Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and El Jadida Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and El Jadida

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,250 in Phuket versus $664 in El Jadida.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,284 in Phuket versus $986 in El Jadida.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,317 in Phuket versus $1,307 in El Jadida.

Living in Phuket is roughly 88% more expensive than in El Jadida, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, El Jadida 50% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
El Jadida
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.55 ฿153
$3.85 MAD 35.91
18.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.18 ฿1,554
$19.90 MAD 186
132.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.84 ฿298
$6.75 MAD 62.9
30.96%
Cappuccino
$3.06 ฿103
$1.52 MAD 14.15
101.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 ฿24.42
$0.43 MAD 4.03
69.77%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40 ฿13.40
$0.32 MAD 2.98
25.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.43 ฿81.8
$2.76 MAD 25.78
-11.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78 ฿127
$3.24 MAD 30.23
16.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
El Jadida
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.26 ฿76.0
$0.88 MAD 8.21
156.82%
White Bread (500g)
$1.81 ฿60.9
$0.47 MAD 4.39
285.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.25 ฿75.8
$1.85 MAD 17.21
21.62%
Eggs
$2.25 ฿75.6
$1.86 MAD 17.38
20.97%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.51 ฿656
$5.07 MAD 47.25
284.81%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.65 ฿123
$3.84 MAD 35.83
-4.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.05 ฿439
$7.92 MAD 73.8
64.77%
Apples (1kg)
$3.23 ฿109
$1.58 MAD 14.74
104.43%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 ฿54.4
$1.27 MAD 11.83
27.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.38 ฿80.2
$0.76 MAD 7.04
213.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 ฿68.2
$0.80 MAD 7.46
153.75%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿51.6
$0.79 MAD 7.38
93.67%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.5
$0.49 MAD 4.61
206.12%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.98 ฿32.93
$0.33 MAD 3.10
196.97%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.40
$0.60 MAD 5.63
-13.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.44 ฿149
$4.03 MAD 37.58
10.17%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.32 ฿616
$4.42 MAD 41.17
314.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 ฿62.7
$2.41 MAD 22.52
-22.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 ฿90.2
$2.93 MAD 27.34
-8.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
El Jadida
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.41 ฿47.49
$0.50 MAD 4.69
182.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.70 ฿394
$25.83 MAD 241
-54.70%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.11 ฿105
$1.07 MAD 10.00
190.65%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.04 ฿35.08
$0.49 MAD 4.56
112.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.11 ฿475
$3.32 MAD 30.94
325.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 ฿44.13
$1.53 MAD 14.26
-14.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K ฿936.0K
$32.9K MAD 307.2K
-15.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K ฿1.1M
$30.0K MAD 280.0K
10.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
El Jadida
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ฿4,120
$31.73 MAD 296
285.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.59 ฿457
$10.91 MAD 102
24.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.70 ฿629
$33.07 MAD 308
-43.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
El Jadida
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.5 ฿2,035
$27.23 MAD 254
122.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.98 ฿572
$17.78 MAD 166
-4.50%
Cinema Ticket
$9.07 ฿305
$6.68 MAD 62.3
35.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
El Jadida
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$706 ฿23.8K
$89.2 MAD 832
691.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.8K ฿531.8K
$2,638 MAD 24.6K
499.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
El Jadida
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6 ฿1,970
$40.04 MAD 373
46.23%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.36 ฿1,190
$41.07 MAD 383
-13.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,885
$66.4 MAD 619
73.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.7 ฿2,818
$60.2 MAD 561
39.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
El Jadida
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$626 ฿21.1K
$231 MAD 2,155
170.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$445 ฿15.0K
$173 MAD 1,613
157.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,040 ฿68.7K
$390 MAD 3,633
423.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,492 ฿50.2K
$250 MAD 2,334
496.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,483 ฿117.2K
$1,597 MAD 14.9K
118.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,577 ฿86.7K
$822 MAD 7,661
213.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
El Jadida
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$500 ฿16.8K
$473 MAD 4,411
5.67%
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: July 12, 2026

Last update for El Jadida: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $626 in Phuket and $231 in El Jadida. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Phuket pays 6% 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: $46.00 in Phuket vs $20.00 in El Jadida for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $289 vs $148 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 88% 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 in El Jadida?
Average pay runs 6% higher in Phuket, 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 compared to El Jadida?
Rent for a central apartment: $626 in Phuket versus $231 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 in El Jadida?
Supermarket bills run roughly 96% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Phuket and in El Jadida?
Dining out is cheaper in El Jadida – a meal for two runs $20.00 versus $46.00 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 in El Jadida?
At $664 in El Jadida versus $1,250 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 $664 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 88% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Phuket vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities