Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and El Jadida

For one person, living is cheaper in El Jadida: $613 a month against $1,278 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $8,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Phuket, Thailand
El Jadida, Morocco
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,278
/mo nomad
El Jadida
🇲🇦 Morocco
$613
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in El Jadida

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Phuket and in El Jadida actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,278 in Phuket versus $613 in El Jadida.

  • Phuket $1,278
  • El Jadida $613

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,216 in Phuket versus $921 in El Jadida.

  • Phuket $2,216
  • El Jadida $921

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,154 in Phuket versus $1,230 in El Jadida.

  • Phuket $3,154
  • El Jadida $1,230

Living in Phuket is roughly 109% more expensive than in El Jadida, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, El Jadida 55% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
El Jadida
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.47 ฿151
$2.74 MAD 26.97
63.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.41 ฿1,094
$20.55 MAD 202
57.71%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.81 ฿297
$5.97 MAD 58.8
47.57%
Cappuccino
$2.83 ฿95.5
$1.51 MAD 14.86
87.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 ฿29.43
$0.42 MAD 4.12
107.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.67
$0.30 MAD 2.98
63.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.56 ฿86.4
$2.62 MAD 25.79
-2.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 ฿124
$2.51 MAD 24.72
46.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
El Jadida
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 ฿56.0
$0.98 MAD 9.67
69.39%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 ฿49.35
$0.36 MAD 3.58
305.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.6
$1.96 MAD 19.33
-23.47%
Eggs
$2.09 ฿70.5
$1.88 MAD 18.55
11.17%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.07 ฿644
$6.26 MAD 61.7
204.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.30 ฿111
$4.02 MAD 39.62
-17.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.91 ฿368
$7.50 MAD 73.8
45.47%
Apples (1kg)
$2.93 ฿99.0
$1.51 MAD 14.86
94.04%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 ฿57.1
$1.41 MAD 13.84
19.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 ฿75.8
$0.65 MAD 6.37
246.15%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿70.1
$0.64 MAD 6.28
225.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.51 ฿51.0
$0.68 MAD 6.65
122.06%
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.56
$0.50 MAD 4.94
176.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ฿35.99
$0.30 MAD 2.92
256.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.52
$0.51 MAD 5.05
1.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20 ฿142
$3.76 MAD 37.03
11.70%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.79 ฿634
$3.97 MAD 39.06
373.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 ฿61.5
$2.48 MAD 24.40
-26.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 ฿95.9
$2.83 MAD 27.84
0.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
El Jadida
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.45 ฿49.03
$0.44 MAD 4.38
229.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$56.7 ฿1,913
$15.98 MAD 157
254.57%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿102
$1.04 MAD 10.20
190.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ฿34.36
$1.04 MAD 10.25
-1.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.69 ฿125
$4.96 MAD 48.80
-25.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ฿49.81
$1.48 MAD 14.61
-0.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K ฿904.3K
$33.7K MAD 332.1K
-20.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿901.3K
$29.7K MAD 293.0K
-10.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
El Jadida
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.4 ฿3,254
$28.15 MAD 277
242.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.26 ฿380
$9.90 MAD 97.5
13.74%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.85 ฿569
$30.58 MAD 301
-44.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
El Jadida
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.2 ฿2,270
$27.51 MAD 271
144.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.73 ฿362
$11.73 MAD 116
-8.53%
Cinema Ticket
$7.50 ฿253
$6.25 MAD 61.6
20.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
El Jadida
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$476 ฿16.1K
$111 MAD 1,094
328.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.3K ฿380.4K
$3,097 MAD 30.5K
263.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
El Jadida
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.4 ฿2,106
$26.67 MAD 263
133.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.41 ฿959
$35.40 MAD 349
-19.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.3 ฿3,184
$64.3 MAD 633
46.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.8 ฿2,898
$68.3 MAD 672
25.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
El Jadida
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$716 ฿24.2K
$203 MAD 1,998
252.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$491 ฿16.6K
$165 MAD 1,629
196.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,927 ฿65.1K
$361 MAD 3,558
433.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,431 ฿48.3K
$226 MAD 2,223
533.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,175 ฿141.0K
$1,544 MAD 15.2K
170.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,045 ฿102.8K
$774 MAD 7,626
293.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
El Jadida
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$502 ฿17.0K
$460 MAD 4,526
9.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
5.5
1.27%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Last update for El Jadida: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$491
El Jadida
$165 66.3% $325
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$266
El Jadida
$148 44.3% $118
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$124
El Jadida
$69 44.9% $56
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$122
El Jadida
$88 28.2% $34
Eating Out
Phuket
$122
El Jadida
$79 35.1% $43
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$82
El Jadida
$40 51.3% $42
Getting Around
Phuket
$71
El Jadida
$24 66% $47

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $716 in Phuket and $203 in El Jadida. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Phuket pays 9% 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: $32 in Phuket vs $21 in El Jadida for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $266 vs $148 per month, with El Jadida cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇲🇦 El Jadida
🕒 Local time
11:02 11:02 AM
04:02 4:02 AM
7 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
237,464
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

MAD, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 33.77 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.59 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Moroccan Dirham exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 9.85 MAD (1 MAD = 0.102 USD). 1 EUR = 10.96 MAD (100 MAD = 9.12 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket El Jadida 11,070 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • El Jadida

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 52% 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 9% 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: $716 in Phuket versus $203 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 80% 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 $21 versus $32 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $800/month in Phuket or in El Jadida?
At $613 in El Jadida versus $1,278 in Phuket, a $800 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 offers a better quality of life: Phuket or El Jadida?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
How safe is Phuket compared to El Jadida?
Safety-wise, Phuket and El Jadida are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find El Jadida gentler on the wallet – expenses run 52% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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