Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and 'ali Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and 'ali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $813 in 'ali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $1,317 in 'ali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $1,821 in 'ali.

Living in Phuket is roughly 56% more expensive than 'ali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, 'ali 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.70 ฿153

$6.56 BHD 2.47

-28.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.37 ฿1,482

$53.7 BHD 20.25

-15.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.43 ฿275

$5.28 BHD 1.99

59.66%

Cappuccino

$2.93 ฿95.6

$5.42 BHD 2.04

-45.94%

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

$0.69 ฿22.40

$0.78 BHD 0.30

-11.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.99

$0.37 BHD 0.14

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$7.86 BHD 2.96

-69.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿122

$10.77 BHD 4.06

-65.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 ฿72.9

$1.72 BHD 0.65

29.65%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 ฿59.8

$1.29 BHD 0.49

41.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ฿70.8

$2.30 BHD 0.87

-5.65%

Eggs

$2.21 ฿72.3

$2.51 BHD 0.95

-11.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.74 ฿645

$8.55 BHD 3.23

130.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿119

$7.86 BHD 2.96

-53.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.53 ฿442

$10.06 BHD 3.79

34.49%

Apples (1kg)

$3.28 ฿107

$2.37 BHD 0.89

38.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ฿52.6

$2.03 BHD 0.76

-20.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$1.69 BHD 0.64

42.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.1

$1.16 BHD 0.44

79.31%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.93

$0.89 BHD 0.34

71.91%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.36

$1.08 BHD 0.41

37.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ฿32.29

$1.51 BHD 0.57

-34.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.67

$0.88 BHD 0.33

-42.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 ฿144

$6.74 BHD 2.54

-34.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.38 ฿633

$18.47 BHD 6.96

4.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

$3.34 BHD 1.26

-46.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ฿88.6

$3.32 BHD 1.25

-18.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.37 ฿44.79

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.39 ฿372

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿98.6

$4.73 BHD 1.78

-36.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 ฿32.48

$3.89 BHD 1.47

-74.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.10 ฿461

$26.85 BHD 10.12

-47.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 ฿44.51

$0.57 BHD 0.21

138.60%

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

$28.2K ฿921.1K

$37.7K BHD 14.2K

-25.12%

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

$32.9K ฿1.1M

$20.6K BHD 7,759

59.86%

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

$122 ฿3,975

$121 BHD 45.67

0.45%

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

$13.57 ฿443

$27.33 BHD 10.30

-50.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.31 ฿598

$38.29 BHD 14.43

-52.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.2 ฿1,967

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 ฿560

Cinema Ticket

$8.69 ฿284

$10.64 BHD 4.01

-18.33%

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

$693 ฿22.6K

$395 BHD 149

75.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K ฿512.3K

$9,058 BHD 3,415

73.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,944

$45.39 BHD 17.11

31.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.77 ฿1,136

$63.1 BHD 23.78

-44.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,743

$83.6 BHD 31.53

37.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.3 ฿2,720

$86.8 BHD 32.73

-4.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$613 ฿20.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$437 ฿14.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,094 ฿68.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,509 ฿49.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,749 ฿122.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,616 ฿85.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.6K

$3,723 BHD 1,404

-86.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

8.56

-37.73%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for 'ali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

'ali pays 633% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $45.00 in Phuket vs $54.0 in 'ali. Groceries flip the comparison at $293 vs $263, with 'ali cheaper for home cooking.

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

Phuket vs 'ali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

'ali is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 56% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, 'ali earns 633% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Supermarket bills run roughly 12% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,265 per month in Phuket versus $813 in 'ali – a 56% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $813 in 'ali versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in 'ali but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes 'ali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, 'ali is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Phuket and 'ali are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find 'ali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 56% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.