🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $1,389 in Al-wukayr.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,089 in Phuket versus $1,997 in Al-wukayr.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,913 in Phuket versus $2,604 in Al-wukayr.
🌍Living in Phuket costs roughly 9% less than in Al-wukayr, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 8% below, Al-wukayr is 1% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Al-wukayr
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.66฿154
$28.05QAR 102
-83.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.22฿1,066
$27.44QAR 99.9
17.42%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.68฿287
$8.48QAR 30.86
2.36%
Cappuccino
$2.90฿95.9
$1.35QAR 4.90
114.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84฿27.91
$1.35QAR 4.91
-37.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49฿16.17
$0.29QAR 1.07
68.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.48฿82.1
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73฿123
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Al-wukayr
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.89฿62.3
$2.15QAR 7.82
-12.09%
White Bread(500g)
$1.41฿46.58
$1.26QAR 4.58
11.90%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.62฿53.6
$1.67QAR 6.06
-2.99%
Eggs
$2.24฿74.1
$2.63QAR 9.59
-14.83%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.84฿656
-
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.48฿115
$5.61QAR 20.41
-37.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.37฿376
$8.28QAR 30.14
37.32%
Apples(1kg)
$2.90฿95.9
$2.25QAR 8.19
28.89%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72฿57.0
$1.55QAR 5.65
10.97%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.27฿75.2
$2.03QAR 7.39
11.82%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.13฿70.5
$1.35QAR 4.92
57.78%
Potato(1kg)
$1.47฿48.77
$0.95QAR 3.45
54.74%
Onion(1kg)
$1.42฿46.96
$0.91QAR 3.33
56.04%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.10฿36.29
$1.13QAR 4.11
-2.65%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60฿19.78
$0.27QAR 0.98
122.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.31฿142
$4.12QAR 14.99
4.61%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.60฿615
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80฿59.6
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97฿98.1
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Al-wukayr
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.25฿74.3
$0.85QAR 3.11
164.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$23.49฿777
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.10฿103
$2.76QAR 10.05
12.32%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.08฿35.59
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.87฿128
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.43฿47.20
$0.70QAR 2.55
104.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿918.9K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K฿892.4K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Al-wukayr
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$105฿3,466
$83.8QAR 305
25.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.39฿377
$83.2QAR 303
-86.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.54฿580
$83.4QAR 304
-78.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Al-wukayr
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.3฿1,797
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.44฿378
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.78฿257
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Al-wukayr
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$576฿19.1K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.6K฿383.0K
$9,536QAR 34.7K
21.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Al-wukayr
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.6฿2,104
$22.32QAR 81.2
185.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.10฿962
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.2฿3,182
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.0฿2,977
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Al-wukayr
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$733฿24.2K
$900QAR 3,276
-18.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$501฿16.6K
$682QAR 2,482
-26.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,126฿70.3K
$1,526QAR 5,554
39.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,252฿41.4K
$1,190QAR 4,331
5.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,534฿116.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,622฿86.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Al-wukayr
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$508฿16.8K
$5,614QAR 20.4K
-90.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: September 6, 2026
Last update for Al-wukayr: September 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $733 in Phuket and $900 in Al-wukayr. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Al-wukayr pays 1006% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $32.00 in Phuket vs $27.00 in Al-wukayr for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $275 vs $152 per month, with Al-wukayr 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-wukayr: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Phuket and in Al-wukayr?
Phuket and Al-wukayr differ by about 10% in total monthly costs ($1,265 vs $1,389 including rent). Phuket is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 1006% lower in Al-wukayr. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Phuket and in Al-wukayr?
Rent for a central apartment: $733 in Phuket versus $900 in Al-wukayr. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket – a meal for two runs $32.00 versus $27.00 in Al-wukayr. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Phuket or Al-wukayr?
All in, you'll spend $1,265 per month in Phuket versus $1,389 in Al-wukayr – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,265 in Phuket versus $1,389 in Al-wukayr, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Al-wukayr. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Al-wukayr?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Phuket or Al-wukayr safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Al-wukayr are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Phuket or Al-wukayr?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Al-wukayr. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.