Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Kerak Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Kerak

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $970 in Kerak, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,089 per month in Phuket vs $1,481 in Kerak, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,913 per month in Phuket vs $1,992 in Kerak, rent included.

Phuket costs about 30% more than Kerak, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Kerak are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 8% lower, Kerak 30% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Kerak
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.66 ฿154
$2.80 JOD 1.98
66.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.22 ฿1,065
$68.2 JOD 48.28
-52.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.68 ฿287
$5.66 JOD 4.01
53.36%
Cappuccino
$2.90 ฿95.8
$0.68 JOD 0.48
326.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 ฿27.89
$0.51 JOD 0.36
64.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.16
$0.34 JOD 0.24
44.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.48 ฿82.0
$8.29 JOD 5.87
-70.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿123
$11.02 JOD 7.80
-66.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Kerak
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.89 ฿62.3
$1.45 JOD 1.03
30.34%
White Bread (500g)
$1.41 ฿46.54
$0.34 JOD 0.24
314.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.62 ฿53.6
$0.83 JOD 0.59
95.18%
Eggs
$2.24 ฿74.1
$1.66 JOD 1.17
34.94%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.84 ฿656
$6.99 JOD 4.95
183.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.48 ฿115
$4.17 JOD 2.95
-16.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.37 ฿376
$12.54 JOD 8.87
-9.33%
Apples (1kg)
$2.90 ฿95.8
$1.43 JOD 1.01
102.80%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 ฿57.0
$1.38 JOD 0.98
24.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.27 ฿75.1
$1.44 JOD 1.02
57.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.13 ฿70.4
$0.40 JOD 0.28
432.50%
Potato (1kg)
$1.47 ฿48.72
$0.89 JOD 0.63
65.17%
Onion (1kg)
$1.42 ฿46.92
$0.89 JOD 0.63
59.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.10 ฿36.25
$0.65 JOD 0.46
69.23%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60 ฿19.76
$0.61 JOD 0.43
-1.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.31 ฿142
$3.97 JOD 2.81
8.56%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.60 ฿615
$20.86 JOD 14.76
-10.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 ฿59.5
$5.05 JOD 3.57
-64.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 ฿98.0
$5.11 JOD 3.62
-41.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Kerak
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.25 ฿74.2
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$23.49 ฿776
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.10 ฿102
$0.64 JOD 0.45
384.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.08 ฿35.56
$1.37 JOD 0.97
-21.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.87 ฿128
$7.13 JOD 5.04
-45.72%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.43 ฿47.16
$1.68 JOD 1.19
-14.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K ฿918.0K
$35.7K JOD 25.3K
-22.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K ฿891.5K
$34.3K JOD 24.3K
-21.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Kerak
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$105 ฿3,462
$112 JOD 79.1
-6.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.39 ฿376
$15.51 JOD 10.97
-26.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.54 ฿580
$28.63 JOD 20.26
-38.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Kerak
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.3 ฿1,795
$43.03 JOD 30.45
26.28%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.44 ฿378
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.78 ฿257
$11.45 JOD 8.10
-32.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Kerak
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$576 ฿19.0K
$140 JOD 98.8
313.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K ฿382.7K
$3,448 JOD 2,440
235.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Kerak
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.6 ฿2,103
$63.6 JOD 45.02
0.05%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.10 ฿961
$83.5 JOD 59.1
-65.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.2 ฿3,179
$125 JOD 88.5
-23.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.0 ฿2,974
$88.4 JOD 62.6
1.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Kerak
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$733 ฿24.2K
$180 JOD 127
307.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$501 ฿16.5K
$222 JOD 157
125.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,126 ฿70.2K
$286 JOD 202
643.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,252 ฿41.4K
$330 JOD 234
279.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,534 ฿116.8K
$216 JOD 153
1539.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,622 ฿86.6K
$278 JOD 197
843.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Kerak
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$508 ฿16.8K
$516 JOD 365
-1.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
6.81
-18.21%

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

Last update for Phuket: September 6, 2026

Last update for Kerak: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $733 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 2% 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 $32.00 in Phuket versus $68.0 in Kerak. Groceries tell a different story – $275 in Phuket vs $222 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 30%, 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 $1,456 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 in Kerak?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Phuket and $68.0 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 in Kerak?
Groceries cost about 24% 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 living in Phuket or in Kerak?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kerak, where all-in costs run around $970, 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.

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