😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,264 in Phuket versus $592 in Ain Defla.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,256 in Phuket versus $937 in Ain Defla.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,248 in Phuket versus $1,281 in Ain Defla.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 114% more expensive than in Ain Defla, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket5% lower, Ain Defla56% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Ain Defla
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.48฿150
$1.98DZD 262
126.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.59฿1,525
$23.34DZD 3,089
95.33%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.76฿293
$2.41DZD 319
263.49%
Cappuccino
$2.97฿99.3
$0.23DZD 30.30
1191.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.96
$0.40DZD 53.6
72.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39฿13.07
$0.23DZD 30.56
69.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.53฿84.7
$1.93DZD 256
31.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75฿125
$2.43DZD 322
54.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Ain Defla
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.15฿71.8
$1.03DZD 137
108.74%
White Bread(500g)
$1.82฿60.7
$0.17DZD 22.25
970.59%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.18฿73.1
$1.80DZD 238
21.11%
Eggs
$2.25฿75.2
$1.87DZD 247
20.32%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$20.00฿669
$5.90DZD 780
238.98%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63฿121
$5.35DZD 708
-32.15%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.56฿453
$15.79DZD 2,090
-14.12%
Apples(1kg)
$3.24฿109
$2.93DZD 387
10.58%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64฿54.7
$2.84DZD 376
-42.25%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.33฿78.0
$1.67DZD 221
39.52%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.07฿69.3
$0.82DZD 109
152.44%
Potato(1kg)
$1.55฿51.8
$0.60DZD 79.8
158.33%
Onion(1kg)
$1.46฿48.67
$0.47DZD 61.7
210.64%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98฿32.94
$0.73DZD 97.0
34.25%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.13
$0.30DZD 40.23
60.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35฿146
$2.72DZD 360
59.93%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.57฿621
$9.10DZD 1,204
104.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿62.1
$1.31DZD 173
41.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65฿88.8
$2.06DZD 273
28.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Ain Defla
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.42฿47.40
$0.25DZD 33.16
468.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.57฿387
$17.17DZD 2,272
-32.62%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.17฿106
$0.70DZD 92.5
352.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.03฿34.51
$0.34DZD 44.99
202.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.89฿465
$5.52DZD 730
151.63%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34฿44.96
$0.34DZD 44.82
294.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿929.6K
$36.1KDZD 4.8M
-23.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4K฿1.1M
$33.9KDZD 4.5M
-1.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Ain Defla
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123฿4,116
$40.92DZD 5,415
200.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77฿461
$9.64DZD 1,275
42.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.33฿613
$13.38DZD 1,770
37.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Ain Defla
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.7฿2,030
$23.40DZD 3,096
159.36%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.16฿574
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.87฿297
$6.21DZD 822
42.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Ain Defla
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$688฿23.0K
$49.74DZD 6,583
1282.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8K฿527.8K
$3,655DZD 483.8K
331.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Ain Defla
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3฿1,984
$37.32DZD 4,939
58.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.69฿1,160
$44.90DZD 5,943
-22.74%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,853
$74.9DZD 9,917
53.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.8฿2,802
$76.4DZD 10.1K
9.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Ain Defla
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$621฿20.8K
$195DZD 25.8K
218.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446฿14.9K
$116DZD 15.3K
285.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,034฿68.0K
$271DZD 35.9K
650.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,496฿50.0K
$186DZD 24.6K
703.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,455฿115.6K
$1,123DZD 148.7K
207.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,531฿84.7K
$1,136DZD 150.3K
122.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Ain Defla
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494฿16.5K
$429DZD 56.8K
15.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
5.42
-1.66%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026
Last update for Ain Defla: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $621 in Phuket and $195 in Ain Defla. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Phuket pays 15% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $46.00 in Phuket vs $23.00 in Ain Defla for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $291 vs $199 per month, with Ain Defla cheaper across the board.
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 Ain Defla: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ain Defla cheaper than Phuket?
Ain Defla is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 114% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Ain Defla?
Average pay runs 15% higher in Phuket, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Ain Defla?
Rent for a central apartment: $621 in Phuket versus $195 in Ain Defla. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or in Ain Defla?
Dining out is cheaper in Ain Defla – a meal for two runs $23.00 versus $46.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket and in Ain Defla?
All in, you'll spend $1,264 per month in Phuket versus $592 in Ain Defla – a 114% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Ain Defla?
At $592 in Ain Defla versus $1,264 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Ain Defla but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Ain Defla the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Ain Defla more family-friendly?
For families, Ain Defla is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Ain Defla?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Ain Defla are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Ain Defla gentler on the wallet – expenses run 114% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.