Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Al Fallujah Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Al Fallujah

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,243 in Phuket versus $712 in Al Fallujah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,023 in Phuket versus $1,055 in Al Fallujah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,803 in Phuket versus $1,397 in Al Fallujah.

Living in Phuket is roughly 75% more expensive than in Al Fallujah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 8% lower, Al Fallujah 47% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Al Fallujah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.37 ฿147
$4.81 IQD 6,298
-9.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.87 ฿1,103
$34.50 IQD 45.2K
-4.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.39 ฿282
$7.60 IQD 9,950
10.39%
Cappuccino
$2.73 ฿91.8
$3.19 IQD 4,176
-14.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 ฿29.59
$0.37 IQD 484
137.84%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 ฿15.92
$0.24 IQD 312
95.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.36 ฿79.1
$3.72 IQD 4,865
-36.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.71 ฿124
$3.73 IQD 4,887
-0.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Al Fallujah
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.83 ฿61.5
$1.04 IQD 1,366
75.96%
White Bread (500g)
$1.45 ฿48.58
$0.77 IQD 1,013
88.31%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.58 ฿52.9
$1.58 IQD 2,072
-
Eggs
$2.10 ฿70.4
$1.86 IQD 2,434
12.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.37 ฿650
$3.81 IQD 4,993
408.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.42 ฿115
$4.80 IQD 6,283
-28.75%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.96 ฿368
$14.60 IQD 19.1K
-24.93%
Apples (1kg)
$3.00 ฿101
$1.17 IQD 1,535
156.41%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 ฿54.9
$1.10 IQD 1,444
49.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.21 ฿74.1
$1.03 IQD 1,344
114.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.12 ฿71.2
$0.79 IQD 1,036
168.35%
Potato (1kg)
$1.47 ฿49.34
$0.67 IQD 873
119.40%
Onion (1kg)
$1.32 ฿44.37
$0.65 IQD 846
103.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ฿35.93
$0.64 IQD 837
67.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.61
$0.66 IQD 864
-21.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.38 ฿147
$1.79 IQD 2,350
144.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.59 ฿624
$13.53 IQD 17.7K
37.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 ฿58.6
$2.22 IQD 2,904
-21.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 ฿95.8
$2.18 IQD 2,861
31.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Al Fallujah
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.26 ฿76.0
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.98 ฿771
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.94 ฿98.7
$2.35 IQD 3,079
25.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.07 ฿35.84
$1.50 IQD 1,961
-28.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.84 ฿129
$7.85 IQD 10.3K
-51.08%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.46 ฿48.96
$0.62 IQD 814
135.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K ฿912.2K
$19.0K IQD 24.8M
43.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K ฿893.5K
$18.9K IQD 24.8M
40.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Al Fallujah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$102 ฿3,420
$211 IQD 276.3K
-51.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.96 ฿368
$21.72 IQD 28.4K
-49.54%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.89 ฿567
$41.22 IQD 54.0K
-59.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Al Fallujah
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.4 ฿1,758
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.93 ฿367
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.52 ฿252
$10.56 IQD 13.8K
-28.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Al Fallujah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$547 ฿18.3K
$167 IQD 218.7K
227.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.3K ฿379.5K
$3,523 IQD 4.6M
221.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Al Fallujah
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.2 ฿2,122
$29.18 IQD 38.2K
116.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.23 ฿981
$37.70 IQD 49.4K
-22.47%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.8 ฿3,282
$74.3 IQD 97.3K
31.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.7 ฿2,909
$47.05 IQD 61.6K
84.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Al Fallujah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$721 ฿24.2K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$476 ฿16.0K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,081 ฿69.8K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,194 ฿40.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,577 ฿120.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,541 ฿85.3K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Al Fallujah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$489 ฿16.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
4.12
35.19%

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

Last update for Phuket: September 28, 2026

Last update for Al Fallujah: September 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $33.00 in Phuket vs $35.00 in Al Fallujah. Groceries flip the comparison at $269 vs $188, with Al Fallujah cheaper for home cooking.

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 Fallujah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Al Fallujah?
Al Fallujah wins on cost – living expenses run 75% lower than in Phuket. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Al Fallujah the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Phuket and in Al Fallujah?
You'd need roughly $1,865 in Phuket and $1,068 in Al Fallujah to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do childcare costs compare in Phuket and in Al Fallujah?
Childcare runs $547 in Phuket versus $167 in Al Fallujah. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Phuket and in Al Fallujah?
Dining out is cheaper in Al Fallujah – a meal for two runs $35.00 versus $33.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Phuket or in Al Fallujah?
At $712 in Al Fallujah versus $1,243 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Al Fallujah but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Al Fallujah the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Al Fallujah?
Both work as nomad bases, but Al Fallujah delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $712 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Al Fallujah hard to pass up.
How safe is Phuket compared to Al Fallujah?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Al Fallujah 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Al Fallujah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 75% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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