Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Madinat Hamad Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Madinat Hamad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $1,221 in Madinat Hamad, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,054 per month in Phuket vs $1,901 in Madinat Hamad, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,876 per month in Phuket vs $2,582 in Madinat Hamad, rent included.

Phuket costs about 1% more than Madinat Hamad, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Phuket and Madinat Hamad are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 10% lower, Madinat Hamad 11% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.41 ฿147

$2.60 BHD 0.98

69.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.26 ฿1,077

$52.2 BHD 19.68

-38.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.93 ฿298

$7.41 BHD 2.79

20.51%

Cappuccino

$2.90 ฿96.6

$2.68 BHD 1.01

8.21%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 ฿29.38

$0.90 BHD 0.34

-2.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.06

$0.32 BHD 0.12

50.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ฿78.5

$6.45 BHD 2.43

-63.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿124

$9.72 BHD 3.66

-61.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ฿62.3

$1.48 BHD 0.56

26.35%

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 ฿48.94

$1.03 BHD 0.39

42.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.8

$2.30 BHD 0.87

-32.61%

Eggs

$2.10 ฿70.1

$2.01 BHD 0.76

4.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.59 ฿654

$8.63 BHD 3.25

127.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.42 ฿114

$6.34 BHD 2.39

-46.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.38 ฿380

$8.38 BHD 3.16

35.80%

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 ฿99.6

$2.17 BHD 0.82

37.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 ฿56.2

$1.56 BHD 0.59

7.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 ฿73.7

$1.96 BHD 0.74

12.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.16 ฿72.1

$1.30 BHD 0.49

66.15%

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.9

$1.05 BHD 0.40

44.76%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.67

$1.04 BHD 0.39

28.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ฿37.67

$1.54 BHD 0.58

-26.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ฿18.24

$0.54 BHD 0.20

1.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.26 ฿142

$5.24 BHD 1.97

-18.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.09 ฿637

$18.42 BHD 6.94

3.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿59.4

$3.59 BHD 1.35

-50.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿92.9

$2.68 BHD 1.01

3.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.23 ฿74.4

$0.64 BHD 0.24

248.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.74 ฿759

$34.31 BHD 12.93

-33.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 ฿101

$5.19 BHD 1.96

-41.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ฿34.15

$2.63 BHD 0.99

-61.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.89 ฿130

$16.13 BHD 6.08

-75.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿49.77

$0.39 BHD 0.15

282.05%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.6K ฿887.3K

$36.6K BHD 13.8K

-27.29%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.0K ฿902.2K

$20.2K BHD 7,619

33.72%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$102 ฿3,420

$155 BHD 58.3

-33.75%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$11.33 ฿378

$23.49 BHD 8.85

-51.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.40 ฿581

$18.20 BHD 6.86

-4.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.1 ฿1,738

$121 BHD 45.56

-56.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.07 ฿370

$52.5 BHD 19.78

-78.91%

Cinema Ticket

$7.69 ฿257

$5.45 BHD 2.05

41.10%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$561 ฿18.7K

$483 BHD 182

16.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ฿384.1K

$11.0K BHD 4,145

4.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.0 ฿2,104

$51.1 BHD 19.27

23.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.52 ฿986

$57.2 BHD 21.55

-48.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.0 ฿3,272

$87.0 BHD 32.79

12.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.5 ฿2,954

$89.3 BHD 33.64

-0.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$738 ฿24.6K

$402 BHD 152

83.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.1K

$320 BHD 121

50.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,107 ฿70.3K

$803 BHD 303

162.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,226 ฿40.9K

$670 BHD 252

83.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,617 ฿120.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,603 ฿86.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿16.5K

$676 BHD 255

-27.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

6.21

-10.31%

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

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Last update for Madinat Hamad: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $738 in Phuket versus $402 in Madinat Hamad. 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 37% higher in Madinat Hamad, 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 $52.0 in Madinat Hamad. Groceries tell a different story – $274 in Phuket vs $238 in Madinat Hamad – so Madinat Hamad 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 Madinat Hamad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,232 in Phuket, $1,221 in Madinat Hamad – roughly 1% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $1,831 in Madinat Hamad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Madinat Hamad, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 51% less in Madinat Hamad. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $561 per month in Phuket and $483 in Madinat Hamad. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Madinat Hamad, where all-in costs run around $1,221, than in Phuket at $1,232. In Madinat Hamad it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,221 in Madinat Hamad to $1,232 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Madinat Hamad. 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.