Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Ar-rustaq Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Ar-rustaq

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,250 per month in Phuket vs $966 in Ar-rustaq, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,284 per month in Phuket vs $1,335 in Ar-rustaq, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,317 per month in Phuket vs $1,705 in Ar-rustaq, rent included.

Phuket costs about 29% more than Ar-rustaq, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Phuket and Ar-rustaq are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Ar-rustaq 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.55 ฿153

$5.13 OMR 1.97

-11.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.18 ฿1,554

$25.59 OMR 9.85

80.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.84 ฿298

$7.95 OMR 3.06

11.19%

Cappuccino

$3.06 ฿103

$4.75 OMR 1.83

-35.58%

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

$0.73 ฿24.42

$0.50 OMR 0.19

46.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ฿13.40

$0.27 OMR 0.10

48.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 ฿81.8

$12.36 OMR 4.76

-80.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.78 ฿127

$11.66 OMR 4.49

-67.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ฿76.0

$1.93 OMR 0.74

17.10%

White Bread (500g)

$1.81 ฿60.9

$1.22 OMR 0.47

48.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 ฿75.8

$1.68 OMR 0.65

33.93%

Eggs

$2.25 ฿75.6

$1.91 OMR 0.73

17.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.51 ฿656

$3.67 OMR 1.41

431.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.65 ฿123

$4.26 OMR 1.64

-14.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.05 ฿439

$7.72 OMR 2.97

69.04%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ฿109

$2.28 OMR 0.88

41.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.4

$1.75 OMR 0.67

-7.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.38 ฿80.2

$1.84 OMR 0.71

29.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 ฿68.2

$1.12 OMR 0.43

81.25%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿51.6

$0.95 OMR 0.37

61.05%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.5

$0.99 OMR 0.38

51.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ฿32.93

$1.04 OMR 0.40

-5.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.40

$0.53 OMR 0.21

-1.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.44 ฿149

$6.48 OMR 2.49

-31.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.32 ฿616

$15.88 OMR 6.11

15.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.7

$4.20 OMR 1.62

-55.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 ฿90.2

$7.62 OMR 2.93

-64.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.41 ฿47.49

$1.26 OMR 0.49

11.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.70 ฿394

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.11 ฿105

$1.58 OMR 0.61

96.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿35.08

$0.80 OMR 0.31

30.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.11 ฿475

$10.47 OMR 4.03

34.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 ฿44.13

$0.64 OMR 0.25

104.69%

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

$27.8K ฿936.0K

$22.5K OMR 8,649

23.79%

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

$33.2K ฿1.1M

$21.5K OMR 8,261

54.77%

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

$122 ฿4,120

$106 OMR 40.84

15.39%

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

$13.59 ฿457

$40.86 OMR 15.73

-66.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.70 ฿629

$69.3 OMR 26.69

-73.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.5 ฿2,035

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.98 ฿572

$2.56 OMR 0.98

563.28%

Cinema Ticket

$9.07 ฿305

$10.45 OMR 4.02

-13.21%

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

$706 ฿23.8K

$129 OMR 49.74

446.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K ฿531.8K

$3,739 OMR 1,439

322.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 ฿1,970

$20.56 OMR 7.92

184.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.36 ฿1,190

$26.17 OMR 10.07

35.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,885

$39.16 OMR 15.07

194.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.7 ฿2,818

$52.4 OMR 20.17

59.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$626 ฿21.1K

$154 OMR 59.2

306.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$445 ฿15.0K

$208 OMR 80.1

113.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,040 ฿68.7K

$397 OMR 153

414.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,492 ฿50.2K

$212 OMR 81.5

604.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,483 ฿117.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,577 ฿86.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$500 ฿16.8K

$4,373 OMR 1,683

-88.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

5.15

3.50%

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

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Last update for Ar-rustaq: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $626 in Phuket versus $154 in Ar-rustaq. 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 775% higher in Ar-rustaq, 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 $26.00 in Ar-rustaq. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $289 vs $220 – making Ar-rustaq 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 Ar-rustaq: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 29%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,875 per month in Phuket and $1,449 in Ar-rustaq. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ar-rustaq, 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 $966 in Ar-rustaq. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $706 per month in Phuket and $129 in Ar-rustaq. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ar-rustaq, where all-in costs run around $966, than in Phuket at $1,250. In Ar-rustaq it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ar-rustaq – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Ar-rustaq. 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.