Cost of Living Comparison Between Medea and PhuketCost of Living Comparison Between Medea and Phuket
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂A single person spends $526 per month in Medea vs $1,261 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $841 per month in Medea vs $2,286 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,156 per month in Medea vs $3,310 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂Medea is about 58% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Medea and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Medea61% lower, Phuket6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medea
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.02DZD 267
$4.56฿149
-55.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.08DZD 3,192
$46.63฿1,519
-48.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.05DZD 537
$8.47฿276
-52.18%
Cappuccino
$0.35DZD 46.13
$3.03฿98.6
-88.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45DZD 59.8
$0.69฿22.45
-34.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20DZD 26.07
$0.37฿11.92
-45.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.00DZD 266
$2.49฿81.0
-19.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43DZD 322
$3.66฿119
-33.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medea
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.00DZD 133
$2.18฿71.0
-54.13%
White Bread(500g)
$0.07DZD 9.70
$1.90฿62.0
-96.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.17DZD 156
$2.20฿71.6
-46.82%
Eggs
$1.47DZD 194
$2.22฿72.4
-33.78%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.76DZD 1,161
$19.99฿651
-56.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.06DZD 670
$3.66฿119
38.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.77DZD 2,222
$13.25฿432
26.57%
Apples(1kg)
$3.21DZD 426
$3.23฿105
-0.62%
Banana(1kg)
$2.87DZD 380
$1.70฿55.3
68.82%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.77DZD 235
$2.39฿78.0
-25.94%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.61DZD 81.2
$2.08฿67.7
-70.67%
Potato(1kg)
$0.64DZD 84.5
$1.59฿51.8
-59.75%
Onion(1kg)
$0.49DZD 65.2
$1.48฿48.31
-66.89%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.73DZD 96.3
$1.03฿33.54
-29.13%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.28DZD 36.73
$0.52฿16.83
-46.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.13DZD 282
$4.25฿138
-49.88%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.90DZD 914
$18.79฿612
-63.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.34DZD 177
$1.76฿57.2
-23.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18DZD 289
$2.76฿89.8
-21.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Medea
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.25DZD 33.40
$1.36฿44.32
-81.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.49DZD 2,318
$11.36฿370
53.96%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.70DZD 93.1
$3.14฿102
-77.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.37DZD 48.48
$1.04฿33.74
-64.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.61DZD 744
$13.77฿448
-59.26%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.33DZD 44.16
$1.34฿43.79
-75.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.0KDZD 2.7M
$27.7K฿901.4K
-27.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.2KDZD 4.5M
$33.9K฿1.1M
0.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medea
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$18.80DZD 2,492
$124฿4,025
-84.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.22DZD 1,089
$13.52฿440
-39.20%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.67DZD 2,343
$18.69฿609
-5.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medea
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.44DZD 3,107
$61.8฿2,013
-62.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$2.02DZD 268
$17.25฿562
-88.29%
Cinema Ticket
$3.57DZD 473
$9.14฿298
-60.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medea
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$39.71DZD 5,264
$703฿22.9K
-94.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,648DZD 483.5K
$15.9K฿517.0K
-77.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medea
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.42DZD 2,707
$59.5฿1,937
-65.66%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.56DZD 4,183
$35.07฿1,142
-10.01%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$31.47DZD 4,171
$115฿3,754
-72.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$55.8DZD 7,396
$84.1฿2,737
-33.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medea
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$195DZD 25.8K
$619฿20.1K
-68.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$117DZD 15.5K
$433฿14.1K
-72.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$271DZD 35.9K
$2,062฿67.2K
-86.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$183DZD 24.2K
$1,511฿49.2K
-87.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,115DZD 147.8K
$3,646฿118.7K
-69.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,135DZD 150.4K
$2,626฿85.5K
-56.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medea
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$332DZD 44.0K
$507฿16.5K
-34.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
5.33
-6.19%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medea: June 7, 2026
Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $195 in Medea 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 53% 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 $24.00 in Medea versus $47.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $201 vs $293 – making Medea 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
Medea vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Medea?
Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 140%, 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 $788 per month in Medea and $1,892 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 Medea, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Medea or Phuket?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $24.00 in Medea and $47.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medea vs Phuket?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $526 in Medea and $1,261 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Medea or Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medea, where all-in costs run around $526, than in Phuket at $1,261. In Medea it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medea or Phuket more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Medea – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Medea 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 Medea. 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.