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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,250 per month in Phuket vs $764 in Baghdadi, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,284 per month in Phuket vs $1,147 in Baghdadi, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,317 per month in Phuket vs $1,530 in Baghdadi, rent included.

Phuket costs about 64% 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

$4.55 ฿153

$4.94 IQD 6,465

-7.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.18 ฿1,554

$16.77 IQD 22.0K

175.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.84 ฿298

$7.01 IQD 9,177

26.11%

Cappuccino

$3.06 ฿103

$1.76 IQD 2,309

73.86%

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

$0.73 ฿24.42

$0.43 IQD 559

69.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ฿13.40

$0.24 IQD 312

66.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 ฿81.8

$2.84 IQD 3,718

-14.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.78 ฿127

$2.81 IQD 3,686

34.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ฿76.0

$1.15 IQD 1,504

96.52%

White Bread (500g)

$1.81 ฿60.9

$0.67 IQD 882

170.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 ฿75.8

$2.27 IQD 2,979

-0.88%

Eggs

$2.25 ฿75.6

$1.69 IQD 2,213

33.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.51 ฿656

$5.84 IQD 7,652

234.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.65 ฿123

$4.38 IQD 5,740

-16.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.05 ฿439

$9.29 IQD 12.2K

40.47%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ฿109

$1.02 IQD 1,341

216.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.4

$1.02 IQD 1,333

58.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.38 ฿80.2

$1.03 IQD 1,345

131.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 ฿68.2

$0.56 IQD 739

262.50%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿51.6

$0.53 IQD 695

188.68%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.5

$0.63 IQD 829

138.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ฿32.93

$0.68 IQD 895

44.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.40

$0.51 IQD 668

1.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.44 ฿149

$1.70 IQD 2,229

161.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.32 ฿616

$15.16 IQD 19.9K

20.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.7

$1.79 IQD 2,348

3.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 ฿90.2

$2.14 IQD 2,808

25.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.41 ฿47.49

$0.36 IQD 473

291.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.70 ฿394

$31.53 IQD 41.3K

-62.89%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.11 ฿105

$2.26 IQD 2,955

37.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿35.08

$1.54 IQD 2,013

-32.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.11 ฿475

$6.08 IQD 7,956

132.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 ฿44.13

$0.57 IQD 741

129.82%

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

$27.8K ฿936.0K

$18.8K IQD 24.7M

47.63%

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

$33.2K ฿1.1M

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

65.40%

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

$122 ฿4,120

$78.4 IQD 102.6K

56.21%

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

$13.59 ฿457

$17.76 IQD 23.3K

-23.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.70 ฿629

$35.08 IQD 45.9K

-46.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.5 ฿2,035

$36.63 IQD 48.0K

65.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.98 ฿572

$16.91 IQD 22.1K

0.41%

Cinema Ticket

$9.07 ฿305

$7.87 IQD 10.3K

15.25%

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

$706 ฿23.8K

$150 IQD 196.1K

371.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K ฿531.8K

$3,290 IQD 4.3M

380.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 ฿1,970

$27.48 IQD 36.0K

113.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.36 ฿1,190

$25.73 IQD 33.7K

37.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,885

$60.7 IQD 79.5K

90.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.7 ฿2,818

$40.50 IQD 53.0K

106.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$626 ฿21.1K

$241 IQD 315.9K

159.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$445 ฿15.0K

$180 IQD 236.2K

146.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,040 ฿68.7K

$584 IQD 765.4K

249.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,492 ฿50.2K

$342 IQD 448.4K

335.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,483 ฿117.2K

$1,475 IQD 1.9M

136.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,577 ฿86.7K

$498 IQD 652.6K

417.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$500 ฿16.8K

$497 IQD 650.7K

0.60%

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 Baghdadi: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $626 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 1% 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 $46.00 in Phuket versus $17.00 in Baghdadi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $289 vs $175 – 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 64%, 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 $1,875 per month in Phuket and $1,146 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 $1,250 in Phuket and $764 in Baghdadi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 169% 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 $764, than in Phuket at $1,250. 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.