😐A single person spends $1,253 per month in Phuket vs $957 in Al-`awabi, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,043 per month in Phuket vs $1,420 in Al-`awabi, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,833 per month in Phuket vs $1,884 in Al-`awabi, rent included.
😐Phuket costs about 31% more than Al-`awabi, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Phuket and Al-`awabi are more affordable than the global median – Phuket9% lower, Al-`awabi30% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Al-`awabi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56฿150
$5.16OMR 1.98
-11.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.62฿1,072
$34.34OMR 13.22
-5.01%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.90฿293
$8.00OMR 3.08
11.25%
Cappuccino
$2.80฿92.2
$4.84OMR 1.86
-42.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88฿28.93
$0.84OMR 0.32
4.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49฿16.08
$0.27OMR 0.10
81.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.39฿78.5
$13.16OMR 5.07
-81.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.71฿122
$12.90OMR 4.97
-71.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Al-`awabi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.79฿58.7
$2.27OMR 0.87
-21.15%
White Bread(500g)
$1.44฿47.38
$1.25OMR 0.48
15.20%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.58฿52.1
$1.82OMR 0.70
-13.19%
Eggs
$2.13฿69.9
$2.98OMR 1.15
-28.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.92฿655
$7.79OMR 3.00
155.71%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.43฿113
$6.91OMR 2.66
-50.36%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.33฿372
$10.67OMR 4.11
6.19%
Apples(1kg)
$2.95฿96.9
$3.55OMR 1.37
-16.90%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72฿56.6
$2.00OMR 0.77
-14.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.32฿76.4
$2.37OMR 0.91
-2.11%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿68.4
$1.21OMR 0.46
71.90%
Potato(1kg)
$1.47฿48.33
$1.16OMR 0.45
26.72%
Onion(1kg)
$1.36฿44.64
$1.24OMR 0.48
9.68%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.10฿36.12
$1.80OMR 0.69
-38.89%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57฿18.89
$0.63OMR 0.24
-9.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27฿140
$6.63OMR 2.55
-35.60%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.42฿605
$15.56OMR 5.99
18.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.87฿61.5
$5.64OMR 2.17
-66.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92฿96.0
$9.01OMR 3.47
-67.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Al-`awabi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.22฿72.9
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.90฿753
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.03฿99.6
$3.18OMR 1.22
-4.72%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.07฿35.31
$2.67OMR 1.03
-59.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.93฿129
$7.75OMR 2.98
-49.29%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49฿49.04
$0.64OMR 0.25
132.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.1K฿891.7K
$25.8KOMR 9,926
5.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5K฿902.3K
$22.8KOMR 8,766
20.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Al-`awabi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$103฿3,379
$169OMR 65.0
-39.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.99฿361
$31.28OMR 12.04
-64.87%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.51฿576
$71.1OMR 27.37
-75.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Al-`awabi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.5฿1,760
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.20฿368
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.48฿246
$10.52OMR 4.05
-28.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Al-`awabi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$557฿18.3K
$288OMR 111
93.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.9K฿389.6K
$10.5KOMR 4,033
13.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Al-`awabi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.1฿2,106
$57.0OMR 21.94
12.40%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.07฿956
$43.75OMR 16.85
-33.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.0฿3,154
$91.3OMR 35.14
5.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.3฿2,970
$94.5OMR 36.38
-4.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Al-`awabi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$730฿24.0K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$500฿16.4K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,090฿68.7K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209฿39.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,596฿118.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,512฿82.6K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Al-`awabi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$503฿16.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
5.25
6.10%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026
Last update for Al-`awabi: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Phuket versus $34.00 in Al-`awabi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $273 vs $288 – making Phuket 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-`awabi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Al-`awabi cheaper than Phuket?
Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 31%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,880 per month in Phuket and $1,435 in Al-`awabi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket and in Al-`awabi?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,253 in Phuket and $957 in Al-`awabi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $557 per month in Phuket and $288 in Al-`awabi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Al-`awabi?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Al-`awabi, where all-in costs run around $957, than in Phuket at $1,253. In Al-`awabi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Phuket or Al-`awabi more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Al-`awabi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Al-`awabi?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Al-`awabi. 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.