Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and AL Kharj Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and AL Kharj

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $951 in AL Kharj, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,054 per month in Phuket vs $1,473 in AL Kharj, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,876 per month in Phuket vs $1,996 in AL Kharj, rent included.

Phuket costs about 30% more than AL Kharj, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and AL Kharj are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 10% lower, AL Kharj 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.41 ฿147

$4.68 SAR 17.59

-5.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.26 ฿1,077

$26.80 SAR 101

20.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.93 ฿298

$7.91 SAR 29.71

12.90%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.07 SAR 7.79

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.35 SAR 5.08

Cappuccino

$2.90 ฿96.6

$3.07 SAR 11.53

-5.54%

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

$0.88 ฿29.38

$0.84 SAR 3.15

4.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.06

$0.13 SAR 0.48

269.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ฿78.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿124

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ฿62.3

$1.44 SAR 5.42

29.86%

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 ฿48.94

$0.26 SAR 0.97

465.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.8

$2.32 SAR 8.73

-33.19%

Eggs

$2.10 ฿70.1

$2.07 SAR 7.78

1.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.59 ฿654

$9.96 SAR 37.40

96.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.42 ฿114

$4.97 SAR 18.66

-31.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.38 ฿380

$13.58 SAR 51.0

-16.20%

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 ฿99.6

$1.76 SAR 6.59

69.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 ฿56.2

$1.30 SAR 4.90

29.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 ฿73.7

$1.22 SAR 4.59

81.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.16 ฿72.1

$1.34 SAR 5.03

61.19%

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.9

$1.04 SAR 3.91

46.15%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.67

$1.10 SAR 4.12

21.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ฿37.67

$0.55 SAR 2.05

105.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ฿18.24

$0.59 SAR 2.21

-6.78%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.15 SAR 8.09

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.10 SAR 4.12

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 SAR 9.24

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.26 ฿142

$6.59 SAR 24.74

-35.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.09 ฿637

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿59.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿92.9

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.23 ฿74.4

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.74 ฿759

$22.75 SAR 85.4

-0.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 ฿101

$2.70 SAR 10.15

12.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ฿34.15

$0.55 SAR 2.05

85.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.89 ฿130

$13.40 SAR 50.3

-70.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿49.77

$0.59 SAR 2.22

152.54%

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

$26.6K ฿887.3K

$35.3K SAR 132.6K

-24.69%

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

$27.0K ฿902.2K

$21.9K SAR 82.2K

23.57%

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

$102 ฿3,420

$102 SAR 384

0.22%

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

$11.33 ฿378

$27.14 SAR 102

-58.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.40 ฿581

$51.5 SAR 193

-66.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.1 ฿1,738

$73.8 SAR 277

-29.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.07 ฿370

$40.56 SAR 152

-72.71%

Cinema Ticket

$7.69 ฿257

$13.41 SAR 50.4

-42.65%

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

$561 ฿18.7K

$283 SAR 1,064

97.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ฿384.1K

$3,710 SAR 13.9K

210.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.0 ฿2,104

$59.4 SAR 223

6.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.52 ฿986

$53.1 SAR 199

-44.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.0 ฿3,272

$46.69 SAR 175

109.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.5 ฿2,954

$79.7 SAR 299

11.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$738 ฿24.6K

$676 SAR 2,539

9.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.1K

$260 SAR 976

85.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,107 ฿70.3K

$591 SAR 2,219

256.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,226 ฿40.9K

$467 SAR 1,756

162.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,617 ฿120.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,603 ฿86.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿16.5K

$2,869 SAR 10.8K

-82.80%

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: September 15, 2026

Last update for AL Kharj: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $738 in Phuket versus $676 in AL Kharj. 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 481% higher in AL Kharj, 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 $27.00 in AL Kharj. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $274 vs $173 – making AL Kharj 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 Kharj: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,232 in Phuket, $951 in AL Kharj – roughly 30% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $1,426 in AL Kharj. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $561 per month in Phuket and $283 in AL Kharj. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 58% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in AL Kharj, where all-in costs run around $951, than in Phuket at $1,232. In AL Kharj it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $951 in AL Kharj to $1,232 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Kharj. 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.