Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Mahabad Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Mahabad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $517 in Mahabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,255 per month in Phuket vs $809 in Mahabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,279 per month in Phuket vs $1,102 in Mahabad, rent included.

Phuket costs about 138% more than Mahabad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Mahabad are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 8% lower, Mahabad 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.63 ฿151

$3.05 $3.05

51.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.84 ฿1,532

$17.28 $17.28

171.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.84 ฿289

$2.09 $2.09

322.97%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.81 $0.81

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.00 $1.00

Cappuccino

$3.00 ฿98.0

$2.35 $2.35

27.66%

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

$0.74 ฿24.25

$0.99 $0.99

-25.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.95

$0.96 $0.96

-61.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 ฿79.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 ฿118

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ฿73.9

$0.60 $0.60

276.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 ฿60.1

$0.41 $0.41

348.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.24 ฿73.4

$2.12 $2.12

5.66%

Eggs

$2.32 ฿75.7

$1.23 $1.23

88.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.67 ฿643

$3.17 $3.17

520.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.65 ฿119

$3.29 $3.29

10.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.10 ฿428

$7.39 $7.39

77.27%

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 ฿111

$0.77 $0.77

340.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.7

$1.28 $1.28

28.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿79.0

$0.86 $0.86

180.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 ฿66.4

$0.44 $0.44

361.36%

Potato (1kg)

$1.56 ฿50.9

$0.49 $0.49

218.37%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 ฿48.94

$0.43 $0.43

248.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 ฿33.50

$0.48 $0.48

112.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.00

$0.29 $0.29

68.97%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.92 $0.92

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 $0.49

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 $1.39

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.45 ฿145

$2.26 $2.26

96.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.88 ฿617

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.75 ฿90.1

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.40 ฿45.81

$0.21 $0.21

566.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.48 ฿376

$10.10 $10.10

13.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.12 ฿102

$0.33 $0.33

845.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.00 ฿32.67

$0.27 $0.27

270.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.09 ฿461

$1.94 $1.94

626.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 ฿44.19

$0.71 $0.71

90.14%

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

$27.2K ฿888.9K

$73.3K $73.3K

-62.91%

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

$32.9K ฿1.1M

$55.0K $55.0K

-40.18%

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

$125 ฿4,087

$15.77 $15.77

692.52%

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

$13.57 ฿444

$2.13 $2.13

537.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.52 ฿606

$5.79 $5.79

219.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.5 ฿2,010

$14.45 $14.45

325.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.84 ฿551

$12.31 $12.31

36.80%

Cinema Ticket

$9.19 ฿300

$1.54 $1.54

496.75%

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

$698 ฿22.8K

$115 $115

507.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.6K ฿509.9K

$1,968 $1,968

692.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.8 ฿1,889

$22.54 $22.54

156.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.24 ฿1,152

$25.14 $25.14

40.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 ฿3,699

$109 $109

3.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.4 ฿2,825

$69.2 $69.2

24.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$616 ฿20.1K

$287 $287

114.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$446 ฿14.6K

$203 $203

120.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,048 ฿67.0K

$632 $632

224.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,492 ฿48.8K

$320 $320

365.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,779 ฿123.6K

$849 $849

345.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,649 ฿86.6K

$560 $560

373.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$524 ฿17.1K

$277 $277

88.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

22.24

-76.03%

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

Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026

Last update for Mahabad: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $616 in Phuket versus $287 in Mahabad. 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 89% 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 $17.00 in Mahabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $97.0 – making Mahabad 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 Mahabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 138%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $775 in Mahabad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $698 per month in Phuket and $115 in Mahabad. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 203% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Mahabad, where all-in costs run around $517, than in Phuket at $1,232. In Mahabad it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Mahabad – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Mahabad. 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.