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 $1,261 per month in Phuket vs $620 in Ad Diwaniyah, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,286 per month in Phuket vs $873 in Ad Diwaniyah, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,310 per month in Phuket vs $1,127 in Ad Diwaniyah, rent included.

Phuket costs about 104% more than Ad Diwaniyah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Ad Diwaniyah are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Ad Diwaniyah 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.56 ฿149

$3.01 IQD 3,943

51.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.63 ฿1,519

$11.58 IQD 15.2K

302.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.47 ฿276

$5.04 IQD 6,602

68.06%

Cappuccino

$3.03 ฿98.6

$1.47 IQD 1,926

106.12%

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

$0.69 ฿22.45

$0.37 IQD 484

86.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.92

$0.19 IQD 245

94.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.49 ฿81.0

$2.87 IQD 3,756

-13.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$2.95 IQD 3,867

24.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.18 ฿71.0

$1.37 IQD 1,796

59.12%

White Bread (500g)

$1.90 ฿62.0

$0.74 IQD 975

156.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.20 ฿71.6

$1.35 IQD 1,774

62.96%

Eggs

$2.22 ฿72.4

$1.73 IQD 2,265

28.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.99 ฿651

$4.59 IQD 6,009

335.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.66 ฿119

$5.00 IQD 6,546

-26.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.25 ฿432

$10.40 IQD 13.6K

27.40%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ฿105

$0.80 IQD 1,048

303.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.3

$0.97 IQD 1,266

75.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 ฿78.0

$0.90 IQD 1,184

165.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿67.7

$0.56 IQD 727

271.43%

Potato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$0.65 IQD 857

144.62%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.31

$0.66 IQD 868

124.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 ฿33.54

$0.49 IQD 643

110.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿16.83

$0.62 IQD 811

-16.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.25 ฿138

$1.93 IQD 2,534

120.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.79 ฿612

$7.09 IQD 9,290

165.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 ฿57.2

$1.79 IQD 2,338

-1.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 ฿89.8

$2.18 IQD 2,859

26.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 ฿44.32

$0.40 IQD 519

240.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.36 ฿370

$30.85 IQD 40.4K

-63.18%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 ฿102

$1.96 IQD 2,567

60.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿33.74

$1.24 IQD 1,630

-16.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.77 ฿448

$7.80 IQD 10.2K

76.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ฿43.79

$0.38 IQD 504

252.63%

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

$27.7K ฿901.4K

$9,802 IQD 12.8M

182.37%

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

$33.9K ฿1.1M

$18.2K IQD 23.8M

86.04%

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

$124 ฿4,025

$38.14 IQD 49.9K

224.04%

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

$13.52 ฿440

$17.12 IQD 22.4K

-21.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.69 ฿609

$38.65 IQD 50.6K

-51.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 ฿2,013

$17.24 IQD 22.6K

258.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.25 ฿562

$9.01 IQD 11.8K

91.45%

Cinema Ticket

$9.14 ฿298

$5.51 IQD 7,219

65.88%

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

$703 ฿22.9K

$91.8 IQD 120.1K

665.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K ฿517.0K

$756 IQD 989.9K

1999.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,937

$19.63 IQD 25.7K

202.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.07 ฿1,142

$30.39 IQD 39.8K

15.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,754

$19.73 IQD 25.8K

484.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.1 ฿2,737

$24.74 IQD 32.4K

239.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$619 ฿20.1K

$138 IQD 180.1K

349.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$433 ฿14.1K

$181 IQD 237.3K

138.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,062 ฿67.2K

$237 IQD 310.8K

768.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,511 ฿49.2K

$196 IQD 256.5K

671.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,646 ฿118.7K

$743 IQD 972.5K

390.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,626 ฿85.5K

$298 IQD 389.6K

782.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$507 ฿16.5K

$482 IQD 631.3K

5.17%

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 Ad Diwaniyah: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $619 in Phuket versus $138 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 5% 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 $47.00 in Phuket versus $12.00 in Ad Diwaniyah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $160 – 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 104%, 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 $1,892 per month in Phuket and $930 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.

Kindergarten costs $703 per month in Phuket and $91.8 in Ad Diwaniyah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 83% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ad Diwaniyah, where all-in costs run around $620, than in Phuket at $1,261. 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.