Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Essaouira Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Essaouira

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,250 per month in Phuket vs $837 in Essaouira, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,284 per month in Phuket vs $1,254 in Essaouira, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,317 per month in Phuket vs $1,671 in Essaouira, rent included.

Phuket costs about 49% more than Essaouira, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Essaouira are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Essaouira 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.55 ฿153

$4.36 MAD 40.68

4.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.18 ฿1,554

$25.14 MAD 234

83.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.84 ฿298

$4.97 MAD 46.37

77.87%

Cappuccino

$3.06 ฿103

$1.76 MAD 16.37

73.86%

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

$0.73 ฿24.42

$0.46 MAD 4.26

58.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ฿13.40

$0.26 MAD 2.41

53.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 ฿81.8

$3.79 MAD 35.36

-35.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.78 ฿127

$3.72 MAD 34.69

1.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ฿76.0

$0.84 MAD 7.87

169.05%

White Bread (500g)

$1.81 ฿60.9

$0.49 MAD 4.57

269.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 ฿75.8

$1.65 MAD 15.43

36.36%

Eggs

$2.25 ฿75.6

$1.81 MAD 16.90

24.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.51 ฿656

$9.24 MAD 86.1

111.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.65 ฿123

$5.29 MAD 49.31

-31.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.05 ฿439

$11.42 MAD 107

14.27%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ฿109

$1.42 MAD 13.21

127.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.4

$1.22 MAD 11.42

32.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.38 ฿80.2

$0.72 MAD 6.69

230.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 ฿68.2

$0.88 MAD 8.22

130.68%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿51.6

$0.70 MAD 6.52

118.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.5

$0.91 MAD 8.48

64.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ฿32.93

$0.39 MAD 3.66

151.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.40

$0.53 MAD 4.97

-1.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.44 ฿149

$4.15 MAD 38.66

6.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.32 ฿616

$6.45 MAD 60.1

184.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.7

$1.93 MAD 18.03

-3.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 ฿90.2

$2.20 MAD 20.52

21.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.41 ฿47.49

$0.87 MAD 8.11

62.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.70 ฿394

$16.46 MAD 154

-28.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.11 ฿105

$0.63 MAD 5.92

393.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿35.08

$0.48 MAD 4.43

116.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.11 ฿475

$8.98 MAD 83.8

57.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 ฿44.13

$1.58 MAD 14.70

-17.09%

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

$27.8K ฿936.0K

$37.2K MAD 346.5K

-25.15%

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

$33.2K ฿1.1M

$21.1K MAD 196.4K

57.73%

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

$122 ฿4,120

$27.86 MAD 260

339.48%

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

$13.59 ฿457

$13.90 MAD 130

-2.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.70 ฿629

$27.94 MAD 261

-33.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.5 ฿2,035

$21.61 MAD 202

179.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.98 ฿572

$22.76 MAD 212

-25.40%

Cinema Ticket

$9.07 ฿305

$6.65 MAD 62.0

36.39%

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

$706 ฿23.8K

$75.3 MAD 702

838.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K ฿531.8K

$1,956 MAD 18.2K

707.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 ฿1,970

$30.88 MAD 288

89.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.36 ฿1,190

$39.68 MAD 370

-10.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,885

$49.28 MAD 460

134.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.7 ฿2,818

$44.34 MAD 413

88.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$626 ฿21.1K

$388 MAD 3,617

61.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$445 ฿15.0K

$346 MAD 3,229

28.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,040 ฿68.7K

$813 MAD 7,584

150.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,492 ฿50.2K

$559 MAD 5,209

167.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,483 ฿117.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,577 ฿86.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$500 ฿16.8K

$268 MAD 2,498

86.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

5.5

-3.09%

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

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Last update for Essaouira: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $626 in Phuket versus $388 in Essaouira. 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 87% higher in Phuket, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Phuket versus $25.00 in Essaouira. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $289 vs $176 – making Essaouira 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 Essaouira: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 49%, 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 $1,875 per month in Phuket and $1,256 in Essaouira. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Essaouira, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 64% 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 mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Phuket and $25.00 in Essaouira. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Essaouira, where all-in costs run around $837, than in Phuket at $1,250. In Essaouira it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Essaouira – 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 Essaouira. 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.