Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Ahmadi Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Ahmadi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,223 per month in Phuket vs $1,353 in Ahmadi, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,237 per month in Phuket vs $2,082 in Ahmadi, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,251 per month in Phuket vs $2,810 in Ahmadi, rent included.

Phuket is about 10% cheaper than Ahmadi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Phuket sits 8% below the global median, while Ahmadi is 1% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.51 ฿148

$4.96 KWD 1.52

-9.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.62 ฿1,528

$24.79 KWD 7.61

88.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.49 ฿278

$8.27 KWD 2.54

2.66%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.47 KWD 0.76

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 KWD 0.51

Cappuccino

$3.08 ฿101

$5.57 KWD 1.71

-44.70%

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

$0.68 ฿22.26

$0.50 KWD 0.15

36.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.84

$0.31 KWD 0.10

16.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 ฿79.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

Milk (1 liter)

$2.19 ฿71.7

$1.34 KWD 0.41

63.43%

White Bread (500g)

$1.81 ฿59.5

$0.85 KWD 0.26

112.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.23 ฿73.1

$1.60 KWD 0.49

39.37%

Eggs

$2.24 ฿73.3

$1.38 KWD 0.42

62.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.60 ฿642

$3.32 KWD 1.02

490.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.72 ฿122

$5.05 KWD 1.55

-26.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.47 ฿441

$10.30 KWD 3.17

30.78%

Apples (1kg)

$3.36 ฿110

$1.45 KWD 0.45

131.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.51 KWD 0.46

7.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿79.0

$1.16 KWD 0.36

107.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.99 ฿65.2

$0.81 KWD 0.25

145.68%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.2

$0.48 KWD 0.15

218.75%

Onion (1kg)

$1.45 ฿47.59

$0.51 KWD 0.16

184.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 ฿33.23

$1.33 KWD 0.41

-24.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿15.86

$0.49 KWD 0.15

-2.04%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.16 KWD 0.97

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 KWD 0.32

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.40 KWD 0.43

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿140

$2.98 KWD 0.92

43.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.12 ฿627

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 ฿60.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 ฿89.8

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.42 ฿46.44

$0.95 KWD 0.29

49.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.72 ฿384

$29.95 KWD 9.20

-60.87%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.00 ฿98.4

$3.18 KWD 0.98

-5.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.05 ฿34.28

$3.18 KWD 0.98

-66.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.90 ฿456

$16.14 KWD 4.96

-13.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 ฿42.28

$0.34 KWD 0.10

279.41%

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

$28.0K ฿918.7K

$21.5K KWD 6,595

30.59%

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

$33.5K ฿1.1M

$18.3K KWD 5,635

82.64%

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

$122 ฿3,997

$62.1 KWD 19.09

96.33%

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

$13.93 ฿457

$16.62 KWD 5.11

-16.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.87 ฿618

$25.91 KWD 7.96

-27.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.3 ฿2,008

$134 KWD 41.12

-54.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.84 ฿552

$49.44 KWD 15.19

-65.94%

Cinema Ticket

$8.89 ฿291

$11.56 KWD 3.55

-23.10%

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

$691 ฿22.7K

$97.1 KWD 29.81

612.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.2K ฿529.5K

$6,674 KWD 2,050

142.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.8 ฿1,894

$41.94 KWD 12.89

37.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.39 ฿1,160

$43.33 KWD 13.31

-18.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 ฿3,716

$86.3 KWD 26.50

31.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.0 ฿2,720

$83.0 KWD 25.50

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$607 ฿19.9K

$824 KWD 253

-26.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$448 ฿14.7K

$630 KWD 193

-28.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,029 ฿66.5K

$1,874 KWD 576

8.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,493 ฿48.9K

$1,259 KWD 387

18.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,585 ฿117.5K

$3,113 KWD 956

15.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,585 ฿84.7K

$2,564 KWD 788

0.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$505 ฿16.5K

$3,551 KWD 1,091

-85.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

4.5

18.44%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 13, 2026

Last update for Ahmadi: June 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $607 in Phuket versus $824 in Ahmadi. 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 604% higher in Ahmadi, 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 $25.00 in Ahmadi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $139 – making Ahmadi 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 Ahmadi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ahmadi is pricier by about 11%, 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 $1,835 per month in Phuket and $2,029 in Ahmadi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $691 per month in Phuket and $97.1 in Ahmadi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 111% cheaper in Ahmadi – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,223, than in Ahmadi at $1,353. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ahmadi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Phuket – 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 Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ahmadi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.