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 $1,250 per month in Phuket vs $810 in Al Hillah, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,284 per month in Phuket vs $1,264 in Al Hillah, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,317 per month in Phuket vs $1,718 in Al Hillah, rent included.

Phuket costs about 54% 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

$4.55 ฿153

$5.45 IQD 7,132

-16.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.18 ฿1,554

$31.09 IQD 40.7K

48.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.84 ฿298

$6.12 IQD 8,019

44.44%

Cappuccino

$3.06 ฿103

$3.06 IQD 4,005

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

$0.73 ฿24.42

$0.40 IQD 518

82.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ฿13.40

$0.18 IQD 242

122.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 ฿81.8

$2.93 IQD 3,833

-17.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.78 ฿127

$2.90 IQD 3,793

30.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ฿76.0

$1.37 IQD 1,800

64.96%

White Bread (500g)

$1.81 ฿60.9

$0.74 IQD 963

144.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 ฿75.8

$1.65 IQD 2,156

36.36%

Eggs

$2.25 ฿75.6

$1.80 IQD 2,359

25.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.51 ฿656

$4.49 IQD 5,874

334.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.65 ฿123

$4.80 IQD 6,290

-23.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.05 ฿439

$14.01 IQD 18.3K

-6.85%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ฿109

$1.23 IQD 1,607

162.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.4

$1.19 IQD 1,564

36.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.38 ฿80.2

$1.04 IQD 1,368

128.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 ฿68.2

$0.69 IQD 899

194.20%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿51.6

$0.66 IQD 863

131.82%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.5

$0.63 IQD 820

138.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ฿32.93

$0.59 IQD 778

66.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.40

$0.55 IQD 721

-5.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.44 ฿149

$1.90 IQD 2,485

133.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.32 ฿616

$13.82 IQD 18.1K

32.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.7

$1.84 IQD 2,415

1.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 ฿90.2

$2.17 IQD 2,840

23.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.41 ฿47.49

$0.40 IQD 520

252.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.70 ฿394

$65.4 IQD 85.6K

-82.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.11 ฿105

$2.36 IQD 3,092

31.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿35.08

$1.55 IQD 2,031

-32.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.11 ฿475

$3.37 IQD 4,414

318.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 ฿44.13

$0.54 IQD 703

142.59%

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

$27.8K ฿936.0K

$17.4K IQD 22.8M

59.67%

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

$33.2K ฿1.1M

$20.3K IQD 26.5M

63.86%

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

$122 ฿4,120

$75.8 IQD 99.3K

61.47%

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

$13.59 ฿457

$15.12 IQD 19.8K

-10.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.70 ฿629

$39.00 IQD 51.1K

-52.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.5 ฿2,035

$23.41 IQD 30.7K

158.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.98 ฿572

$19.19 IQD 25.1K

-11.52%

Cinema Ticket

$9.07 ฿305

$7.77 IQD 10.2K

16.73%

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

$706 ฿23.8K

$95.6 IQD 125.2K

638.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K ฿531.8K

$779 IQD 1.0M

1927.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 ฿1,970

$27.22 IQD 35.6K

115.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.36 ฿1,190

$27.73 IQD 36.3K

27.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,885

$61.6 IQD 80.7K

87.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.7 ฿2,818

$43.71 IQD 57.2K

91.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$626 ฿21.1K

$364 IQD 476.8K

71.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$445 ฿15.0K

$196 IQD 256.8K

127.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,040 ฿68.7K

$667 IQD 874.0K

205.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,492 ฿50.2K

$313 IQD 410.0K

376.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,483 ฿117.2K

$1,746 IQD 2.3M

99.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,577 ฿86.7K

$545 IQD 713.5K

372.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$500 ฿16.8K

$517 IQD 677.5K

-3.39%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Al Hillah: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $626 in Phuket versus $364 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 $46.00 in Phuket versus $31.00 in Al Hillah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $289 vs $189 – 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 54%, 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 $1,875 per month in Phuket and $1,215 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 459% less in Al Hillah. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $706 per month in Phuket and $95.6 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 $810, than in Phuket at $1,250. 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.