Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Karbala Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Karbala

😐 Solo nomad: Phuket is 52.3% more expensive than Karbala without rent, and 80% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Phuket is 71.9% more expensive than Karbala without rent, and 145.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Karbala
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.68 ฿151
$5.01 IQD 6,556
-6.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.4 ฿1,502
$15.61 IQD 20.4K
197.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.65 ฿280
$5.34 IQD 6,988
61.99%
Cappuccino
$3.09 ฿100
$1.58 IQD 2,071
95.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 ฿23.53
$0.36 IQD 476
102.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿11.95
$0.3 IQD 395
23.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.39 ฿77.4
$1.93 IQD 2,521
23.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.62 ฿117
$2.83 IQD 3,706
27.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Karbala
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.24 ฿72.5
$1.19 IQD 1,562
88.24%
White Bread (500g)
$1.8 ฿58.2
$0.7 IQD 914
157.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.24 ฿72.3
$1.43 IQD 1,867
56.64%
Eggs
$2.23 ฿72.1
$1.75 IQD 2,290
27.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.31 ฿625
$5.2 IQD 6,811
271.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.77 ฿122
$4.85 IQD 6,348
-22.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.05 ฿422
$9.7 IQD 12.7K
34.54%
Apples (1kg)
$3.28 ฿106
$0.97 IQD 1,265
238.14%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 ฿52.6
$1.03 IQD 1,346
58.25%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.4 ฿77.7
$0.91 IQD 1,187
163.74%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.99 ฿64.3
$0.66 IQD 863
201.52%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿49.62
$0.63 IQD 821
142.86%
Onion (1kg)
$1.49 ฿48.11
$0.54 IQD 712
175.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 ฿32.87
$0.6 IQD 792
70.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48 ฿15.61
$0.6 IQD 783
-20.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.32 ฿140
$1.94 IQD 2,537
122.68%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.68 ฿702
$13.19 IQD 17.3K
64.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 ฿57.3
$1.02 IQD 1,334
73.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79 ฿90.4
$2.19 IQD 2,869
27.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Karbala
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.35 ฿43.74
$0.37 IQD 482
264.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.76 ฿380
$30.86 IQD 40.4K
-61.89%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.15 ฿102
$2.27 IQD 2,966
38.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1 ฿32.3
$1.5 IQD 1,958
-33.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.64 ฿442
$7.68 IQD 10K
77.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.3 ฿42.2
$0.48 IQD 634
170.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.4K ฿885.2K
$11.4K IQD 14.9M
140.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9K ฿1.1M
$14.5K IQD 19M
133.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Karbala
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$123 ฿3,970
$70.3 IQD 92K
74.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.93 ฿451
$24.7 IQD 32.3K
-43.60%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.24 ฿590
$48.37 IQD 63.3K
-62.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Karbala
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.8 ฿1,966
$22.76 IQD 29.8K
166.92%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.11 ฿554
$16.95 IQD 22.2K
0.94%
Cinema Ticket
$9.07 ฿294
$8.9 IQD 11.7K
1.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Karbala
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$694 ฿22.5K
$126 IQD 165.2K
449.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.9K ฿514.4K
$785 IQD 1M
1923.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Karbala
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.5 ฿1,861
$17.44 IQD 22.8K
229.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.51 ฿1,117
$14.06 IQD 18.4K
145.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,727
$30.32 IQD 39.7K
279.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.8 ฿2,743
$32.09 IQD 42K
164.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Karbala
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$611 ฿19.8K
$254 IQD 332K
140.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$442 ฿14.3K
$148 IQD 193.2K
199.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,014 ฿65.2K
$345 IQD 452.1K
483.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,460 ฿47.2K
$242 IQD 317.3K
502.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,244 ฿137.3K
$1,155 IQD 1.5M
267.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,886 ฿93.4K
$339 IQD 443.7K
751.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Karbala
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$697 ฿22.5K
$504 IQD 659.7K
38.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
5.67
-6.00%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 29, 2025

Last update for Karbala: October 29, 2025

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