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 $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $791 in Al Hillah, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,054 per month in Phuket vs $1,214 in Al Hillah, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,876 per month in Phuket vs $1,636 in Al Hillah, rent included.

Phuket costs about 56% more than Al Hillah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Al Hillah are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 10% lower, Al Hillah 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.41 ฿147

$4.86 IQD 6,367

-9.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.26 ฿1,077

$30.43 IQD 39.8K

6.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.93 ฿298

$5.95 IQD 7,788

50.08%

Cappuccino

$2.90 ฿96.6

$3.05 IQD 3,993

-4.92%

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

$0.88 ฿29.38

$0.37 IQD 480

137.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.06

$0.22 IQD 289

118.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ฿78.5

$2.83 IQD 3,705

-16.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿124

$3.93 IQD 5,144

-5.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ฿62.3

$1.09 IQD 1,426

71.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 ฿48.94

$0.78 IQD 1,018

88.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.8

$1.53 IQD 2,009

1.31%

Eggs

$2.10 ฿70.1

$1.81 IQD 2,368

16.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.59 ฿654

$3.97 IQD 5,203

393.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.42 ฿114

$4.74 IQD 6,202

-27.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.38 ฿380

$14.24 IQD 18.6K

-20.08%

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 ฿99.6

$1.18 IQD 1,549

152.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 ฿56.2

$1.08 IQD 1,412

55.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 ฿73.7

$1.06 IQD 1,393

108.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.16 ฿72.1

$0.78 IQD 1,017

176.92%

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.9

$0.66 IQD 866

130.30%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.67

$0.64 IQD 835

109.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ฿37.67

$0.56 IQD 730

101.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ฿18.24

$0.59 IQD 768

-6.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.26 ฿142

$1.83 IQD 2,400

132.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.09 ฿637

$13.64 IQD 17.9K

39.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿59.4

$2.24 IQD 2,937

-20.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿92.9

$2.20 IQD 2,875

26.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.23 ฿74.4

$0.39 IQD 513

471.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.74 ฿759

$64.3 IQD 84.2K

-64.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 ฿101

$2.26 IQD 2,960

34.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ฿34.15

$1.52 IQD 1,988

-32.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.89 ฿130

$3.46 IQD 4,532

12.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿49.77

$0.57 IQD 749

161.40%

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

$26.6K ฿887.3K

$17.1K IQD 22.4M

55.18%

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

$27.0K ฿902.2K

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

42.05%

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

$102 ฿3,420

$76.2 IQD 99.8K

34.40%

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

$11.33 ฿378

$15.14 IQD 19.8K

-25.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.40 ฿581

$38.51 IQD 50.4K

-54.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.1 ฿1,738

$22.95 IQD 30.1K

126.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.07 ฿370

$19.40 IQD 25.4K

-42.94%

Cinema Ticket

$7.69 ฿257

$7.55 IQD 9,889

1.85%

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

$561 ฿18.7K

$94.9 IQD 124.3K

490.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ฿384.1K

$766 IQD 1.0M

1402.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.0 ฿2,104

$22.31 IQD 29.2K

182.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.52 ฿986

$24.74 IQD 32.4K

19.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.0 ฿3,272

$67.1 IQD 87.8K

46.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.5 ฿2,954

$47.37 IQD 62.0K

86.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$738 ฿24.6K

$281 IQD 368.6K

162.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.1K

$180 IQD 235.5K

168.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,107 ฿70.3K

$495 IQD 648.4K

325.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,226 ฿40.9K

$291 IQD 380.8K

321.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,617 ฿120.7K

$1,717 IQD 2.2M

110.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,603 ฿86.9K

$555 IQD 726.2K

369.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿16.5K

$514 IQD 673.3K

-4.00%

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 15, 2026

Last update for Al Hillah: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $738 in Phuket versus $281 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 4% 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 $32.00 in Phuket versus $30.00 in Al Hillah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $274 vs $186 – 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 56%, 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 $1,187 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 183% less in Al Hillah. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $561 per month in Phuket and $94.9 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 $791, than in Phuket at $1,232. 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.