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 $826 in Madaba, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,286 per month in Phuket vs $1,421 in Madaba, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,310 per month in Phuket vs $2,015 in Madaba, rent included.

Phuket costs about 53% more than Madaba, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Madaba are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Madaba 39% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Madaba
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56 ฿149
$5.58 JOD 3.95
-18.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.63 ฿1,519
$49.35 JOD 34.93
-5.51%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.47 ฿276
$6.42 JOD 4.54
31.93%
Cappuccino
$3.03 ฿98.6
$3.50 JOD 2.48
-13.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ฿22.45
$0.48 JOD 0.34
43.75%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿11.92
$0.38 JOD 0.27
-2.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.49 ฿81.0
$4.36 JOD 3.08
-42.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿119
$6.84 JOD 4.84
-46.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Madaba
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 ฿71.0
$1.44 JOD 1.02
51.39%
White Bread (500g)
$1.90 ฿62.0
$0.55 JOD 0.39
245.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.20 ฿71.6
$1.70 JOD 1.20
29.41%
Eggs
$2.22 ฿72.4
$1.65 JOD 1.17
34.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.99 ฿651
$4.35 JOD 3.08
359.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.66 ฿119
$5.51 JOD 3.90
-33.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.25 ฿432
$11.37 JOD 8.05
16.53%
Apples (1kg)
$3.23 ฿105
$1.96 JOD 1.39
64.80%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 ฿55.3
$1.42 JOD 1.01
19.72%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.39 ฿78.0
$1.40 JOD 0.99
70.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿67.7
$0.74 JOD 0.52
181.08%
Potato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿51.8
$0.68 JOD 0.48
133.82%
Onion (1kg)
$1.48 ฿48.31
$0.70 JOD 0.49
111.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 ฿33.54
$0.34 JOD 0.24
202.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿16.83
$0.54 JOD 0.38
-3.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.25 ฿138
$2.16 JOD 1.53
96.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.79 ฿612
$21.47 JOD 15.19
-12.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 ฿57.2
$4.72 JOD 3.34
-62.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 ฿89.8
$5.37 JOD 3.80
-48.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Madaba
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.36 ฿44.32
$0.89 JOD 0.63
52.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.36 ฿370
$70.6 JOD 49.97
-83.91%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 ฿102
$0.74 JOD 0.53
324.32%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.04 ฿33.74
$1.39 JOD 0.98
-25.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.77 ฿448
$6.87 JOD 4.86
100.44%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 ฿43.79
$1.36 JOD 0.96
-1.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K ฿901.4K
$27.3K JOD 19.3K
1.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9K ฿1.1M
$31.9K JOD 22.6K
6.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Madaba
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$124 ฿4,025
$71.7 JOD 50.7
72.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.52 ฿440
$13.85 JOD 9.80
-2.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.69 ฿609
$20.81 JOD 14.73
-10.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Madaba
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.8 ฿2,013
$28.71 JOD 20.32
115.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.25 ฿562
$69.7 JOD 49.35
-75.26%
Cinema Ticket
$9.14 ฿298
$11.17 JOD 7.91
-18.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Madaba
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$703 ฿22.9K
$43.13 JOD 30.53
1529.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.9K ฿517.0K
$1,111 JOD 786
1329.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Madaba
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5 ฿1,937
$61.6 JOD 43.59
-3.44%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.07 ฿1,142
$49.62 JOD 35.12
-29.32%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,754
$64.1 JOD 45.37
79.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.1 ฿2,737
$35.89 JOD 25.41
134.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Madaba
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$619 ฿20.1K
$175 JOD 124
253.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$433 ฿14.1K
$125 JOD 88.4
246.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,062 ฿67.2K
$392 JOD 278
425.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,511 ฿49.2K
$347 JOD 246
335.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,646 ฿118.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,626 ฿85.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Madaba
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$507 ฿16.5K
$487 JOD 345
4.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
6.25
-14.72%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026

Last update for Madaba: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $619 in Phuket versus $175 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 4% 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 $47.00 in Phuket versus $49.00 in Madaba. Groceries tell a different story – $293 in Phuket vs $224 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 53% more than Madaba, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 vs Madaba?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,892 per month in Phuket and $1,239 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 vs Madaba?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket and $49.00 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 $826 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 Madaba?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Madaba, where all-in costs run around $826, 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 $826 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 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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