Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Al Kut Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Al Kut

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $391 in Al Kut, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,054 per month in Phuket vs $601 in Al Kut, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,876 per month in Phuket vs $811 in Al Kut, rent included.

Phuket costs about 215% more than Al Kut, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Al Kut are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 10% lower, Al Kut 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.41 ฿147

$1.75 IQD 2,287

152.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.26 ฿1,074

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.93 ฿297

Cappuccino

$2.90 ฿96.4

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

$0.88 ฿29.30

$0.31 IQD 411

183.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.01

$0.14 IQD 177

242.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ฿78.3

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿124

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ฿62.1

$1.12 IQD 1,464

66.96%

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 ฿48.81

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.7

$1.48 IQD 1,937

4.73%

Eggs

$2.10 ฿70.0

$1.58 IQD 2,067

32.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.59 ฿652

$2.22 IQD 2,910

782.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.42 ฿114

$3.57 IQD 4,670

-4.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.38 ฿379

$9.24 IQD 12.1K

23.16%

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 ฿99.3

$0.84 IQD 1,100

254.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 ฿56.1

$1.06 IQD 1,382

58.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 ฿73.5

$0.85 IQD 1,112

160.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.16 ฿72.0

$0.49 IQD 640

340.82%

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.8

$0.43 IQD 564

253.49%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.55

$0.43 IQD 560

211.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ฿37.57

$0.39 IQD 509

189.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ฿18.19

$0.29 IQD 378

89.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.26 ฿142

$1.02 IQD 1,334

317.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.09 ฿635

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿59.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿92.6

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.23 ฿74.2

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.74 ฿757

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 ฿101

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ฿34.06

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.89 ฿130

$10.06 IQD 13.2K

-61.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿49.63

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

$26.6K ฿884.9K

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

$27.0K ฿899.8K

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

$102 ฿3,411

$170 IQD 222.7K

-39.74%

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

$11.33 ฿377

$15.04 IQD 19.7K

-24.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.40 ฿579

$24.76 IQD 32.4K

-29.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.1 ฿1,734

$16.76 IQD 21.9K

210.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.07 ฿369

Cinema Ticket

$7.69 ฿256

$5.09 IQD 6,662

51.08%

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

$561 ฿18.7K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ฿383.0K

$1,400 IQD 1.8M

721.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.0 ฿2,098

$20.36 IQD 26.7K

209.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.52 ฿983

$25.17 IQD 33.0K

17.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.0 ฿3,263

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.5 ฿2,946

$30.23 IQD 39.6K

192.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$738 ฿24.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,107 ฿70.1K

$255 IQD 333.4K

727.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,226 ฿40.8K

$170 IQD 223.2K

619.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,617 ฿120.4K

$1,015 IQD 1.3M

256.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,603 ฿86.7K

$495 IQD 647.9K

426.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿16.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Last update for Al Kut: September 14, 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 Kut: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,232 in Phuket, $391 in Al Kut – roughly 215% 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 $586 in Al Kut. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,232 in Phuket and $391 in Al Kut. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 176% 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 Kut, where all-in costs run around $391, than in Phuket at $1,232. In Al Kut 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 $391 in Al Kut 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 Kut. 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.