Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Madaba Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Madaba

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,261 per month in Phuket vs $751 in Madaba, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,078 per month in Phuket vs $1,351 in Madaba, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,896 per month in Phuket vs $1,951 in Madaba, rent included.

Phuket costs about 68% more than Madaba, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Phuket and Madaba are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 8% lower, Madaba 45% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Madaba
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.43 ฿145
$5.67 JOD 4.01
-21.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.07 ฿1,151
$50.0 JOD 35.41
-29.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.96 ฿294
$6.49 JOD 4.59
38.06%
Cappuccino
$3.00 ฿98.4
$3.46 JOD 2.45
-13.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 ฿25.33
$0.60 JOD 0.43
28.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 ฿15.44
$0.56 JOD 0.39
-16.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.40 ฿78.6
$4.29 JOD 3.04
-44.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75 ฿123
$7.00 JOD 4.96
-46.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Madaba
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.82 ฿59.8
$1.37 JOD 0.97
32.85%
White Bread (500g)
$1.42 ฿46.65
$0.66 JOD 0.47
115.15%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.55 ฿50.8
$1.49 JOD 1.05
4.03%
Eggs
$2.13 ฿69.9
$1.72 JOD 1.22
23.84%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.76 ฿648
$4.14 JOD 2.93
377.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.48 ฿114
$5.75 JOD 4.07
-39.48%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.09 ฿364
$12.68 JOD 8.97
-12.54%
Apples (1kg)
$2.91 ฿95.5
$2.42 JOD 1.71
20.25%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 ฿54.6
$1.40 JOD 0.99
18.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.27 ฿74.5
$1.66 JOD 1.18
36.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.10 ฿68.8
$0.73 JOD 0.52
187.67%
Potato (1kg)
$1.47 ฿48.24
$0.73 JOD 0.52
101.37%
Onion (1kg)
$1.41 ฿46.29
$0.74 JOD 0.52
90.54%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.09 ฿35.78
$0.34 JOD 0.24
220.59%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 ฿17.58
$0.54 JOD 0.38
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.48 ฿147
$2.11 JOD 1.49
112.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.72 ฿614
$20.94 JOD 14.83
-10.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84 ฿60.4
$5.27 JOD 3.73
-65.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 ฿96.7
$5.15 JOD 3.65
-42.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Madaba
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.26 ฿74.1
$0.88 JOD 0.62
156.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$23.07 ฿757
$70.0 JOD 49.53
-67.02%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.04 ฿99.9
$0.63 JOD 0.45
382.54%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.09 ฿35.82
$1.37 JOD 0.97
-20.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.82 ฿125
$6.88 JOD 4.87
-44.48%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 ฿48.79
$1.37 JOD 0.97
8.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.4K ฿900.3K
$35.3K JOD 25.0K
-22.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5K ฿902.7K
$35.0K JOD 24.8K
-21.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Madaba
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$102 ฿3,340
$69.4 JOD 49.10
46.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.28 ฿370
$13.91 JOD 9.85
-18.91%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.75 ฿582
$21.08 JOD 14.92
-15.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Madaba
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.2 ฿1,777
$27.92 JOD 19.77
94.02%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.96 ฿360
$71.8 JOD 50.8
-84.73%
Cinema Ticket
$7.85 ฿258
$11.39 JOD 8.07
-31.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Madaba
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$577 ฿18.9K
$42.36 JOD 29.99
1262.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K ฿381.6K
$8,858 JOD 6,271
31.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Madaba
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.4 ฿2,144
$62.8 JOD 44.43
4.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.89 ฿948
$55.4 JOD 39.19
-47.80%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.1 ฿3,250
$71.5 JOD 50.6
38.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.3 ฿2,961
$41.82 JOD 29.61
115.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Madaba
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$756 ฿24.8K
$215 JOD 152
251.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$487 ฿16.0K
$42.36 JOD 29.99
1050.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,085 ฿68.4K
$422 JOD 299
393.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,207 ฿39.6K
$210 JOD 148
476.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,591 ฿117.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,610 ฿85.6K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Madaba
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$502 ฿16.5K
$494 JOD 350
1.69%
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: August 18, 2026

Last update for Madaba: August 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $756 in Phuket versus $215 in Madaba. 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 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 $35.00 in Phuket versus $50.0 in Madaba. Groceries tell a different story – $272 in Phuket vs $233 in Madaba – so Madaba 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 Madaba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Madaba?
Phuket costs about 68% more than Madaba, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Phuket and in Madaba?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,891 per month in Phuket and $1,127 in Madaba. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Phuket or Madaba?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Madaba, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Phuket and in Madaba?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Phuket and $50.0 in Madaba. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Phuket compared to Madaba?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,261 in Phuket and $751 in Madaba. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Phuket or in Madaba?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Madaba, where all-in costs run around $751, than in Phuket at $1,261. In Madaba it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Madaba?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Madaba costs $751 versus $1,261 in Phuket. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Phuket compared to Madaba?
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.
Should I move to Phuket or to Madaba?
If budget matters most, go with Madaba. 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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