Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Baghdadi Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Baghdadi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $758 in Baghdadi, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,297 per month in Phuket vs $1,141 in Baghdadi, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,329 per month in Phuket vs $1,525 in Baghdadi, rent included.

Phuket costs about 67% more than Baghdadi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Baghdadi are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Baghdadi 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.70 ฿154

$5.11 IQD 6,694

-8.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.37 ฿1,483

$17.16 IQD 22.5K

164.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.43 ฿276

$6.94 IQD 9,091

21.47%

Cappuccino

$2.93 ฿95.7

$1.70 IQD 2,220

72.35%

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

$0.69 ฿22.42

$0.43 IQD 561

60.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿12.00

$0.24 IQD 311

54.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿78.7

$2.92 IQD 3,825

-17.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿122

$2.84 IQD 3,715

30.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 ฿73.0

$1.10 IQD 1,441

102.73%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 ฿59.9

$0.66 IQD 868

177.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ฿70.9

$2.24 IQD 2,931

-3.13%

Eggs

$2.21 ฿72.4

$1.77 IQD 2,311

24.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.74 ฿645

$5.85 IQD 7,658

237.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿119

$4.41 IQD 5,772

-17.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.53 ฿442

$9.04 IQD 11.8K

49.67%

Apples (1kg)

$3.28 ฿107

$0.98 IQD 1,289

234.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ฿52.7

$0.97 IQD 1,274

65.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.7

$1.03 IQD 1,346

133.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.1

$0.54 IQD 701

285.19%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.97

$0.57 IQD 750

168.42%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.41

$0.68 IQD 889

117.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ฿32.32

$0.70 IQD 911

41.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.68

$0.49 IQD 640

4.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 ฿144

$1.79 IQD 2,350

146.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.38 ฿634

$15.18 IQD 19.9K

27.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

$1.77 IQD 2,321

0.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ฿88.7

$2.15 IQD 2,817

26.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.37 ฿44.83

$0.40 IQD 518

242.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.39 ฿372

$31.62 IQD 41.4K

-63.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿98.7

$2.26 IQD 2,954

33.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 ฿32.51

$1.54 IQD 2,012

-35.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.10 ฿461

$6.07 IQD 7,948

132.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 ฿44.55

$0.53 IQD 697

156.60%

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

$28.2K ฿921.9K

$19.4K IQD 25.3M

45.69%

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

$32.9K ฿1.1M

$19.6K IQD 25.6M

68.03%

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

$122 ฿3,978

$76.7 IQD 100.4K

58.67%

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

$13.57 ฿444

$17.40 IQD 22.8K

-22.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.31 ฿599

$34.99 IQD 45.8K

-47.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.2 ฿1,969

$36.93 IQD 48.4K

63.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 ฿560

$16.94 IQD 22.2K

1.18%

Cinema Ticket

$8.69 ฿284

$7.63 IQD 9,988

13.89%

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

$693 ฿22.7K

$151 IQD 198.0K

358.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K ฿512.8K

$3,247 IQD 4.3M

383.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,946

$26.88 IQD 35.2K

121.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.77 ฿1,137

$25.58 IQD 33.5K

35.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,746

$60.7 IQD 79.5K

88.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.3 ฿2,723

$41.60 IQD 54.5K

100.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$613 ฿20.0K

$241 IQD 315.9K

154.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$437 ฿14.3K

$178 IQD 232.4K

146.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,094 ฿68.5K

$582 IQD 762.5K

259.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,509 ฿49.3K

$345 IQD 451.8K

337.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,749 ฿122.6K

$1,501 IQD 2.0M

149.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,616 ฿85.5K

$492 IQD 644.1K

431.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.6K

$506 IQD 662.1K

0.50%

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Baghdadi: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $613 in Phuket versus $241 in Baghdadi. 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 0% 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 $45.00 in Phuket versus $17.00 in Baghdadi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $173 – making Baghdadi 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 Baghdadi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 67%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,898 per month in Phuket and $1,137 in Baghdadi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Baghdadi, 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 $1,265 in Phuket and $758 in Baghdadi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 178% less in Baghdadi. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Baghdadi, where all-in costs run around $758, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Baghdadi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Baghdadi – 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 Baghdadi. 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.