😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,264 in Phuket versus $520 in Al-Qusayr.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,256 in Phuket versus $813 in Al-Qusayr.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,248 in Phuket versus $1,106 in Al-Qusayr.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 143% more expensive than in Al-Qusayr, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket5% lower, Al-Qusayr61% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Al-Qusayr
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.48฿150
$5.85SYP 710
-23.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.59฿1,521
$27.55SYP 3,347
65.48%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.76฿292
$5.34SYP 648
64.04%
Cappuccino
$2.97฿99.0
$1.55SYP 189
91.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.90
$1.02SYP 124
-32.35%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39฿13.04
$0.67SYP 81.9
-41.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.53฿84.4
$1.63SYP 198
55.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75฿125
$2.53SYP 307
48.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Al-Qusayr
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.15฿71.6
$1.03SYP 126
108.74%
White Bread(500g)
$1.82฿60.6
$0.59SYP 71.8
208.47%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.18฿72.9
$1.73SYP 211
26.01%
Eggs
$2.25฿75.0
$1.91SYP 233
17.80%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$20.00฿667
$3.11SYP 378
543.09%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63฿121
$7.54SYP 916
-51.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.56฿452
$11.22SYP 1,363
20.86%
Apples(1kg)
$3.24฿108
$0.92SYP 112
252.17%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64฿54.6
$1.80SYP 218
-8.89%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.33฿77.8
$0.99SYP 120
135.35%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.07฿69.1
$0.91SYP 111
127.47%
Potato(1kg)
$1.55฿51.6
$0.66SYP 79.7
134.85%
Onion(1kg)
$1.46฿48.54
$0.62SYP 75.8
135.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98฿32.86
$0.37SYP 45.32
164.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.09
$0.63SYP 76.5
-23.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35฿145
$2.95SYP 358
47.46%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.57฿620
$8.11SYP 985
128.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿61.9
$0.98SYP 119
89.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65฿88.6
$1.81SYP 220
46.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Al-Qusayr
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.42฿47.28
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.57฿386
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.17฿106
$1.03SYP 125
207.77%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.03฿34.41
$1.02SYP 124
0.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.89฿463
$0.98SYP 119
1317.35%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34฿44.84
$1.03SYP 125
30.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿927.1K
$18.2KSYP 2.2M
52.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4K฿1.1M
$21.3KSYP 2.6M
56.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Al-Qusayr
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123฿4,105
$100SYP 12.2K
22.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77฿459
$8.38SYP 1,018
64.32%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.33฿611
$54.3SYP 6,592
-66.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Al-Qusayr
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.7฿2,025
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.16฿573
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.87฿296
$3.04SYP 370
191.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Al-Qusayr
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$688฿22.9K
$43.07SYP 5,233
1497.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8K฿526.4K
$1,827SYP 222.0K
763.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Al-Qusayr
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3฿1,978
$29.30SYP 3,560
102.39%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.69฿1,157
$25.87SYP 3,144
34.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,843
$45.46SYP 5,524
153.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.8฿2,794
$55.1SYP 6,699
51.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Al-Qusayr
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$621฿20.7K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446฿14.9K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,034฿67.8K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,496฿49.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,455฿115.3K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,531฿84.4K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Al-Qusayr
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494฿16.5K
-
-
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Al-Qusayr: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $46.00 in Phuket vs $28.00 in Al-Qusayr for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $291 vs $172 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 143% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,896 in Phuket and $780 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 69% 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 $1,264 per month in Phuket versus $520 in Al-Qusayr – a 143% 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 $520 in Al-Qusayr versus $1,264 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 143% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.