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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,261 per month in Phuket vs $747 in 'aqrah, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,286 per month in Phuket vs $1,157 in 'aqrah, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,310 per month in Phuket vs $1,568 in 'aqrah, rent included.

Phuket costs about 69% more than 'aqrah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and 'aqrah are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, 'aqrah 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.56 ฿149

$4.04 IQD 5,286

12.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.63 ฿1,519

$24.76 IQD 32.4K

88.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.47 ฿276

$6.84 IQD 8,959

23.83%

Cappuccino

$3.03 ฿98.6

$2.60 IQD 3,410

16.54%

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

$0.69 ฿22.45

$0.36 IQD 475

91.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.92

$0.17 IQD 218

117.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.49 ฿81.0

$2.82 IQD 3,697

-11.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$2.86 IQD 3,741

27.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.18 ฿71.0

$1.33 IQD 1,739

63.91%

White Bread (500g)

$1.90 ฿62.0

$0.84 IQD 1,100

126.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.20 ฿71.6

$1.60 IQD 2,100

37.50%

Eggs

$2.22 ฿72.4

$1.81 IQD 2,372

22.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.99 ฿651

$4.57 IQD 5,989

337.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.66 ฿119

$4.78 IQD 6,266

-23.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.25 ฿432

$13.25 IQD 17.4K

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ฿105

$1.19 IQD 1,558

171.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.3

$1.21 IQD 1,585

40.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 ฿78.0

$1.06 IQD 1,388

125.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿67.7

$0.74 IQD 974

181.08%

Potato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$0.70 IQD 912

127.14%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.31

$0.68 IQD 885

117.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 ฿33.54

$0.63 IQD 823

63.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿16.83

$0.53 IQD 690

-1.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.25 ฿138

$1.97 IQD 2,575

115.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.79 ฿612

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 ฿57.2

$1.76 IQD 2,307

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 ฿89.8

$2.16 IQD 2,832

27.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 ฿44.32

$0.39 IQD 512

248.72%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.36 ฿370

$31.75 IQD 41.6K

-64.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 ฿102

$2.26 IQD 2,954

38.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿33.74

$1.50 IQD 1,959

-30.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.77 ฿448

$6.16 IQD 8,065

123.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ฿43.79

$0.54 IQD 702

148.15%

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

$27.7K ฿901.4K

$18.9K IQD 24.7M

46.75%

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

$33.9K ฿1.1M

$19.8K IQD 26.0M

70.74%

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

$124 ฿4,025

$78.7 IQD 103.1K

57.04%

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

$13.52 ฿440

$17.29 IQD 22.6K

-21.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.69 ฿609

$34.72 IQD 45.5K

-46.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 ฿2,013

$36.58 IQD 47.9K

69.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.25 ฿562

$16.65 IQD 21.8K

3.60%

Cinema Ticket

$9.14 ฿298

$7.81 IQD 10.2K

17.03%

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

$703 ฿22.9K

$149 IQD 195.7K

370.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K ฿517.0K

$3,313 IQD 4.3M

379.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,937

$27.58 IQD 36.1K

115.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.07 ฿1,142

$24.89 IQD 32.6K

40.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,754

$60.1 IQD 78.7K

91.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.1 ฿2,737

$40.61 IQD 53.2K

106.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$619 ฿20.1K

$245 IQD 320.2K

152.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$433 ฿14.1K

$176 IQD 230.7K

145.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,062 ฿67.2K

$571 IQD 747.7K

261.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,511 ฿49.2K

$350 IQD 458.5K

331.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,646 ฿118.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,626 ฿85.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$507 ฿16.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

5.67

-6.00%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026

Last update for 'aqrah: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $619 in Phuket versus $245 in 'aqrah. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket versus $25.00 in 'aqrah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $159 – making 'aqrah 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

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

Phuket costs about 69% more than 'aqrah, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,892 per month in Phuket and $1,120 in 'aqrah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in 'aqrah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,261 in Phuket and $747 in 'aqrah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 179% less in 'aqrah. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in 'aqrah, where all-in costs run around $747, than in Phuket at $1,261. In 'aqrah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. 'aqrah costs $747 versus $1,261 in Phuket. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with 'aqrah. 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.