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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,253 per month in Phuket vs $466 in Baghdadi, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,043 per month in Phuket vs $762 in Baghdadi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,833 per month in Phuket vs $1,059 in Baghdadi, rent included.

Phuket costs about 169% more than Baghdadi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Baghdadi are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 9% lower, Baghdadi 66% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.56 ฿150

$7.43 IQD 9,731

-38.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.62 ฿1,072

$13.69 IQD 17.9K

138.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.90 ฿293

Cappuccino

$2.80 ฿92.2

$1.87 IQD 2,448

49.73%

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

$0.88 ฿28.93

$0.42 IQD 545

109.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.08

$0.22 IQD 290

122.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.39 ฿78.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 ฿58.7

$0.99 IQD 1,295

80.81%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ฿47.38

$0.49 IQD 641

193.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 ฿52.1

$2.73 IQD 3,570

-42.12%

Eggs

$2.13 ฿69.9

$1.84 IQD 2,413

15.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.92 ฿655

$6.78 IQD 8,875

193.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.43 ฿113

$3.11 IQD 4,070

10.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.33 ฿372

$8.49 IQD 11.1K

33.45%

Apples (1kg)

$2.95 ฿96.9

$0.98 IQD 1,290

201.02%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 ฿56.6

$1.03 IQD 1,345

66.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.32 ฿76.4

$1.02 IQD 1,341

127.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.4

$0.26 IQD 342

700.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.47 ฿48.33

$0.24 IQD 312

512.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 ฿44.64

$0.63 IQD 825

115.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ฿36.12

$0.48 IQD 630

129.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ฿18.89

$0.57 IQD 750

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿140

$1.01 IQD 1,323

322.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.42 ฿605

$15.23 IQD 19.9K

20.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 ฿61.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 ฿96.0

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.22 ฿72.9

$0.29 IQD 379

665.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.90 ฿753

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 ฿99.6

$5.02 IQD 6,578

-39.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.07 ฿35.31

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.93 ฿129

$7.03 IQD 9,201

-44.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿49.04

$0.41 IQD 543

263.41%

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

$27.1K ฿891.7K

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

$27.5K ฿902.3K

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

$103 ฿3,379

$49.02 IQD 64.2K

109.71%

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

$10.99 ฿361

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.51 ฿576

$15.23 IQD 19.9K

14.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.5 ฿1,760

$60.0 IQD 78.6K

-10.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.20 ฿368

Cinema Ticket

$7.48 ฿246

$8.21 IQD 10.8K

-8.89%

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

$557 ฿18.3K

$78.9 IQD 103.4K

605.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.9K ฿389.6K

$4,948 IQD 6.5M

139.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.1 ฿2,106

$14.73 IQD 19.3K

334.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.07 ฿956

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.0 ฿3,154

$25.09 IQD 32.9K

282.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.3 ฿2,970

$40.09 IQD 52.5K

125.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$730 ฿24.0K

$148 IQD 194.2K

392.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$500 ฿16.4K

$50.9 IQD 66.7K

882.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,090 ฿68.7K

$453 IQD 593.1K

361.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,209 ฿39.7K

$149 IQD 195.1K

711.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,596 ฿118.2K

$1,516 IQD 2.0M

137.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,512 ฿82.6K

$492 IQD 643.7K

411.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$503 ฿16.5K

$506 IQD 663.2K

-0.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-44.30%

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

Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026

Last update for Baghdadi: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $730 in Phuket versus $148 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 Baghdadi, 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 $33.00 in Phuket versus $14.00 in Baghdadi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $273 vs $152 – 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 169%, 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 $1,880 per month in Phuket and $698 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Phuket and $14.00 in Baghdadi. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 80% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Baghdadi, where all-in costs run around $466, than in Phuket at $1,253. 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.