Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Manouba Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Manouba

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Phuket versus $651 in Manouba.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,286 in Phuket versus $995 in Manouba.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,310 in Phuket versus $1,339 in Manouba.

Living in Phuket is roughly 94% more expensive than Manouba, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, Manouba 52% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Manouba
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56 ฿149
$3.33 TND 9.70
36.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.63 ฿1,519
$20.05 TND 58.5
132.57%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.47 ฿276
$4.94 TND 14.40
71.46%
Cappuccino
$3.03 ฿98.6
$1.03 TND 3.00
194.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ฿22.45
$0.64 TND 1.88
7.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿11.92
$0.25 TND 0.73
48.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.49 ฿81.0
$1.48 TND 4.31
68.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿119
$2.44 TND 7.11
50.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Manouba
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 ฿71.0
$0.46 TND 1.35
373.91%
White Bread (500g)
$1.90 ฿62.0
$0.18 TND 0.53
955.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.20 ฿71.6
$1.48 TND 4.32
48.65%
Eggs
$2.22 ฿72.4
$1.48 TND 4.31
50.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.99 ฿651
$10.69 TND 31.19
87.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.66 ฿119
$5.81 TND 16.94
-37.01%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.25 ฿432
$13.37 TND 39.00
-0.90%
Apples (1kg)
$3.23 ฿105
$2.09 TND 6.09
54.55%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 ฿55.3
$2.93 TND 8.54
-41.98%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.39 ฿78.0
$1.01 TND 2.95
136.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿67.7
$0.74 TND 2.15
181.08%
Potato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿51.8
$0.69 TND 2.02
130.43%
Onion (1kg)
$1.48 ฿48.31
$0.60 TND 1.75
146.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 ฿33.54
$0.43 TND 1.26
139.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿16.83
$0.29 TND 0.84
79.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.25 ฿138
$3.30 TND 9.62
28.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.79 ฿612
$5.09 TND 14.86
269.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 ฿57.2
$1.09 TND 3.17
61.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 ฿89.8
$1.05 TND 3.07
162.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Manouba
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.36 ฿44.32
$0.35 TND 1.04
288.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.36 ฿370
$10.01 TND 29.20
13.49%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 ฿102
$0.32 TND 0.95
881.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.04 ฿33.74
$0.33 TND 0.97
215.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.77 ฿448
$3.48 TND 10.16
295.69%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 ฿43.79
$0.86 TND 2.51
55.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K ฿901.4K
$36.1K TND 105.4K
-23.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9K ฿1.1M
$35.2K TND 102.7K
-3.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Manouba
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$124 ฿4,025
$45.69 TND 133
170.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.52 ฿440
$9.48 TND 27.67
42.62%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.69 ฿609
$20.95 TND 61.1
-10.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Manouba
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.8 ฿2,013
$24.16 TND 70.5
155.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.25 ฿562
$12.73 TND 37.14
35.51%
Cinema Ticket
$9.14 ฿298
$5.46 TND 15.92
67.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Manouba
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$703 ฿22.9K
$106 TND 311
559.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.9K ฿517.0K
$2,477 TND 7,228
540.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Manouba
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5 ฿1,937
$44.60 TND 130
33.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.07 ฿1,142
$43.33 TND 126
-19.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,754
$98.1 TND 286
17.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.1 ฿2,737
$66.3 TND 194
26.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Manouba
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$619 ฿20.1K
$207 TND 604
198.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$433 ฿14.1K
$156 TND 454
178.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,062 ฿67.2K
$272 TND 793
658.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,511 ฿49.2K
$201 TND 587
651.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,646 ฿118.7K
$934 TND 2,726
290.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,626 ฿85.5K
$685 TND 1,999
283.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Manouba
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$507 ฿16.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
10.96
-51.37%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026

Last update for Manouba: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $619 in Phuket and $207 in Manouba. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $20.00 in Manouba for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $181 per month, with Manouba cheaper across the board.

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 Manouba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Phuket and Manouba?
Phuket and Manouba differ by about 94% in total monthly costs ($1,261 vs $651 including rent). Manouba is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Phuket compared to Manouba?
You'd need roughly $1,892 in Phuket and $977 in Manouba to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Phuket and Manouba?
Rent for a central apartment: $619 in Phuket versus $207 in Manouba. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 61% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Manouba – a meal for two runs $20.00 versus $47.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $651 in Manouba versus $1,261 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Manouba but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Manouba the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Manouba?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Phuket or Manouba safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Manouba are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Phuket or Manouba?
Expats usually find Manouba gentler on the wallet – expenses run 94% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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