😐A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $636 in Laayoune, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,297 per month in Phuket vs $1,031 in Laayoune, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,329 per month in Phuket vs $1,426 in Laayoune, rent included.
😐Phuket costs about 99% more than Laayoune, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Phuket and Laayoune are more affordable than the global median – Phuket6% lower, Laayoune53% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Laayoune
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70฿154
$3.76MAD 34.63
25.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37฿1,483
$29.45MAD 271
54.06%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.43฿276
$4.61MAD 42.44
82.86%
Cappuccino
$2.93฿95.7
$1.63MAD 14.99
79.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.42
$0.51MAD 4.70
35.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿12.00
$0.34MAD 3.15
8.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.41฿78.7
$3.49MAD 32.14
-30.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿122
$4.70MAD 43.28
-20.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Laayoune
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.23฿73.0
$0.85MAD 7.79
162.35%
White Bread(500g)
$1.83฿59.9
$0.59MAD 5.47
210.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.17฿70.9
$1.81MAD 16.69
19.89%
Eggs
$2.21฿72.4
$1.38MAD 12.66
60.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.74฿645
$11.63MAD 107
69.73%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63฿119
$3.40MAD 31.29
6.76%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.53฿442
$9.34MAD 86.0
44.86%
Apples(1kg)
$3.28฿107
$1.52MAD 14.04
115.79%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61฿52.7
$1.14MAD 10.46
41.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿78.7
$0.66MAD 6.11
265.15%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿68.1
$0.57MAD 5.24
264.91%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿49.97
$0.44MAD 4.09
247.73%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48฿48.41
$0.36MAD 3.36
311.11%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99฿32.32
$0.95MAD 8.79
4.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51฿16.68
$0.56MAD 5.14
-8.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41฿144
-
-
Wine(Bottle)
$19.38฿634
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿58.1
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71฿88.7
$3.45MAD 31.74
-21.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Laayoune
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.37฿44.83
$0.61MAD 5.60
124.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.39฿372
$11.46MAD 106
-0.61%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.02฿98.7
$0.72MAD 6.64
319.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.99฿32.51
$0.69MAD 6.33
43.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.10฿461
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36฿44.55
$1.24MAD 11.44
9.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K฿921.9K
$39.8KMAD 366.9K
-29.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K฿1.1M
$26.4KMAD 242.8K
24.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Laayoune
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿3,978
$32.74MAD 301
271.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57฿444
-
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31฿599
$22.73MAD 209
-19.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Laayoune
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.2฿1,969
$23.36MAD 215
157.79%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14฿560
$34.91MAD 321
-50.90%
Cinema Ticket
$8.69฿284
$3.41MAD 31.41
154.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Laayoune
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$693฿22.7K
$286MAD 2,632
142.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.7K฿512.8K
$3,469MAD 31.9K
352.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Laayoune
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5฿1,946
$34.51MAD 318
72.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77฿1,137
$57.7MAD 531
-39.77%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,746
$74.1MAD 682
54.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3฿2,723
$80.8MAD 744
3.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Laayoune
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$613฿20.0K
$354MAD 3,257
73.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$437฿14.3K
$174MAD 1,606
150.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,094฿68.5K
$691MAD 6,360
203.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,509฿49.3K
$292MAD 2,692
416.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,749฿122.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,616฿85.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Laayoune
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$508฿16.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026
Last update for Laayoune: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $613 in Phuket versus $354 in Laayoune. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Phuket versus $29.00 in Laayoune. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $146 – making Laayoune 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 Laayoune: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Laayoune cheaper than Phuket?
Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 99%, 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 $954 in Laayoune. 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 Laayoune, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and Laayoune?
Groceries cost about 100% 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 eating out cheaper in Phuket or Laayoune?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Phuket and $29.00 in Laayoune. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Laayoune?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Laayoune, where all-in costs run around $636, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Laayoune it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Phuket or Laayoune more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Laayoune – 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 Laayoune?
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 Laayoune. 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.