Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and El Oued

For one person, living is cheaper in El Oued: $524 a month against $1,294 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $9,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Phuket, Thailand
El Oued, Algeria
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,294
/mo nomad
El Oued
🇩🇿 Algeria
$524
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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 Oued actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,294 in Phuket versus $524 in El Oued.

  • Phuket $1,294
  • El Oued $524

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,204 in Phuket versus $859 in El Oued.

  • Phuket $2,204
  • El Oued $859

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,115 in Phuket versus $1,194 in El Oued.

  • Phuket $3,115
  • El Oued $1,194

Living in Phuket is roughly 147% more expensive than in El Oued, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 4% lower, El Oued 61% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
El Oued
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.39 ฿148
$2.85 DZD 386
54.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.31 ฿1,090
$19.88 DZD 2,691
62.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.70 ฿294
$4.23 DZD 572
105.67%
Cappuccino
$2.72 ฿91.9
$1.26 DZD 170
115.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93 ฿31.39
$1.13 DZD 153
-17.70%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50 ฿16.85
$0.51 DZD 69.6
-1.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.53 ฿85.4
$1.53 DZD 206
65.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 ฿122
$2.23 DZD 302
62.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
El Oued
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 ฿58.7
$0.88 DZD 120
97.73%
White Bread (500g)
$1.45 ฿48.95
$0.16 DZD 21.62
806.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.7
$1.10 DZD 149
36.36%
Eggs
$2.17 ฿73.3
$1.23 DZD 167
76.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.09 ฿644
$7.81 DZD 1,057
144.43%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.40 ฿115
$3.91 DZD 529
-13.04%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.90 ฿368
$14.23 DZD 1,927
-23.40%
Apples (1kg)
$2.94 ฿99.2
$2.02 DZD 274
45.54%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 ฿57.1
$2.82 DZD 382
-40.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.19 ฿74.0
$1.06 DZD 143
106.60%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.12 ฿71.7
$0.91 DZD 123
132.97%
Potato (1kg)
$1.46 ฿49.21
$0.63 DZD 84.6
131.75%
Onion (1kg)
$1.37 ฿46.15
$0.45 DZD 61.0
204.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 ฿36.30
$0.76 DZD 103
42.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿18.41
$0.25 DZD 34.17
120.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.43 ฿149
$2.70 DZD 366
64.07%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.25 ฿616
$6.21 DZD 840
193.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 ฿59.8
$1.10 DZD 149
60.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 ฿97.2
$1.90 DZD 257
51.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
El Oued
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.45 ฿48.84
$0.23 DZD 30.82
530.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.9 ฿1,852
$7.02 DZD 950
681.91%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.51 ฿51.0
$0.57 DZD 77.7
164.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.78 ฿26.18
$0.41 DZD 55.1
90.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.84 ฿130
$5.31 DZD 719
-27.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 ฿50.2
$0.32 DZD 43.95
365.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.9K ฿907.0K
$31.7K DZD 4.3M
-15.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K ฿888.9K
$34.7K DZD 4.7M
-24.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
El Oued
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$97.8 ฿3,300
$36.65 DZD 4,961
166.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.29 ฿381
$9.37 DZD 1,269
20.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.19 ฿580
$11.74 DZD 1,589
46.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
El Oued
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.3 ฿2,305
$22.11 DZD 2,992
209.05%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.92 ฿368
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.43 ฿251
$4.48 DZD 606
65.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
El Oued
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$530 ฿17.9K
$336 DZD 45.4K
57.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.8K ฿633.7K
$10.3K DZD 1.4M
82.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
El Oued
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.7 ฿2,081
$32.04 DZD 4,337
92.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.25 ฿953
$34.41 DZD 4,658
-17.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.0 ฿3,239
$65.8 DZD 8,906
45.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.8 ฿2,929
$73.4 DZD 9,939
18.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
El Oued
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$721 ฿24.3K
$142 DZD 19.3K
406.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$509 ฿17.2K
$90.6 DZD 12.3K
461.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,950 ฿65.8K
$272 DZD 36.8K
616.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,397 ฿47.1K
$197 DZD 26.7K
608.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,192 ฿141.4K
$970 DZD 131.3K
332.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,298 ฿111.3K
$918 DZD 124.2K
259.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
El Oued
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$492 ฿16.6K
$259 DZD 35.1K
89.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
5.3
5.09%

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

Last update for Phuket: November 2, 2026

Last update for El Oued: November 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$509
El Oued
$91 82.2% $418
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$267
El Oued
$172 35.6% $95
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$126
El Oued
$58 54.3% $69
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$123
El Oued
$93 24.6% $30
Eating Out
Phuket
$120
El Oued
$69 42.1% $50
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$83
El Oued
$31 62.7% $52
Getting Around
Phuket
$66
El Oued
$11 84% $56

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $721 in Phuket and $142 in El Oued. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Phuket pays 90% 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 $20 in El Oued for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $172 per month, with El Oued cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇩🇿 El Oued
🕒 Local time
01:42 1:42 AM
19:42 7:42 PM
6 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
134,699
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

DZD, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 33.74 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.77 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

Algerian Dinar exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 135 DZD (1,000 DZD = 7.39 USD). 1 EUR = 152 DZD (1,000 DZD = 6.6 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket El Oued 9,670 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • El Oued

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 Oued: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Phuket and in El Oued?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $1,294 in Phuket and $524 in El Oued, so El Oued is about 60% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Phuket or El Oued?
Average pay runs 90% 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 do apartment prices compare in Phuket and in El Oued?
Rent for a central apartment: $721 in Phuket versus $142 in El Oued. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Phuket and El Oued?
Childcare runs $530 in Phuket versus $336 in El Oued. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 55% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,200 per month?
At $524 in El Oued versus $1,294 in Phuket, a $1,200 budget is realistic in El Oued but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes El Oued the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and El Oued?
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.
Is Phuket or El Oued safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Phuket and El Oued are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
Where should expats move: Phuket or El Oued?
Expats usually find El Oued gentler on the wallet – expenses run 60% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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