.52TND 21.80
$11.07฿370
-32.07%
Cinema Ticket
$6.69TND 19.40
$7.69฿257
-13.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mahdia
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$113TND 329
$561฿18.7K
-79.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,043TND 3,026
$11.5K฿384.1K
-90.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mahdia
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$39.36TND 114
$63.0฿2,104
-37.55%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.87TND 98.2
$29.52฿986
14.74%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.2TND 230
$98.0฿3,272
-19.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$23.67TND 68.7
$88.5฿2,954
-73.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mahdia
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$132TND 384
$738฿24.6K
-82.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$103TND 299
$482฿16.1K
-78.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$300TND 869
$2,107฿70.3K
-85.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$174TND 505
$1,226฿40.9K
-85.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$675TND 1,957
$3,617฿120.7K
-81.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$208TND 603
$2,603฿86.9K
-92.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mahdia
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$236TND 685
$494฿16.5K
-52.14%
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: September 13, 2026
Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $132 in Mahdia versus $738 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 109% 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 $21.00 in Mahdia versus $32.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $274 – making Mahdia 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
Mahdia vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Mahdia?
Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 116%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $855 per month in Mahdia and $1,847 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. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $113 per month in Mahdia and $561 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 it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Mahdia or in Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Mahdia, where all-in costs run around $570, than in Phuket at $1,232. 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 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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Mahdia. 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.