Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Al-Rumaitha Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Al-Rumaitha

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $766 in Al-Rumaitha.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $1,181 in Al-Rumaitha.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $1,596 in Al-Rumaitha.

Living in Phuket is roughly 65% more expensive than Al-Rumaitha, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, Al-Rumaitha 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.70 ฿154

$4.07 IQD 5,331

15.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.37 ฿1,483

$24.66 IQD 32.3K

83.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.43 ฿276

$6.94 IQD 9,087

21.47%

Cappuccino

$2.93 ฿95.7

$2.57 IQD 3,369

14.01%

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

$0.69 ฿22.42

$0.39 IQD 516

76.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿12.00

$0.16 IQD 216

131.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿78.7

$2.86 IQD 3,743

-15.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿122

$2.95 IQD 3,870

26.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 ฿73.0

$1.33 IQD 1,736

67.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 ฿59.9

$0.85 IQD 1,112

115.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ฿70.9

$1.57 IQD 2,060

38.22%

Eggs

$2.21 ฿72.4

$1.78 IQD 2,329

24.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.74 ฿645

$4.38 IQD 5,741

350.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿119

$4.73 IQD 6,192

-23.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.53 ฿442

$12.99 IQD 17.0K

4.16%

Apples (1kg)

$3.28 ฿107

$1.20 IQD 1,577

173.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ฿52.7

$1.15 IQD 1,500

40.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.7

$1.06 IQD 1,383

127.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.1

$0.70 IQD 919

197.14%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.97

$0.70 IQD 920

118.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.41

$0.63 IQD 830

134.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ฿32.32

$0.64 IQD 835

54.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.68

$0.55 IQD 722

-7.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 ฿144

$1.94 IQD 2,546

127.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.38 ฿634

$13.18 IQD 17.3K

47.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

$1.84 IQD 2,414

-3.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ฿88.7

$2.14 IQD 2,806

26.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.37 ฿44.83

$0.37 IQD 483

270.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.39 ฿372

$31.62 IQD 41.4K

-63.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿98.7

$2.34 IQD 3,070

29.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 ฿32.51

$1.48 IQD 1,935

-33.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.10 ฿461

$6.14 IQD 8,044

129.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 ฿44.55

$0.54 IQD 703

151.85%

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

$28.2K ฿921.9K

$18.8K IQD 24.6M

50.33%

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

$32.9K ฿1.1M

$20.0K IQD 26.1M

64.77%

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

$122 ฿3,978

$76.9 IQD 100.7K

58.28%

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

$13.57 ฿444

$17.44 IQD 22.8K

-22.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.31 ฿599

$34.89 IQD 45.7K

-47.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.2 ฿1,969

$36.96 IQD 48.4K

62.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 ฿560

$16.50 IQD 21.6K

3.88%

Cinema Ticket

$8.69 ฿284

$7.64 IQD 10.0K

13.74%

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

$693 ฿22.7K

$150 IQD 196.0K

363.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K ฿512.8K

$3,219 IQD 4.2M

387.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,946

$27.34 IQD 35.8K

117.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.77 ฿1,137

$25.62 IQD 33.6K

35.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,746

$62.5 IQD 81.9K

83.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.3 ฿2,723

$40.65 IQD 53.2K

104.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$613 ฿20.0K

$244 IQD 319.4K

151.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$437 ฿14.3K

$176 IQD 230.0K

148.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,094 ฿68.5K

$570 IQD 746.9K

267.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,509 ฿49.3K

$343 IQD 449.5K

339.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,749 ฿122.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,616 ฿85.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

5.67

-6.00%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Al-Rumaitha: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $613 in Phuket and $244 in Al-Rumaitha. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $45.00 in Phuket vs $25.00 in Al-Rumaitha for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $184 per month, with Al-Rumaitha 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-Rumaitha: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al-Rumaitha is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment. The 65% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,898 in Phuket and $1,150 in Al-Rumaitha 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $613 in Phuket versus $244 in Al-Rumaitha. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,265 per month in Phuket versus $766 in Al-Rumaitha – a 65% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Al-Rumaitha runs roughly 178% less than in Phuket. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $766 in Al-Rumaitha versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Al-Rumaitha but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Al-Rumaitha the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Al-Rumaitha 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.

Safety-wise, Phuket and Al-Rumaitha are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Al-Rumaitha gentler on the wallet – expenses run 65% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.