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 $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $273 in Al-'amarah, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,054 per month in Phuket vs $294 in Al-'amarah, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,876 per month in Phuket vs $316 in Al-'amarah, rent included.

Phuket costs about 352% more than Al-'amarah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Al-'amarah are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 10% lower, Al-'amarah 80% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.41 ฿147

$1.89 IQD 2,477

133.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.26 ฿1,077

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.93 ฿298

$4.49 IQD 5,883

98.89%

Cappuccino

$2.90 ฿96.6

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

$0.88 ฿29.38

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.06

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ฿78.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿124

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ฿62.3

$2.72 IQD 3,567

-31.25%

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 ฿48.94

$0.74 IQD 965

98.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.8

$0.93 IQD 1,214

66.67%

Eggs

$2.10 ฿70.1

$1.49 IQD 1,945

40.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.59 ฿654

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.42 ฿114

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.38 ฿380

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 ฿99.6

$0.75 IQD 978

297.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 ฿56.2

$1.16 IQD 1,519

44.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 ฿73.7

$0.79 IQD 1,029

179.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.16 ฿72.1

$0.26 IQD 340

730.77%

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.9

$0.79 IQD 1,029

92.41%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.67

$0.40 IQD 519

235.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ฿37.67

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ฿18.24

$0.56 IQD 733

-1.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.26 ฿142

Wine (Bottle)

$19.09 ฿637

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿59.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿92.9

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.23 ฿74.4

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.74 ฿759

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 ฿101

$2.31 IQD 3,030

31.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ฿34.15

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.89 ฿130

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿49.77

$0.33 IQD 431

351.52%

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

$26.6K ฿887.3K

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

$27.0K ฿902.2K

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

$102 ฿3,420

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

$11.33 ฿378

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.40 ฿581

$26.98 IQD 35.3K

-35.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.1 ฿1,738

$30.44 IQD 39.9K

71.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.07 ฿370

Cinema Ticket

$7.69 ฿257

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

$561 ฿18.7K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ฿384.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.0 ฿2,104

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.52 ฿986

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.0 ฿3,272

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.5 ฿2,954

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$738 ฿24.6K

$152 IQD 198.5K

386.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.1K

$115 IQD 150.3K

320.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,107 ฿70.3K

$195 IQD 254.9K

982.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,226 ฿40.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,617 ฿120.7K

$578 IQD 757.5K

525.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,603 ฿86.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿16.5K

$501 IQD 655.6K

-1.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Last update for Al-'amarah: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $738 in Phuket versus $152 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 1% higher in Al-'amarah, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

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 352%, 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 $1,847 per month in Phuket and $409 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,232 in Phuket and $273 in Al-'amarah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 295% 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 Al-'amarah, where all-in costs run around $273, than in Phuket at $1,232. 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.