😐A single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $687 in Az-zarqa', rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,255 per month in Phuket vs $1,066 in Az-zarqa', rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,279 per month in Phuket vs $1,445 in Az-zarqa', rent included.
😐Phuket costs about 79% more than Az-zarqa', driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Phuket and Az-zarqa' are more affordable than the global median – Phuket8% lower, Az-zarqa'49% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Az-zarqa'
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63฿151
$4.33JOD 3.07
6.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84฿1,532
$25.20JOD 17.87
85.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84฿289
$5.68JOD 4.03
55.63%
Cappuccino
$3.00฿98.0
$0.78JOD 0.56
284.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74฿24.25
$0.43JOD 0.30
72.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿11.95
$0.33JOD 0.24
12.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44฿79.8
$4.30JOD 3.05
-43.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61฿118
$6.97JOD 4.94
-48.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Az-zarqa'
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26฿73.9
$1.37JOD 0.97
64.96%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84฿60.1
$0.52JOD 0.37
253.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24฿73.4
$1.70JOD 1.20
31.76%
Eggs
$2.32฿75.7
$1.81JOD 1.29
28.18%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67฿643
$6.53JOD 4.63
201.23%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65฿119
$4.28JOD 3.04
-14.72%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10฿428
$9.42JOD 6.68
39.07%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39฿111
$1.57JOD 1.11
115.92%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64฿53.7
$1.39JOD 0.99
17.99%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿79.0
$1.04JOD 0.73
131.73%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03฿66.4
$0.73JOD 0.52
178.08%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56฿50.9
$0.74JOD 0.53
110.81%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50฿48.94
$0.68JOD 0.48
120.59%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02฿33.50
$0.52JOD 0.37
96.15%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49฿16.00
$0.50JOD 0.36
-2.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45฿145
$3.43JOD 2.43
29.74%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88฿617
$7.02JOD 4.98
168.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿58.1
$4.32JOD 3.06
-58.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75฿90.1
$4.17JOD 2.95
-34.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Az-zarqa'
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40฿45.81
$0.61JOD 0.43
129.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48฿376
$21.01JOD 14.89
-45.36%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12฿102
$0.68JOD 0.48
358.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00฿32.67
$0.91JOD 0.64
9.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09฿461
$4.86JOD 3.44
189.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35฿44.19
$1.37JOD 0.97
-1.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K฿888.9K
$27.1KJOD 19.2K
0.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K฿1.1M
$27.6KJOD 19.6K
19.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Az-zarqa'
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125฿4,087
$98.5JOD 69.9
26.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57฿444
$13.16JOD 9.33
3.12%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52฿606
$23.40JOD 16.59
-20.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Az-zarqa'
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5฿2,010
$29.58JOD 20.97
107.84%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84฿551
$9.26JOD 6.56
81.86%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19฿300
$9.58JOD 6.79
-4.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Az-zarqa'
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698฿22.8K
$81.9JOD 58.1
752.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6K฿509.9K
$2,834JOD 2,010
450.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Az-zarqa'
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8฿1,889
$22.03JOD 15.62
162.19%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24฿1,152
$25.96JOD 18.41
35.75%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113฿3,699
$44.14JOD 31.30
156.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4฿2,825
$57.1JOD 40.49
51.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Az-zarqa'
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616฿20.1K
$164JOD 116
276.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446฿14.6K
$123JOD 87.3
262.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048฿67.0K
$273JOD 193
650.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492฿48.8K
$234JOD 166
538.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779฿123.6K
$563JOD 399
571.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649฿86.6K
$357JOD 253
641.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Az-zarqa'
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524฿17.1K
$509JOD 361
2.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
7.27
-26.69%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Az-zarqa': April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $616 in Phuket versus $164 in Az-zarqa'. 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 3% higher in Phuket, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket versus $25.00 in Az-zarqa'. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $182 – making Az-zarqa' 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 Az-zarqa': Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Phuket and Az-zarqa' compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,232 in Phuket, $687 in Az-zarqa' – roughly 79% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Phuket compared to Az-zarqa'?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $1,031 in Az-zarqa'. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Phuket and Az-zarqa'?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Az-zarqa', especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do commuting costs compare in Phuket and Az-zarqa'?
Public transport costs about 83% less in Az-zarqa'. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Phuket and Az-zarqa'?
Kindergarten costs $698 per month in Phuket and $81.9 in Az-zarqa'. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Az-zarqa', where all-in costs run around $687, than in Phuket at $1,232. In Az-zarqa' it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Az-zarqa'?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $687 in Az-zarqa' to $1,232 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Phuket or Az-zarqa' safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Phuket and Az-zarqa'?
If budget matters most, go with Az-zarqa'. 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.