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: $1,232 in Phuket versus $643 in Manouba.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $979 in Manouba.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $1,314 in Manouba.

Living in Phuket is roughly 92% more expensive than Manouba, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 8% lower, Manouba 52% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Manouba
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63 ฿151
$3.46 TND 9.99
33.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84 ฿1,532
$20.66 TND 59.7
126.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.84 ฿289
$5.23 TND 15.10
69.02%
Cappuccino
$3.00 ฿98.0
$1.08 TND 3.11
177.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 ฿24.25
$0.60 TND 1.73
23.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿11.95
$0.25 TND 0.73
48.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.44 ฿79.8
$1.56 TND 4.51
56.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61 ฿118
$2.43 TND 7.03
48.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Manouba
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.26 ฿73.9
$0.47 TND 1.35
380.85%
White Bread (500g)
$1.84 ฿60.1
$0.20 TND 0.57
820.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.24 ฿73.4
$1.49 TND 4.29
50.34%
Eggs
$2.32 ฿75.7
$1.49 TND 4.30
55.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.67 ฿643
$10.68 TND 30.87
84.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.65 ฿119
$5.67 TND 16.39
-35.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.10 ฿428
$13.74 TND 39.70
-4.66%
Apples (1kg)
$3.39 ฿111
$2.03 TND 5.86
67.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 ฿53.7
$3.07 TND 8.87
-46.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 ฿79.0
$1.05 TND 3.03
129.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 ฿66.4
$0.74 TND 2.13
174.32%
Potato (1kg)
$1.56 ฿50.9
$0.72 TND 2.08
116.67%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 ฿48.94
$0.60 TND 1.73
150.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 ฿33.50
$0.43 TND 1.25
137.21%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.00
$0.31 TND 0.90
58.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45 ฿145
$3.35 TND 9.69
32.84%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.88 ฿617
$5.00 TND 14.45
277.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿58.1
$1.10 TND 3.19
61.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 ฿90.1
$1.06 TND 3.06
159.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Manouba
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.40 ฿45.81
$0.33 TND 0.95
324.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.48 ฿376
$10.04 TND 29.03
14.34%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.12 ฿102
$0.29 TND 0.85
975.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.00 ฿32.67
$0.31 TND 0.89
222.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.09 ฿461
$3.43 TND 9.91
310.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 ฿44.19
$0.86 TND 2.50
56.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K ฿888.9K
$35.2K TND 101.8K
-22.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K ฿1.1M
$34.8K TND 100.5K
-5.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Manouba
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$125 ฿4,087
$44.88 TND 130
178.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 ฿444
$9.72 TND 28.08
39.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52 ฿606
$21.08 TND 60.9
-12.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Manouba
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.5 ฿2,010
$23.37 TND 67.5
163.07%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84 ฿551
$12.72 TND 36.77
32.39%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19 ฿300
$5.51 TND 15.92
66.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Manouba
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$698 ฿22.8K
$109 TND 314
542.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.6K ฿509.9K
$2,524 TND 7,295
517.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Manouba
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8 ฿1,889
$44.16 TND 128
30.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24 ฿1,152
$44.44 TND 128
-20.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 ฿3,699
$96.0 TND 278
17.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4 ฿2,825
$64.1 TND 185
34.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Manouba
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$616 ฿20.1K
$200 TND 579
207.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$446 ฿14.6K
$153 TND 442
191.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,048 ฿67.0K
$276 TND 798
641.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,492 ฿48.8K
$206 TND 594
625.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,779 ฿123.6K
$880 TND 2,542
329.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,649 ฿86.6K
$562 TND 1,625
370.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Manouba
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$524 ฿17.1K
-
-
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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Manouba: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $616 in Phuket and $200 in Manouba. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $21.00 in Manouba for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $183 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 92% in total monthly costs ($1,232 vs $643 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 $1,847 in Phuket and $964 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: $616 in Phuket versus $200 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 60% 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 $21.00 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 $643 in Manouba versus $1,232 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 92% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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