Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and KerakCost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Kerak
Monthly Cost of Living
😐A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $883 in Kerak, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,297 per month in Phuket vs $1,360 in Kerak, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,329 per month in Phuket vs $1,837 in Kerak, rent included.
😐Phuket costs about 43% more than Kerak, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Phuket and Kerak are more affordable than the global median – Phuket6% lower, Kerak34% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Kerak
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70฿153
$2.87JOD 2.03
63.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37฿1,482
$49.03JOD 34.70
-7.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.43฿275
$5.49JOD 3.89
53.55%
Cappuccino
$2.93฿95.6
$0.73JOD 0.52
301.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.40
$0.51JOD 0.36
35.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿11.99
$0.37JOD 0.26
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.41฿78.6
$5.47JOD 3.87
-55.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿122
$6.93JOD 4.90
-46.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Kerak
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.23฿72.9
$1.44JOD 1.02
54.86%
White Bread(500g)
$1.83฿59.8
$0.34JOD 0.24
438.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.17฿70.8
$0.84JOD 0.59
158.33%
Eggs
$2.21฿72.3
$1.72JOD 1.22
28.49%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.74฿645
$6.59JOD 4.67
199.54%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63฿119
$4.20JOD 2.97
-13.57%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.53฿442
$11.66JOD 8.25
16.04%
Apples(1kg)
$3.28฿107
$1.39JOD 0.98
135.97%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61฿52.6
$1.43JOD 1.01
12.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿78.6
$1.40JOD 0.99
72.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿68.1
$0.43JOD 0.31
383.72%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿49.93
$0.87JOD 0.62
75.86%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48฿48.36
$0.72JOD 0.51
105.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99฿32.29
$0.62JOD 0.44
59.68%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51฿16.67
$0.60JOD 0.42
-15.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41฿144
$3.45JOD 2.44
27.83%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.38฿633
$21.05JOD 14.90
-7.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿58.1
$4.62JOD 3.27
-61.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71฿88.6
$5.44JOD 3.85
-50.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Kerak
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.37฿44.79
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.39฿372
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.02฿98.6
$0.74JOD 0.53
308.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.99฿32.48
$1.39JOD 0.98
-28.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.10฿461
$7.01JOD 4.96
101.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36฿44.51
$1.39JOD 0.98
-2.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K฿921.1K
$27.5KJOD 19.4K
2.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K฿1.1M
$31.8KJOD 22.5K
3.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Kerak
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿3,975
$105JOD 74.0
16.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57฿443
$17.02JOD 12.04
-20.27%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31฿598
$28.66JOD 20.28
-36.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Kerak
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.2฿1,967
$43.00JOD 30.43
40.05%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14฿560
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.69฿284
$11.19JOD 7.92
-22.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Kerak
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$693฿22.6K
$139JOD 98.7
397.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.7K฿512.3K
$3,405JOD 2,410
360.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Kerak
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5฿1,944
$61.0JOD 43.18
-2.43%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77฿1,136
$57.2JOD 40.47
-39.19%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,743
$112JOD 79.6
1.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3฿2,720
$81.7JOD 57.9
1.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Kerak
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$613฿20.0K
$180JOD 127
240.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$437฿14.3K
$224JOD 159
94.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,094฿68.4K
$277JOD 196
656.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,509฿49.3K
$326JOD 231
363.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,749฿122.5K
$211JOD 149
1677.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,616฿85.4K
$282JOD 200
826.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Kerak
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$508฿16.6K
$513JOD 363
-1.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
7.27
-26.69%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026
Last update for Kerak: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $613 in Phuket versus $180 in Kerak. 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 1% higher in Kerak, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Phuket versus $49.00 in Kerak. Groceries tell a different story – $293 in Phuket vs $217 in Kerak – so Kerak wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Kerak: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kerak cheaper than Phuket?
Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 43%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,898 per month in Phuket and $1,324 in Kerak. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kerak, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or Kerak?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Phuket and $49.00 in Kerak. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and Kerak?
Groceries cost about 35% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Kerak?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kerak, where all-in costs run around $883, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Kerak it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Phuket or Kerak more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Kerak – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Kerak?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Kerak. 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.