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 $1,264 per month in Phuket vs $606 in Ad Diwaniyah, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,256 per month in Phuket vs $860 in Ad Diwaniyah, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,248 per month in Phuket vs $1,114 in Ad Diwaniyah, rent included.

Phuket costs about 109% more than Ad Diwaniyah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Ad Diwaniyah are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 5% lower, Ad Diwaniyah 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.48 ฿150

$3.07 IQD 4,024

45.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.59 ฿1,521

$11.59 IQD 15.2K

293.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.76 ฿292

$5.08 IQD 6,651

72.44%

Cappuccino

$2.97 ฿99.0

$1.47 IQD 1,930

102.04%

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

$0.69 ฿22.90

$0.40 IQD 522

72.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 ฿13.04

$0.20 IQD 260

95.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.53 ฿84.4

$2.96 IQD 3,875

-14.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 ฿125

$2.95 IQD 3,868

27.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 ฿71.6

$1.32 IQD 1,735

62.88%

White Bread (500g)

$1.82 ฿60.6

$0.76 IQD 1,001

139.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.18 ฿72.9

$1.34 IQD 1,759

62.69%

Eggs

$2.25 ฿75.0

$1.81 IQD 2,367

24.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$20.00 ฿667

$4.52 IQD 5,913

342.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿121

$4.90 IQD 6,414

-25.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.56 ฿452

$10.43 IQD 13.7K

30.01%

Apples (1kg)

$3.24 ฿108

$0.76 IQD 999

326.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ฿54.6

$0.89 IQD 1,169

84.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.33 ฿77.8

$0.97 IQD 1,270

140.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.07 ฿69.1

$0.60 IQD 780

245.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.6

$0.65 IQD 846

138.46%

Onion (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.54

$0.64 IQD 836

128.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ฿32.86

$0.49 IQD 640

100.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.09

$0.66 IQD 871

-27.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.35 ฿145

$1.87 IQD 2,443

132.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.57 ฿620

$3.72 IQD 4,870

399.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿61.9

$1.76 IQD 2,308

5.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 ฿88.6

$2.07 IQD 2,715

28.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.42 ฿47.28

$0.39 IQD 515

264.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.57 ฿386

$30.61 IQD 40.1K

-62.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 ฿106

$1.98 IQD 2,589

60.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.03 ฿34.41

$1.19 IQD 1,559

-13.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.89 ฿463

$7.63 IQD 9,993

82.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ฿44.84

$0.39 IQD 506

243.59%

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

$27.8K ฿927.1K

$9,833 IQD 12.9M

182.64%

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

$33.4K ฿1.1M

$18.2K IQD 23.8M

83.76%

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

$123 ฿4,105

$38.45 IQD 50.4K

220.03%

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

$13.77 ฿459

$17.23 IQD 22.6K

-20.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.33 ฿611

$38.07 IQD 49.8K

-51.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.7 ฿2,025

$16.81 IQD 22.0K

261.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.16 ฿573

$8.99 IQD 11.8K

90.88%

Cinema Ticket

$8.87 ฿296

$5.47 IQD 7,167

62.16%

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

$688 ฿22.9K

$92.0 IQD 120.5K

647.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K ฿526.4K

$743 IQD 973.4K

2022.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.3 ฿1,978

$19.82 IQD 26.0K

199.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.69 ฿1,157

$30.71 IQD 40.2K

12.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,843

$20.23 IQD 26.5K

469.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.8 ฿2,794

$25.24 IQD 33.1K

231.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$621 ฿20.7K

$140 IQD 183.4K

343.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$446 ฿14.9K

$177 IQD 231.9K

151.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,034 ฿67.8K

$241 IQD 315.3K

744.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,496 ฿49.9K

$203 IQD 266.1K

636.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,455 ฿115.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,531 ฿84.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿16.5K

$389 IQD 509.3K

26.92%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Ad Diwaniyah: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $621 in Phuket versus $140 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 $46.00 in Phuket versus $12.00 in Ad Diwaniyah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $291 vs $152 – 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 109%, 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 $1,896 per month in Phuket and $909 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 $688 per month in Phuket and $92.0 in Ad Diwaniyah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 91% 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 $606, than in Phuket at $1,264. 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.