😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,223 in Phuket versus $515 in Al-Qusayr.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,237 in Phuket versus $802 in Al-Qusayr.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,251 in Phuket versus $1,090 in Al-Qusayr.
😐Living in Phuket is roughly 138% more expensive than Al-Qusayr, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket8% lower, Al-Qusayr61% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Al-Qusayr
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.51฿147
$6.18SYP 682
-27.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.62฿1,515
$27.45SYP 3,033
69.84%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.49฿276
$5.46SYP 603
55.49%
Cappuccino
$3.08฿100
$1.49SYP 164
106.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68฿22.07
$1.02SYP 113
-33.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36฿11.75
$0.72SYP 80.0
-50.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.43฿78.8
$1.56SYP 173
55.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63฿118
$2.43SYP 269
49.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Al-Qusayr
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.19฿71.1
$0.95SYP 105
130.53%
White Bread(500g)
$1.81฿59.0
$0.59SYP 65.1
206.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.23฿72.5
$1.67SYP 185
33.53%
Eggs
$2.24฿72.7
$1.91SYP 211
17.28%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.60฿637
$3.05SYP 338
542.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.72฿121
$7.61SYP 841
-51.12%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.47฿438
$11.40SYP 1,260
18.16%
Apples(1kg)
$3.36฿109
$0.94SYP 104
257.45%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62฿52.5
$1.82SYP 201
-10.99%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿78.3
$1.00SYP 110
141.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.99฿64.6
$0.96SYP 106
107.29%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿49.76
$0.63SYP 69.5
142.86%
Onion(1kg)
$1.45฿47.19
$0.65SYP 72.3
123.08%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01฿32.96
$0.38SYP 41.84
165.79%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48฿15.73
$0.61SYP 67.7
-21.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27฿139
$3.07SYP 339
39.09%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.12฿621
$5.81SYP 642
229.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84฿59.7
$1.02SYP 112
80.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74฿89.1
$1.77SYP 195
54.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Al-Qusayr
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.42฿46.06
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.72฿381
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.00฿97.6
$1.03SYP 114
191.26%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.05฿34.00
$0.98SYP 108
7.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.90฿452
$0.98SYP 108
1318.37%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.29฿41.94
$1.01SYP 112
27.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K฿911.1K
$18.1KSYP 2.0M
54.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.5K฿1.1M
$20.8KSYP 2.3M
61.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Al-Qusayr
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿3,964
$102SYP 11.2K
20.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.93฿453
$8.33SYP 920
67.23%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.87฿613
$56.0SYP 6,193
-66.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Al-Qusayr
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.3฿1,992
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84฿547
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.89฿289
$3.05SYP 337
191.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Al-Qusayr
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$691฿22.5K
$43.52SYP 4,809
1488.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.2K฿525.2K
$1,852SYP 204.6K
772.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Al-Qusayr
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8฿1,878
$29.83SYP 3,296
93.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.39฿1,150
$25.47SYP 2,815
38.95%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113฿3,685
$44.99SYP 4,971
152.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.0฿2,698
$57.1SYP 6,314
45.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Al-Qusayr
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$607฿19.7K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$448฿14.6K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,029฿66.0K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,493฿48.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,585฿116.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,585฿84.0K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Al-Qusayr
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$505฿16.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
13.75
-61.24%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 13, 2026
Last update for Al-Qusayr: June 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $27.00 in Al-Qusayr for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $168 per month, with Al-Qusayr cheaper across the board.
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-Qusayr: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Al-Qusayr cheaper than Phuket?
Al-Qusayr is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 138% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,835 in Phuket and $773 in Al-Qusayr 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.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and Al-Qusayr?
Supermarket bills run roughly 74% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket vs Al-Qusayr?
All in, you'll spend $1,223 per month in Phuket versus $515 in Al-Qusayr – a 138% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Al-Qusayr?
At $515 in Al-Qusayr versus $1,223 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Al-Qusayr but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Al-Qusayr the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Al-Qusayr more family-friendly?
For families, Al-Qusayr 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-Qusayr?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Al-Qusayr 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-Qusayr gentler on the wallet – expenses run 138% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.