Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Mishref Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Mishref

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $1,399 in Mishref, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,297 per month in Phuket vs $2,367 in Mishref, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,329 per month in Phuket vs $3,334 in Mishref, rent included.

Phuket is about 10% cheaper than Mishref, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Phuket sits 6% below the global median, while Mishref is 4% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.70 ฿153

$9.87 KWD 3.03

-52.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.37 ฿1,482

$82.2 KWD 25.20

-44.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.43 ฿275

$9.10 KWD 2.79

-7.36%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.52 KWD 0.77

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 KWD 1.12

Cappuccino

$2.93 ฿95.6

$5.96 KWD 1.83

-50.84%

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

$0.69 ฿22.40

$0.64 KWD 0.20

7.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.99

$0.34 KWD 0.10

8.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿78.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 ฿72.9

$1.56 KWD 0.48

42.95%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 ฿59.8

$1.24 KWD 0.38

47.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ฿70.8

$1.70 KWD 0.52

27.65%

Eggs

$2.21 ฿72.3

$2.05 KWD 0.63

7.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.74 ฿645

$5.34 KWD 1.64

269.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿119

$6.33 KWD 1.94

-42.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.53 ฿442

$10.16 KWD 3.12

33.17%

Apples (1kg)

$3.28 ฿107

$2.34 KWD 0.72

40.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ฿52.6

$1.96 KWD 0.60

-17.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$1.73 KWD 0.53

39.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.1

$1.48 KWD 0.45

40.54%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.93

$1.27 KWD 0.39

20.47%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.36

$1.26 KWD 0.39

17.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ฿32.29

$1.64 KWD 0.50

-39.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.67

$0.49 KWD 0.15

4.08%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.30 KWD 1.01

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 KWD 0.31

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 KWD 0.41

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 ฿144

$2.97 KWD 0.91

48.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.38 ฿633

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ฿88.6

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.37 ฿44.79

$0.84 KWD 0.26

63.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.39 ฿372

$43.95 KWD 13.48

-74.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿98.6

$3.32 KWD 1.02

-9.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 ฿32.48

$3.32 KWD 1.02

-70.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.10 ฿461

$16.63 KWD 5.10

-15.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 ฿44.51

$0.33 KWD 0.10

312.12%

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

$28.2K ฿921.1K

$20.9K KWD 6,405

35.04%

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

$32.9K ฿1.1M

$19.7K KWD 6,050

66.78%

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

$122 ฿3,975

$61.6 KWD 18.90

97.50%

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

$13.57 ฿443

$18.30 KWD 5.61

-25.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.31 ฿598

$25.42 KWD 7.80

-27.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.2 ฿1,967

$94.9 KWD 29.09

-36.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 ฿560

$45.91 KWD 14.08

-62.67%

Cinema Ticket

$8.69 ฿284

$11.51 KWD 3.53

-24.50%

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

$693 ฿22.6K

$397 KWD 122

74.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K ฿512.3K

$6,616 KWD 2,029

137.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,944

$41.67 KWD 12.78

42.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.77 ฿1,136

$41.82 KWD 12.83

-16.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,743

$89.2 KWD 27.37

28.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.3 ฿2,720

$80.9 KWD 24.82

2.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$613 ฿20.0K

$792 KWD 243

-22.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$437 ฿14.3K

$604 KWD 185

-27.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,094 ฿68.4K

$1,552 KWD 476

34.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,509 ฿49.3K

$1,314 KWD 403

14.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,749 ฿122.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,616 ฿85.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

7.14

-25.35%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Mishref: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $613 in Phuket versus $792 in Mishref. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Phuket versus $82.0 in Mishref. Groceries tell a different story – $293 in Phuket vs $178 in Mishref – so Mishref 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 Mishref: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Mishref is pricier by about 11%, 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 $1,898 per month in Phuket and $2,099 in Mishref. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 286% less in Phuket. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $693 per month in Phuket and $397 in Mishref. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,265, than in Mishref at $1,399. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mishref it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Phuket – 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 Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mishref makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.