Cost of Living Comparison Between Oued Zem and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Oued Zem and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $763 per month in Oued Zem vs $1,265 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,250 per month in Oued Zem vs $2,089 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,737 per month in Oued Zem vs $2,913 in Phuket, rent included.

Oued Zem is about 40% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Oued Zem and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Oued Zem 45% lower, Phuket 8% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Oued Zem
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.19 MAD 39.41
$4.66 ฿154
-10.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.68 MAD 429
$32.22 ฿1,065
41.78%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.52 MAD 70.6
$8.68 ฿287
-13.36%
Cappuccino
$2.01 MAD 18.89
$2.90 ฿95.8
-30.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65 MAD 6.07
$0.84 ฿27.89
-22.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 MAD 3.34
$0.49 ฿16.16
-26.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.26 MAD 49.40
$2.48 ฿82.0
112.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24 MAD 30.49
$3.73 ฿123
-13.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Oued Zem
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.92 MAD 8.65
$1.89 ฿62.3
-51.32%
White Bread (500g)
$0.66 MAD 6.17
$1.41 ฿46.54
-53.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.94 MAD 18.22
$1.62 ฿53.6
19.75%
Eggs
$2.00 MAD 18.79
$2.24 ฿74.1
-10.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.01 MAD 113
$19.84 ฿656
-39.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.66 MAD 62.6
$3.48 ฿115
91.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.66 MAD 119
$11.37 ฿376
11.35%
Apples (1kg)
$1.64 MAD 15.40
$2.90 ฿95.8
-43.45%
Banana (1kg)
$1.47 MAD 13.81
$1.72 ฿57.0
-14.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.88 MAD 8.28
$2.27 ฿75.1
-61.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.93 MAD 8.74
$2.13 ฿70.4
-56.34%
Potato (1kg)
$0.76 MAD 7.11
$1.47 ฿48.72
-48.30%
Onion (1kg)
$0.78 MAD 7.30
$1.42 ฿46.92
-45.07%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.41 MAD 3.90
$1.10 ฿36.25
-62.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61 MAD 5.77
$0.60 ฿19.76
1.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.25 MAD 39.96
$4.31 ฿142
-1.39%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.73 MAD 72.6
$18.60 ฿615
-58.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.71 MAD 25.46
$1.80 ฿59.5
50.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80 MAD 26.33
$2.97 ฿98.0
-5.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Oued Zem
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.55 MAD 5.14
$2.25 ฿74.2
-75.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.29 MAD 181
$23.49 ฿776
-17.88%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.74 MAD 6.94
$3.10 ฿102
-76.13%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.91 MAD 8.54
$1.08 ฿35.56
-15.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.42 MAD 41.57
$3.87 ฿128
14.21%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.60 MAD 15.00
$1.43 ฿47.16
11.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.0K MAD 337.9K
$27.8K ฿918.0K
29.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.8K MAD 308.4K
$27.0K ฿891.5K
21.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oued Zem
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$36.54 MAD 343
$105 ฿3,462
-65.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.49 MAD 98.6
$11.39 ฿376
-7.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.61 MAD 316
$17.54 ฿580
91.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Oued Zem
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.79 MAD 252
$54.3 ฿1,795
-50.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.97 MAD 206
$11.44 ฿378
92.05%
Cinema Ticket
$6.27 MAD 58.9
$7.78 ฿257
-19.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Oued Zem
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$190 MAD 1,782
$576 ฿19.0K
-67.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,178 MAD 67.5K
$11.6K ฿382.7K
-38.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Oued Zem
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.7 MAD 476
$63.6 ฿2,103
-20.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.58 MAD 428
$29.10 ฿961
56.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.3 MAD 877
$96.2 ฿3,179
-3.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.5 MAD 663
$90.0 ฿2,974
-21.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Oued Zem
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$272 MAD 2,558
$733 ฿24.2K
-62.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$172 MAD 1,612
$501 ฿16.5K
-65.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$489 MAD 4,591
$2,126 ฿70.2K
-77.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$271 MAD 2,548
$1,252 ฿41.4K
-78.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,242 MAD 11.7K
$3,534 ฿116.8K
-64.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$863 MAD 8,114
$2,622 ฿86.6K
-67.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Oued Zem
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$249 MAD 2,343
$508 ฿16.8K
-50.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.52
5.57
-18.85%

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

Last update for Oued Zem: September 7, 2026

Last update for Phuket: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $272 in Oued Zem versus $733 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 104% 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 $46.00 in Oued Zem versus $32.00 in Phuket. Groceries tell a different story – $211 in Oued Zem vs $275 in Phuket – so Oued Zem 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
Oued Zem vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Oued Zem and in Phuket compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $763 in Oued Zem, $1,265 in Phuket – roughly 66% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Oued Zem compared to Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,144 per month in Oued Zem and $1,898 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Oued Zem and Phuket?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Oued Zem, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Oued Zem or Phuket?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $763 in Oued Zem and $1,265 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Oued Zem and in Phuket?
Public transport costs about 22% less in Oued Zem. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Oued Zem, where all-in costs run around $763, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Oued Zem it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Oued Zem and Phuket?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $763 in Oued Zem to $1,265 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Oued Zem or Phuket safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Oued Zem and Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Oued Zem. 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.

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