😐A single person spends $1,250 per month in Phuket vs $1,037 in Al Hufuf, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,284 per month in Phuket vs $1,612 in Al Hufuf, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,317 per month in Phuket vs $2,186 in Al Hufuf, rent included.
😐Phuket costs about 21% more than Al Hufuf, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Phuket and Al Hufuf are more affordable than the global median – Phuket6% lower, Al Hufuf22% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Al Hufuf
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.55฿153
$6.83SAR 25.66
-33.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.18฿1,554
$49.02SAR 184
-5.79%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84฿298
$7.83SAR 29.42
12.90%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.78SAR 6.67
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.56SAR 5.87
-
Cappuccino
$3.06฿103
$3.96SAR 14.88
-22.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73฿24.42
$0.70SAR 2.62
4.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40฿13.40
$0.20SAR 0.75
100.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.43฿81.8
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78฿127
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Al Hufuf
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26฿76.0
$1.63SAR 6.11
38.65%
White Bread(500g)
$1.81฿60.9
$0.96SAR 3.59
88.54%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.25฿75.8
$2.36SAR 8.86
-4.66%
Eggs
$2.25฿75.6
$1.98SAR 7.44
13.64%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.51฿656
$5.71SAR 21.46
241.68%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65฿123
$6.34SAR 23.82
-42.43%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.05฿439
$13.87SAR 52.1
-5.91%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23฿109
$1.71SAR 6.42
88.89%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62฿54.4
$1.55SAR 5.84
4.52%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.38฿80.2
$1.37SAR 5.14
73.72%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03฿68.2
$1.16SAR 4.37
75.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿51.6
$1.01SAR 3.78
51.49%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50฿50.5
$1.03SAR 3.86
45.63%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98฿32.93
$1.31SAR 4.93
-25.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿17.40
$0.51SAR 1.93
1.96%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$2.98SAR 11.18
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.80SAR 6.77
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.15SAR 4.30
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.44฿149
$6.46SAR 24.24
-31.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.32฿616
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿62.7
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68฿90.2
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Al Hufuf
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.41฿47.49
$1.10SAR 4.11
28.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.70฿394
$40.69SAR 153
-71.25%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.11฿105
$2.59SAR 9.72
20.08%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04฿35.08
$1.92SAR 7.21
-45.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.11฿475
$13.11SAR 49.23
7.63%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31฿44.13
$0.64SAR 2.39
104.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿936.0K
$35.3KSAR 132.6K
-21.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K฿1.1M
$23.3KSAR 87.4K
42.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Al Hufuf
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿4,120
$80.2SAR 301
52.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.59฿457
$31.16SAR 117
-56.39%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.70฿629
$75.7SAR 284
-75.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Al Hufuf
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.5฿2,035
$143SAR 538
-57.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.98฿572
$33.35SAR 125
-49.09%
Cinema Ticket
$9.07฿305
$13.22SAR 49.65
-31.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Al Hufuf
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$706฿23.8K
$297SAR 1,116
137.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8K฿531.8K
$4,069SAR 15.3K
288.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Al Hufuf
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6฿1,970
$12.64SAR 47.45
363.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.36฿1,190
$15.98SAR 60.0
121.28%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,885
$40.91SAR 154
182.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.7฿2,818
$33.46SAR 126
150.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Al Hufuf
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$626฿21.1K
$357SAR 1,339
75.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$445฿15.0K
$271SAR 1,016
64.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,040฿68.7K
$721SAR 2,709
182.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492฿50.2K
$400SAR 1,504
272.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,483฿117.2K
$2,014SAR 7,565
72.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,577฿86.7K
$1,388SAR 5,214
85.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Al Hufuf
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$500฿16.8K
$1,976SAR 7,421
-74.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
2.5
113.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026
Last update for Al Hufuf: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $626 in Phuket versus $357 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 295% 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 $46.00 in Phuket versus $49.00 in Al Hufuf. Groceries tell a different story – $289 in Phuket vs $179 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 21%, 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 $1,875 per month in Phuket and $1,556 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 $46.00 in Phuket and $49.00 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 $1,250 in Phuket and $1,037 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 $1,037, than in Phuket at $1,250. 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.