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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $819 in Al Hillah, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,297 per month in Phuket vs $1,263 in Al Hillah, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,329 per month in Phuket vs $1,708 in Al Hillah, rent included.

Phuket costs about 55% more than Al Hillah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Al Hillah are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Al Hillah 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.70 ฿153

$5.28 IQD 6,917

-10.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.37 ฿1,482

$30.53 IQD 40.0K

48.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.43 ฿275

$6.00 IQD 7,851

40.50%

Cappuccino

$2.93 ฿95.6

$3.11 IQD 4,073

-5.79%

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

$0.69 ฿22.40

$0.40 IQD 518

72.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.99

$0.20 IQD 265

85.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$2.97 IQD 3,896

-18.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿122

$2.83 IQD 3,706

31.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 ฿72.9

$1.31 IQD 1,713

70.23%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 ฿59.8

$0.74 IQD 967

147.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ฿70.8

$1.64 IQD 2,151

32.32%

Eggs

$2.21 ฿72.3

$1.74 IQD 2,280

27.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.74 ฿645

$4.38 IQD 5,733

350.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿119

$5.06 IQD 6,623

-28.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.53 ฿442

$13.96 IQD 18.3K

-3.08%

Apples (1kg)

$3.28 ฿107

$1.28 IQD 1,673

156.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ฿52.6

$1.16 IQD 1,516

38.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$1.06 IQD 1,385

127.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.1

$0.70 IQD 920

197.14%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.93

$0.66 IQD 862

131.82%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.36

$0.68 IQD 890

117.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ฿32.29

$0.55 IQD 720

80.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.67

$0.55 IQD 722

-7.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 ฿144

$1.95 IQD 2,552

126.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.38 ฿633

$13.56 IQD 17.8K

42.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

$1.76 IQD 2,300

1.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ฿88.6

$2.19 IQD 2,863

23.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.37 ฿44.79

$0.40 IQD 522

242.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.39 ฿372

$63.8 IQD 83.6K

-82.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿98.6

$2.26 IQD 2,957

33.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 ฿32.48

$1.54 IQD 2,016

-35.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.10 ฿461

$3.33 IQD 4,358

323.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 ฿44.51

$0.53 IQD 689

156.60%

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

$28.2K ฿921.1K

$17.0K IQD 22.2M

66.05%

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

$32.9K ฿1.1M

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

63.97%

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

$122 ฿3,975

$76.0 IQD 99.6K

60.07%

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

$13.57 ฿443

$15.24 IQD 20.0K

-10.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.31 ฿598

$37.99 IQD 49.8K

-51.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.2 ฿1,967

$23.35 IQD 30.6K

157.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 ฿560

$19.37 IQD 25.4K

-11.51%

Cinema Ticket

$8.69 ฿284

$7.55 IQD 9,883

15.10%

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

$693 ฿22.6K

$96.5 IQD 126.4K

618.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K ฿512.3K

$754 IQD 986.7K

1981.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,944

$27.29 IQD 35.7K

118.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.77 ฿1,136

$27.83 IQD 36.4K

24.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,743

$61.2 IQD 80.1K

87.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.3 ฿2,720

$43.90 IQD 57.5K

89.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$613 ฿20.0K

$378 IQD 494.8K

62.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$437 ฿14.3K

$191 IQD 249.6K

129.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,094 ฿68.4K

$662 IQD 867.5K

216.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,509 ฿49.3K

$322 IQD 422.1K

368.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,749 ฿122.5K

$1,702 IQD 2.2M

120.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,616 ฿85.4K

$562 IQD 736.0K

365.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.6K

$515 IQD 674.7K

-1.39%

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Al Hillah: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $613 in Phuket versus $378 in Al Hillah. 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 Hillah, 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 $45.00 in Phuket versus $31.00 in Al Hillah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $188 – making Al Hillah 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 Hillah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 55%, 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 $1,898 per month in Phuket and $1,228 in Al Hillah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 460% less in Al Hillah. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $693 per month in Phuket and $96.5 in Al Hillah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Al Hillah, where all-in costs run around $819, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Al Hillah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Al Hillah – 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 Hillah. 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.