Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Az-zarqa' Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Az-zarqa'

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,261 per month in Phuket vs $713 in Az-zarqa', rent included.

A couple spends around $2,078 per month in Phuket vs $1,077 in Az-zarqa', rent included.

A family of three spends $2,896 per month in Phuket vs $1,441 in Az-zarqa', rent included.

Phuket costs about 77% more than Az-zarqa', driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Az-zarqa' are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 8% lower, Az-zarqa' 48% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Az-zarqa'
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.43 ฿145
$4.25 JOD 3.01
4.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.07 ฿1,151
$24.91 JOD 17.64
40.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.96 ฿294
$5.71 JOD 4.04
56.92%
Cappuccino
$3.00 ฿98.4
$0.84 JOD 0.60
257.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 ฿25.33
$0.43 JOD 0.31
79.07%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 ฿15.44
$0.35 JOD 0.25
34.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.40 ฿78.6
$4.11 JOD 2.91
-41.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75 ฿123
$11.12 JOD 7.87
-66.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Az-zarqa'
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.82 ฿59.8
$1.40 JOD 0.99
30.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.42 ฿46.65
$0.41 JOD 0.29
246.34%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.55 ฿50.8
$1.57 JOD 1.11
-1.27%
Eggs
$2.13 ฿69.9
$1.87 JOD 1.32
13.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.76 ฿648
$5.03 JOD 3.56
292.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.48 ฿114
$5.30 JOD 3.75
-34.34%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.09 ฿364
$8.57 JOD 6.07
29.40%
Apples (1kg)
$2.91 ฿95.5
$1.53 JOD 1.08
90.20%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 ฿54.6
$1.32 JOD 0.94
25.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.27 ฿74.5
$1.19 JOD 0.84
90.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.10 ฿68.8
$0.59 JOD 0.42
255.93%
Potato (1kg)
$1.47 ฿48.24
$0.79 JOD 0.56
86.08%
Onion (1kg)
$1.41 ฿46.29
$0.80 JOD 0.56
76.25%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.09 ฿35.78
$0.62 JOD 0.44
75.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 ฿17.58
$0.51 JOD 0.36
5.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.48 ฿147
$3.71 JOD 2.63
20.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.72 ฿614
$6.91 JOD 4.89
170.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84 ฿60.4
$4.26 JOD 3.02
-56.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 ฿96.7
$4.33 JOD 3.06
-31.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Az-zarqa'
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.26 ฿74.1
$0.64 JOD 0.46
253.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$23.07 ฿757
$21.00 JOD 14.87
9.86%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.04 ฿99.9
$0.63 JOD 0.45
382.54%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.09 ฿35.82
$1.44 JOD 1.02
-24.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.82 ฿125
$5.07 JOD 3.59
-24.65%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 ฿48.79
$1.44 JOD 1.02
3.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.4K ฿900.3K
$17.0K JOD 12.0K
61.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5K ฿902.7K
$22.5K JOD 16.0K
22.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Az-zarqa'
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$102 ฿3,340
$129 JOD 91.2
-20.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.28 ฿370
$12.90 JOD 9.13
-12.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.75 ฿582
$27.92 JOD 19.76
-36.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Az-zarqa'
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.2 ฿1,777
$28.32 JOD 20.05
91.28%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.96 ฿360
$14.32 JOD 10.14
-23.46%
Cinema Ticket
$7.85 ฿258
$9.78 JOD 6.92
-19.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Az-zarqa'
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$577 ฿18.9K
$214 JOD 151
170.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K ฿381.6K
$4,176 JOD 2,957
178.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Az-zarqa'
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.4 ฿2,144
$20.92 JOD 14.81
212.43%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.89 ฿948
$13.87 JOD 9.82
108.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.1 ฿3,250
$44.60 JOD 31.58
122.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.3 ฿2,961
$39.38 JOD 27.88
129.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Az-zarqa'
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$756 ฿24.8K
$163 JOD 115
364.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$487 ฿16.0K
$123 JOD 86.9
297.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,085 ฿68.4K
$312 JOD 221
567.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,207 ฿39.6K
$247 JOD 175
388.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,591 ฿117.8K
$561 JOD 397
539.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,610 ฿85.6K
$359 JOD 254
627.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Az-zarqa'
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$502 ฿16.5K
$509 JOD 360
-1.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
6.81
-18.21%

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

Last update for Phuket: August 18, 2026

Last update for Az-zarqa': August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $756 in Phuket versus $163 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 1% higher in Az-zarqa', 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 $35.00 in Phuket versus $25.00 in Az-zarqa'. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $272 vs $179 – 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 in Az-zarqa' compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,261 in Phuket, $713 in Az-zarqa' – roughly 77% 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 $1,891 per month in Phuket and $1,069 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 in Az-zarqa'?
Public transport costs about 10% 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 $577 per month in Phuket and $214 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 $713, than in Phuket at $1,261. 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 $713 in Az-zarqa' to $1,261 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.

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