😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $643 in Al-Qusayr.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,054 in Phuket versus $1,032 in Al-Qusayr.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,876 in Phuket versus $1,422 in Al-Qusayr.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 92% more expensive than in Al-Qusayr, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket10% lower, Al-Qusayr53% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Al-Qusayr
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.41฿147
$10.04SYP 1,220
-56.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26฿1,074
$44.68SYP 5,429
-27.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.93฿297
$7.11SYP 864
25.60%
Cappuccino
$2.90฿96.4
$3.63SYP 442
-20.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88฿29.30
$2.29SYP 278
-61.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.01
$0.86SYP 104
-44.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.35฿78.3
$1.87SYP 227
25.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿124
$2.95SYP 358
26.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Al-Qusayr
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.87฿62.1
$1.04SYP 127
79.81%
White Bread(500g)
$1.47฿48.81
$0.38SYP 46.66
286.84%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.55฿51.7
$1.66SYP 202
-6.63%
Eggs
$2.10฿70.0
$1.54SYP 188
36.36%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.59฿652
$3.99SYP 485
390.98%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.42฿114
$5.81SYP 706
-41.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.38฿379
$13.74SYP 1,669
-17.18%
Apples(1kg)
$2.98฿99.3
$1.06SYP 129
181.13%
Banana(1kg)
$1.68฿56.1
$1.35SYP 164
24.44%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.21฿73.5
$1.10SYP 134
100.91%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.16฿72.0
$1.06SYP 128
103.77%
Potato(1kg)
$1.52฿50.8
$0.75SYP 90.6
102.67%
Onion(1kg)
$1.34฿44.55
$0.79SYP 96.4
69.62%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.13฿37.57
$0.41SYP 49.27
175.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55฿18.19
$0.66SYP 79.9
-16.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26฿142
$2.82SYP 342
51.06%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.09฿635
$5.90SYP 717
223.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿59.2
$1.06SYP 129
67.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78฿92.6
$2.91SYP 353
-4.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Al-Qusayr
Difference
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
$1.02SYP 124
197.06%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02฿34.06
$1.47SYP 179
-30.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.89฿130
$7.62SYP 926
-48.95%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49฿49.63
$3.60SYP 438
-58.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K฿884.9K
$14.8KSYP 1.8M
79.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K฿899.8K
$19.4KSYP 2.4M
39.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Al-Qusayr
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102฿3,411
$139SYP 16.9K
-26.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.33฿377
$9.79SYP 1,190
15.73%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.40฿579
$47.13SYP 5,726
-63.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Al-Qusayr
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.1฿1,734
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07฿369
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.69฿256
$5.46SYP 664
40.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Al-Qusayr
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$561฿18.7K
$66.1SYP 8,025
748.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.5K฿383.0K
$1,776SYP 215.8K
547.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Al-Qusayr
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.0฿2,098
$28.15SYP 3,420
123.91%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.52฿983
$39.20SYP 4,763
-24.69%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.0฿3,263
$59.2SYP 7,191
65.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5฿2,946
$57.3SYP 6,956
54.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Al-Qusayr
Difference
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
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,226฿40.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,617฿120.4K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,603฿86.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Al-Qusayr
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494฿16.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
14.25
-60.91%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026
Last update for Al-Qusayr: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $32.00 in Phuket vs $45.00 in Al-Qusayr. Groceries flip the comparison at $274 vs $169, with Al-Qusayr cheaper for home cooking.
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, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 92% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,847 in Phuket and $964 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 in Al-Qusayr?
Supermarket bills run roughly 62% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket and in Al-Qusayr?
All in, you'll spend $1,232 per month in Phuket versus $643 in Al-Qusayr – a 92% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Al-Qusayr?
At $643 in Al-Qusayr versus $1,232 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 92% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.