😐A single person spends $1,253 per month in Phuket vs $1,116 in Al Hufuf, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,043 per month in Phuket vs $1,729 in Al Hufuf, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,833 per month in Phuket vs $2,343 in Al Hufuf, rent included.
😐Phuket costs about 12% more than Al Hufuf, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Phuket and Al Hufuf are more affordable than the global median – Phuket9% lower, Al Hufuf19% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Al Hufuf
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56฿151
$6.56SAR 24.63
-30.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.62฿1,082
$52.4SAR 197
-37.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.90฿295
$7.32SAR 27.49
21.58%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.58SAR 5.92
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.63SAR 6.14
-
Cappuccino
$2.80฿93.0
$3.82SAR 14.33
-26.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88฿29.19
$0.63SAR 2.37
39.68%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49฿16.23
$0.30SAR 1.13
63.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.39฿79.2
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.71฿123
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Al Hufuf
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.79฿59.3
$1.66SAR 6.22
7.83%
White Bread(500g)
$1.44฿47.81
$0.82SAR 3.06
75.61%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.58฿52.6
$2.60SAR 9.75
-39.23%
Eggs
$2.13฿70.5
$2.17SAR 8.14
-1.84%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.92฿661
$6.51SAR 24.44
205.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.43฿114
$7.91SAR 29.69
-56.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.33฿376
$15.02SAR 56.4
-24.57%
Apples(1kg)
$2.95฿97.8
$1.57SAR 5.91
87.90%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72฿57.1
$1.69SAR 6.33
1.78%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.32฿77.1
$1.32SAR 4.94
75.76%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿69.0
$1.09SAR 4.08
90.83%
Potato(1kg)
$1.47฿48.77
$1.08SAR 4.07
36.11%
Onion(1kg)
$1.36฿45.05
$0.81SAR 3.05
67.90%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.10฿36.45
$1.36SAR 5.11
-19.12%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57฿19.06
$0.58SAR 2.18
-1.72%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$2.91SAR 10.91
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.87SAR 7.04
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.60SAR 9.76
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27฿142
$6.84SAR 25.69
-37.57%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.42฿611
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.87฿62.1
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92฿96.9
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Al Hufuf
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.22฿73.6
$1.04SAR 3.89
113.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.90฿759
$35.98SAR 135
-36.35%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.03฿101
$3.26SAR 12.25
-7.06%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.07฿35.63
$1.84SAR 6.90
-41.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.93฿130
$13.39SAR 50.3
-70.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49฿49.49
$0.60SAR 2.27
148.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.1K฿899.8K
$35.8KSAR 134.4K
-24.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5K฿910.6K
$22.7KSAR 85.4K
20.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Al Hufuf
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$103฿3,410
$97.5SAR 366
5.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.99฿365
$31.77SAR 119
-65.41%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.51฿581
$70.3SAR 264
-75.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Al Hufuf
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.5฿1,776
$106SAR 397
-49.39%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.20฿371
$36.59SAR 137
-69.39%
Cinema Ticket
$7.48฿248
$14.09SAR 52.9
-46.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Al Hufuf
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$557฿18.5K
$532SAR 1,999
4.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.9K฿393.2K
$11.1KSAR 41.5K
7.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Al Hufuf
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.1฿2,125
$17.46SAR 65.6
266.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.07฿964
$18.50SAR 69.5
57.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.0฿3,183
$42.50SAR 160
125.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.3฿2,997
$31.50SAR 118
186.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Al Hufuf
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$730฿24.2K
$588SAR 2,207
24.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$500฿16.6K
$346SAR 1,299
44.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,090฿69.3K
$869SAR 3,262
140.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209฿40.1K
$543SAR 2,038
122.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,596฿119.3K
$2,393SAR 8,986
50.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,512฿83.3K
$1,397SAR 5,245
79.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Al Hufuf
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$503฿16.7K
$1,936SAR 7,268
-74.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
5.54
0.54%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026
Last update for Al Hufuf: September 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $730 in Phuket versus $588 in Al Hufuf. 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 285% higher in Al Hufuf, 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 $33.00 in Phuket versus $52.0 in Al Hufuf. Groceries tell a different story – $273 in Phuket vs $194 in Al Hufuf – so Al Hufuf wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Hufuf: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Al Hufuf cheaper than Phuket?
Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 12%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,674 in Al Hufuf. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Al Hufuf, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or in Al Hufuf?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Phuket and $52.0 in Al Hufuf. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket and in Al Hufuf?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,253 in Phuket and $1,116 in Al Hufuf. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Al Hufuf?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Al Hufuf, where all-in costs run around $1,116, than in Phuket at $1,253. In Al Hufuf it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Phuket or Al Hufuf more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Al Hufuf – 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 Hufuf?
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 Hufuf. 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.