😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Phuket versus $32.33 in Al Kufrah.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,286 in Phuket versus $52.0 in Al Kufrah.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,310 in Phuket versus $71.6 in Al Kufrah.
😐Living in Phuket is roughly 3802% more expensive than Al Kufrah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket6% lower, Al Kufrah98% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Al Kufrah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56฿149
$2.70LYD 17.19
68.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.63฿1,519
-
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.47฿276
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.03฿98.6
$0.76LYD 4.86
298.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.45
$0.35LYD 2.25
97.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿11.92
$0.16LYD 1.04
131.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.49฿81.0
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66฿119
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Al Kufrah
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.18฿71.0
-
-
White Bread(500g)
$1.90฿62.0
-
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.20฿71.6
-
-
Eggs
$2.22฿72.4
-
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.99฿651
-
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.66฿119
-
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.25฿432
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$3.23฿105
-
-
Banana(1kg)
$1.70฿55.3
-
-
Oranges(1kg)
$2.39฿78.0
-
-
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿67.7
-
-
Potato(1kg)
$1.59฿51.8
-
-
Onion(1kg)
$1.48฿48.31
-
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03฿33.54
-
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿16.83
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.25฿138
-
-
Wine(Bottle)
$18.79฿612
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76฿57.2
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76฿89.8
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Al Kufrah
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.36฿44.32
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.36฿370
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14฿102
-
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04฿33.74
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.77฿448
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34฿43.79
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K฿901.4K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9K฿1.1M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Al Kufrah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$124฿4,025
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.52฿440
-
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.69฿609
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Al Kufrah
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.8฿2,013
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.25฿562
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.14฿298
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Al Kufrah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$703฿22.9K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.9K฿517.0K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Al Kufrah
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5฿1,937
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.07฿1,142
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,754
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.1฿2,737
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Al Kufrah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$619฿20.1K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$433฿14.1K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,062฿67.2K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,511฿49.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,646฿118.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,626฿85.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Al Kufrah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$507฿16.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
0
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CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026
Last update for Al Kufrah: June 9, 2026
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 Kufrah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Al Kufrah cheaper than Phuket?
Al Kufrah is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 3802% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,892 in Phuket and $48.50 in Al Kufrah to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Al Kufrah?
At $32.33 in Al Kufrah versus $1,261 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Al Kufrah but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Al Kufrah the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Al Kufrah more family-friendly?
For families, Al Kufrah is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Al Kufrah?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Al Kufrah are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Al Kufrah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3802% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.