Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Al-'amarah Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Al-'amarah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,264 per month in Phuket vs $674 in Al-'amarah, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,256 per month in Phuket vs $1,091 in Al-'amarah, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,248 per month in Phuket vs $1,508 in Al-'amarah, rent included.

Phuket costs about 88% more than Al-'amarah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Al-'amarah are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 5% lower, Al-'amarah 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.48 ฿150

$3.98 IQD 5,211

12.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.59 ฿1,521

$24.68 IQD 32.3K

84.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.76 ฿292

$7.02 IQD 9,188

24.79%

Cappuccino

$2.97 ฿99.0

$2.58 IQD 3,374

15.12%

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

$0.69 ฿22.90

$0.40 IQD 519

72.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 ฿13.04

$0.21 IQD 274

85.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.53 ฿84.4

$2.99 IQD 3,917

-15.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 ฿125

$2.82 IQD 3,693

32.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 ฿71.6

$1.81 IQD 2,374

18.78%

White Bread (500g)

$1.82 ฿60.6

$0.79 IQD 1,029

130.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.18 ฿72.9

$1.08 IQD 1,408

101.85%

Eggs

$2.25 ฿75.0

$1.51 IQD 1,977

49.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$20.00 ฿667

$4.58 IQD 5,995

336.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿121

$4.64 IQD 6,071

-21.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.56 ฿452

$12.96 IQD 17.0K

4.63%

Apples (1kg)

$3.24 ฿108

$0.87 IQD 1,136

272.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ฿54.6

$1.10 IQD 1,442

49.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.33 ฿77.8

$0.91 IQD 1,189

156.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.07 ฿69.1

$0.36 IQD 477

475.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.6

$0.75 IQD 987

106.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.54

$0.34 IQD 451

329.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ฿32.86

$0.68 IQD 893

44.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.09

$0.43 IQD 564

11.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.35 ฿145

$1.97 IQD 2,575

120.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.57 ฿620

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿61.9

$1.86 IQD 2,432

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 ฿88.6

$2.14 IQD 2,803

23.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.42 ฿47.28

$0.40 IQD 521

255.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.57 ฿386

$30.59 IQD 40.1K

-62.18%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 ฿106

$1.61 IQD 2,105

96.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.03 ฿34.41

$1.53 IQD 2,007

-32.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.89 ฿463

$5.83 IQD 7,633

138.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ฿44.84

$0.31 IQD 399

332.26%

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

$27.8K ฿927.1K

$18.8K IQD 24.6M

48.15%

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

$33.4K ฿1.1M

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

66.35%

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

$123 ฿4,105

$76.2 IQD 99.7K

61.57%

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

$13.77 ฿459

$17.79 IQD 23.3K

-22.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.33 ฿611

$34.10 IQD 44.6K

-46.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.7 ฿2,025

$22.64 IQD 29.6K

168.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.16 ฿573

$16.61 IQD 21.7K

3.31%

Cinema Ticket

$8.87 ฿296

$7.46 IQD 9,772

18.90%

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

$688 ฿22.9K

$152 IQD 198.4K

353.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K ฿526.4K

$3,223 IQD 4.2M

389.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.3 ฿1,978

$27.00 IQD 35.4K

119.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.69 ฿1,157

$25.67 IQD 33.6K

35.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,843

$60.1 IQD 78.7K

91.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.8 ฿2,794

$41.26 IQD 54.0K

103.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$621 ฿20.7K

$322 IQD 421.1K

93.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$446 ฿14.9K

$134 IQD 175.5K

232.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,034 ฿67.8K

$447 IQD 585.4K

354.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,496 ฿49.9K

$347 IQD 454.1K

331.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,455 ฿115.3K

$564 IQD 738.9K

512.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,531 ฿84.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿16.5K

$506 IQD 662.0K

-2.36%

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 Al-'amarah: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $621 in Phuket versus $322 in Al-'amarah. 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 2% higher in Al-'amarah, 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 $46.00 in Phuket versus $25.00 in Al-'amarah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $291 vs $153 – making Al-'amarah 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 Al-'amarah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 88%, 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 $1,010 in Al-'amarah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 90% 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 mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Phuket and $25.00 in Al-'amarah. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Al-'amarah, where all-in costs run around $674, than in Phuket at $1,264. In Al-'amarah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Al-'amarah – 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 Al-'amarah. 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.