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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $1,255 in Ahmadi, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,089 per month in Phuket vs $2,045 in Ahmadi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,913 per month in Phuket vs $2,835 in Ahmadi, rent included.

Phuket costs about 1% more than Ahmadi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Ahmadi are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 8% lower, Ahmadi 9% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.66 ฿154

$8.32 KWD 2.55

-43.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.22 ฿1,065

$44.22 KWD 13.56

-27.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.68 ฿287

$7.87 KWD 2.41

10.29%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.49 KWD 0.76

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 KWD 0.49

Cappuccino

$2.90 ฿95.8

$4.21 KWD 1.29

-31.12%

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

$0.84 ฿27.89

$0.60 KWD 0.18

40.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.16

$0.37 KWD 0.11

32.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.48 ฿82.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿123

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ฿62.3

$1.27 KWD 0.39

48.82%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿46.54

$0.84 KWD 0.26

67.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.6

$1.63 KWD 0.50

-0.61%

Eggs

$2.24 ฿74.1

$1.38 KWD 0.42

62.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.84 ฿656

$3.16 KWD 0.97

527.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.48 ฿115

$4.95 KWD 1.52

-29.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.37 ฿376

$10.36 KWD 3.18

9.75%

Apples (1kg)

$2.90 ฿95.8

$1.49 KWD 0.46

94.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 ฿57.0

$1.44 KWD 0.44

19.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.27 ฿75.1

$1.16 KWD 0.36

95.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.13 ฿70.4

$0.80 KWD 0.24

166.25%

Potato (1kg)

$1.47 ฿48.72

$0.51 KWD 0.16

188.24%

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.92

$0.51 KWD 0.16

178.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ฿36.25

$1.32 KWD 0.40

-16.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 ฿19.76

$0.54 KWD 0.17

11.11%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.26 KWD 1.00

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 KWD 0.32

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.40 KWD 0.43

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.31 ฿142

$2.81 KWD 0.86

53.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.60 ฿615

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿59.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 ฿98.0

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.25 ฿74.2

$0.96 KWD 0.29

134.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.49 ฿776

$28.93 KWD 8.87

-18.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.10 ฿102

$3.21 KWD 0.98

-3.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.08 ฿35.56

$3.22 KWD 0.99

-66.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.87 ฿128

$16.49 KWD 5.05

-76.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 ฿47.16

$0.33 KWD 0.10

333.33%

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

$27.8K ฿918.0K

$21.5K KWD 6,582

29.43%

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

$27.0K ฿891.5K

$18.0K KWD 5,507

50.23%

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

$105 ฿3,462

$64.6 KWD 19.82

62.13%

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

$11.39 ฿376

$16.43 KWD 5.04

-30.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.54 ฿580

$30.02 KWD 9.21

-41.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.3 ฿1,795

$114 KWD 35.09

-52.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.44 ฿378

$32.09 KWD 9.84

-64.35%

Cinema Ticket

$7.78 ฿257

$10.32 KWD 3.16

-24.61%

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

$576 ฿19.0K

$95.7 KWD 29.33

502.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ฿382.7K

$9,449 KWD 2,897

22.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.6 ฿2,103

$37.82 KWD 11.60

68.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.10 ฿961

$40.23 KWD 12.34

-27.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.2 ฿3,179

$98.0 KWD 30.04

-1.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.0 ฿2,974

$90.3 KWD 27.70

-0.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$733 ฿24.2K

$648 KWD 199

13.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$501 ฿16.5K

$525 KWD 161

-4.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,126 ฿70.2K

$1,598 KWD 490

33.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,252 ฿41.4K

$1,199 KWD 368

4.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,534 ฿116.8K

$3,141 KWD 963

12.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,622 ฿86.6K

$2,556 KWD 784

2.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.8K

$3,502 KWD 1,074

-85.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

4.67

19.27%

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

Last update for Phuket: September 6, 2026

Last update for Ahmadi: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $733 in Phuket versus $648 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 590% higher in Ahmadi, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Phuket versus $44.00 in Ahmadi. Groceries tell a different story – $275 in Phuket vs $137 in Ahmadi – so Ahmadi wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 – Phuket is pricier by about 1%, 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 $1,898 per month in Phuket and $1,883 in Ahmadi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $576 per month in Phuket and $95.7 in Ahmadi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 100% 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 Ahmadi, where all-in costs run around $1,255, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Ahmadi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ahmadi – 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 Ahmadi. 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.