😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $647 in El Jadida.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $978 in El Jadida.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $1,310 in El Jadida.
😐Living in Phuket is roughly 96% more expensive than El Jadida, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket6% lower, El Jadida52% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
El Jadida
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70฿153
$3.78MAD 34.77
24.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37฿1,482
$19.61MAD 180
131.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.43฿275
$6.69MAD 61.5
26.01%
Cappuccino
$2.93฿95.6
$1.52MAD 13.95
92.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.40
$0.46MAD 4.24
50.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿11.99
$0.32MAD 2.93
15.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.41฿78.6
$2.83MAD 26.03
-14.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿122
$3.21MAD 29.48
15.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
El Jadida
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.23฿72.9
$0.84MAD 7.75
165.48%
White Bread(500g)
$1.83฿59.8
$0.44MAD 4.02
315.91%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.17฿70.8
$1.76MAD 16.21
23.30%
Eggs
$2.21฿72.3
$1.78MAD 16.38
24.16%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.74฿645
$4.88MAD 44.88
304.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63฿119
$3.87MAD 35.53
-6.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.53฿442
$8.18MAD 75.2
65.40%
Apples(1kg)
$3.28฿107
$1.56MAD 14.36
110.26%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61฿52.6
$1.28MAD 11.76
25.78%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿78.6
$0.72MAD 6.58
234.72%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿68.1
$0.78MAD 7.17
166.67%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿49.93
$0.74MAD 6.79
106.76%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48฿48.36
$0.50MAD 4.61
196.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99฿32.29
$0.33MAD 3.04
200.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51฿16.67
$0.57MAD 5.20
-10.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41฿144
$4.18MAD 38.45
5.50%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.38฿633
$4.47MAD 41.04
333.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿58.1
$2.38MAD 21.83
-25.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71฿88.6
$2.93MAD 26.96
-7.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
El Jadida
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.37฿44.79
$0.51MAD 4.69
168.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.39฿372
$26.35MAD 242
-56.77%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.02฿98.6
$1.08MAD 9.91
179.63%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.99฿32.48
$0.48MAD 4.43
106.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.10฿461
$3.33MAD 30.60
323.42%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36฿44.51
$1.51MAD 13.91
-9.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K฿921.1K
$32.5KMAD 298.7K
-13.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K฿1.1M
$30.1KMAD 276.3K
9.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
El Jadida
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿3,975
$32.07MAD 295
279.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57฿443
$11.03MAD 101
23.03%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31฿598
$32.95MAD 303
-44.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
El Jadida
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.2฿1,967
$27.12MAD 249
122.05%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14฿560
$17.45MAD 160
-1.78%
Cinema Ticket
$8.69฿284
$6.59MAD 60.6
31.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
El Jadida
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$693฿22.6K
$88.7MAD 815
682.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.7K฿512.3K
$2,576MAD 23.7K
508.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
El Jadida
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5฿1,944
$40.67MAD 374
46.37%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77฿1,136
$40.56MAD 373
-14.28%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,743
$68.4MAD 628
67.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3฿2,720
$61.3MAD 563
35.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
El Jadida
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$613฿20.0K
$223MAD 2,052
174.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$437฿14.3K
$173MAD 1,592
152.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,094฿68.4K
$380MAD 3,493
451.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,509฿49.3K
$242MAD 2,225
523.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,749฿122.5K
$1,660MAD 15.3K
125.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,616฿85.4K
$840MAD 7,721
211.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
El Jadida
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$508฿16.6K
$486MAD 4,463
4.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
5
6.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026
Last update for El Jadida: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $613 in Phuket and $223 in El Jadida. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Phuket pays 5% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $45.00 in Phuket vs $20.00 in El Jadida for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $146 per month, with El Jadida cheaper across the board.
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 El Jadida: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or El Jadida?
El Jadida wins on cost – living expenses run 96% lower than in Phuket. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making El Jadida the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Phuket or El Jadida?
Phuket pays 5% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Phuket vs El Jadida?
Rent for a central apartment: $613 in Phuket versus $223 in El Jadida. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Phuket or El Jadida?
Supermarket bills run roughly 101% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Phuket vs El Jadida?
Dining out is cheaper in El Jadida – a meal for two runs $20.00 versus $45.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Phuket or El Jadida?
At $647 in El Jadida versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in El Jadida but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes El Jadida the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or El Jadida?
Both work as nomad bases, but El Jadida delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $647 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes El Jadida hard to pass up.
How safe is Phuket compared to El Jadida?
Safety-wise, Phuket and El Jadida are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find El Jadida gentler on the wallet – expenses run 96% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.