Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and An Najaf Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and An Najaf

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,250 per month in Phuket vs $688 in An Najaf, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,284 per month in Phuket vs $1,013 in An Najaf, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,317 per month in Phuket vs $1,338 in An Najaf, rent included.

Phuket costs about 82% more than An Najaf, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and An Najaf are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, An Najaf 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.55 ฿153

$4.06 IQD 5,317

12.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.18 ฿1,554

$23.20 IQD 30.4K

99.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.84 ฿298

$4.88 IQD 6,384

81.15%

Cappuccino

$3.06 ฿103

$2.75 IQD 3,600

11.27%

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

$0.73 ฿24.42

$0.37 IQD 484

97.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ฿13.40

$0.17 IQD 226

135.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 ฿81.8

$3.37 IQD 4,411

-27.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.78 ฿127

$2.86 IQD 3,739

32.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ฿76.0

$1.31 IQD 1,716

72.52%

White Bread (500g)

$1.81 ฿60.9

$0.84 IQD 1,103

115.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 ฿75.8

$1.58 IQD 2,071

42.41%

Eggs

$2.25 ฿75.6

$1.78 IQD 2,337

26.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.51 ฿656

$2.40 IQD 3,140

712.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.65 ฿123

$4.81 IQD 6,300

-24.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.05 ฿439

$10.78 IQD 14.1K

21.06%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ฿109

$1.27 IQD 1,665

154.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.4

$1.17 IQD 1,528

38.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.38 ฿80.2

$1.00 IQD 1,313

138.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 ฿68.2

$0.74 IQD 966

174.32%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿51.6

$0.64 IQD 838

139.06%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.5

$0.64 IQD 832

134.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ฿32.93

$0.66 IQD 863

48.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.40

$0.40 IQD 518

30.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.44 ฿149

$1.49 IQD 1,954

197.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.32 ฿616

$13.54 IQD 17.7K

35.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.7

$1.86 IQD 2,437

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 ฿90.2

$2.19 IQD 2,871

22.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.41 ฿47.49

$0.37 IQD 483

281.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.70 ฿394

$34.61 IQD 45.3K

-66.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.11 ฿105

$1.97 IQD 2,575

57.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿35.08

$1.52 IQD 1,993

-31.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.11 ฿475

$4.92 IQD 6,448

186.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 ฿44.13

$0.45 IQD 586

191.11%

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

$27.8K ฿936.0K

$11.5K IQD 15.1M

141.70%

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

$33.2K ฿1.1M

$19.7K IQD 25.8M

68.61%

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

$122 ฿4,120

$58.8 IQD 77.0K

108.30%

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

$13.59 ฿457

$23.18 IQD 30.3K

-41.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.70 ฿629

$34.93 IQD 45.7K

-46.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.5 ฿2,035

$29.32 IQD 38.4K

106.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.98 ฿572

$14.81 IQD 19.4K

14.65%

Cinema Ticket

$9.07 ฿305

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

16.58%

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

$706 ฿23.8K

$164 IQD 214.2K

331.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K ฿531.8K

$918 IQD 1.2M

1621.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 ฿1,970

$16.28 IQD 21.3K

259.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.36 ฿1,190

$24.95 IQD 32.7K

41.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,885

$65.8 IQD 86.2K

75.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.7 ฿2,818

$43.72 IQD 57.2K

91.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$626 ฿21.1K

$243 IQD 318.4K

157.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$445 ฿15.0K

$133 IQD 173.9K

235.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,040 ฿68.7K

$388 IQD 508.7K

425.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,492 ฿50.2K

$152 IQD 198.6K

884.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,483 ฿117.2K

$1,274 IQD 1.7M

173.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,577 ฿86.7K

$479 IQD 627.0K

438.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$500 ฿16.8K

$736 IQD 964.4K

-32.13%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for An Najaf: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $626 in Phuket versus $243 in An Najaf. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 47% higher in An Najaf, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Phuket versus $23.00 in An Najaf. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $289 vs $171 – making An Najaf the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 An Najaf: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Phuket costs about 82% more than An Najaf, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,875 per month in Phuket and $1,031 in An Najaf. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in An Najaf, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,250 in Phuket and $688 in An Najaf. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 196% less in An Najaf. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in An Najaf, where all-in costs run around $688, than in Phuket at $1,250. In An Najaf it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. An Najaf costs $688 versus $1,250 in Phuket. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with An Najaf. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.