Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Ad Diwaniyah Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Ad Diwaniyah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $574 in Ad Diwaniyah, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,054 per month in Phuket vs $882 in Ad Diwaniyah, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,876 per month in Phuket vs $1,189 in Ad Diwaniyah, rent included.

Phuket costs about 114% more than Ad Diwaniyah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Ad Diwaniyah are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 10% lower, Ad Diwaniyah 58% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.41 ฿147

$3.32 IQD 4,342

32.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.26 ฿1,077

$11.67 IQD 15.3K

176.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.93 ฿298

$5.38 IQD 7,041

65.99%

Cappuccino

$2.90 ฿96.6

$1.95 IQD 2,559

48.72%

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

$0.88 ฿29.38

$0.37 IQD 481

137.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.06

$0.26 IQD 343

84.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ฿78.5

$3.91 IQD 5,121

-39.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿124

$3.84 IQD 5,024

-3.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ฿62.3

$1.04 IQD 1,368

79.81%

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 ฿48.94

$0.75 IQD 981

96.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.8

$1.37 IQD 1,796

13.14%

Eggs

$2.10 ฿70.1

$1.91 IQD 2,495

9.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.59 ฿654

$3.93 IQD 5,152

398.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.42 ฿114

$3.73 IQD 4,882

-8.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.38 ฿380

$11.42 IQD 14.9K

-0.35%

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 ฿99.6

$0.73 IQD 958

308.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 ฿56.2

$0.78 IQD 1,020

115.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 ฿73.7

$0.79 IQD 1,037

179.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.16 ฿72.1

$0.78 IQD 1,027

176.92%

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.9

$0.70 IQD 922

117.14%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.67

$0.64 IQD 838

109.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ฿37.67

$0.39 IQD 514

189.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ฿18.24

$0.65 IQD 854

-15.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.26 ฿142

$1.80 IQD 2,356

136.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.09 ฿637

$3.79 IQD 4,966

403.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿59.4

$2.14 IQD 2,798

-16.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿92.9

$2.17 IQD 2,841

28.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.23 ฿74.4

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.74 ฿759

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 ฿101

$2.35 IQD 3,083

28.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ฿34.15

$1.00 IQD 1,306

2.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.89 ฿130

$7.58 IQD 9,930

-48.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿49.77

$0.33 IQD 430

351.52%

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

$26.6K ฿887.3K

$18.9K IQD 24.8M

40.41%

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

$27.0K ฿902.2K

$18.9K IQD 24.7M

43.31%

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

$102 ฿3,420

$37.82 IQD 49.5K

170.94%

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

$11.33 ฿378

$17.08 IQD 22.4K

-33.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.40 ฿581

$38.02 IQD 49.8K

-54.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.1 ฿1,738

$18.73 IQD 24.5K

178.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.07 ฿370

$7.76 IQD 10.2K

42.65%

Cinema Ticket

$7.69 ฿257

$7.56 IQD 9,897

1.72%

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

$561 ฿18.7K

$74.9 IQD 98.1K

648.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ฿384.1K

$3,527 IQD 4.6M

226.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.0 ฿2,104

$29.14 IQD 38.2K

116.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.52 ฿986

$37.50 IQD 49.1K

-21.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.0 ฿3,272

$72.8 IQD 95.3K

34.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.5 ฿2,954

$47.48 IQD 62.2K

86.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$738 ฿24.6K

$76.5 IQD 100.2K

864.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.1K

$114 IQD 149.8K

321.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,107 ฿70.3K

$154 IQD 201.7K

1267.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,226 ฿40.9K

$226 IQD 295.9K

442.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,617 ฿120.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,603 ฿86.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿16.5K

$387 IQD 507.4K

27.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

4.12

35.19%

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

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Last update for Ad Diwaniyah: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $738 in Phuket versus $76.5 in Ad Diwaniyah. 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 27% 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 $32.00 in Phuket versus $12.00 in Ad Diwaniyah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $274 vs $147 – making Ad Diwaniyah 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 Ad Diwaniyah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 114%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $862 in Ad Diwaniyah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ad Diwaniyah, 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 $1,232 in Phuket and $574 in Ad Diwaniyah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $561 per month in Phuket and $74.9 in Ad Diwaniyah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ad Diwaniyah, where all-in costs run around $574, than in Phuket at $1,232. In Ad Diwaniyah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ad Diwaniyah – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Ad Diwaniyah. 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.