Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Oued Zem Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Oued Zem

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,264 per month in Phuket vs $790 in Oued Zem, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,256 per month in Phuket vs $1,321 in Oued Zem, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,248 per month in Phuket vs $1,851 in Oued Zem, rent included.

Phuket costs about 60% more than Oued Zem, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Oued Zem are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 5% lower, Oued Zem 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.48 ฿150

$4.73 MAD 44.34

-5.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.59 ฿1,525

$50.2 MAD 471

-9.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.76 ฿293

$6.53 MAD 61.3

34.15%

Cappuccino

$2.97 ฿99.3

$2.04 MAD 19.17

45.59%

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

$0.69 ฿22.96

$0.63 MAD 5.90

9.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 ฿13.07

$0.37 MAD 3.48

5.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.53 ฿84.7

$5.62 MAD 52.7

-54.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 ฿125

$4.06 MAD 38.05

-7.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 ฿71.8

$0.82 MAD 7.66

162.20%

White Bread (500g)

$1.82 ฿60.7

$0.47 MAD 4.42

287.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.18 ฿73.1

$1.96 MAD 18.42

11.22%

Eggs

$2.25 ฿75.2

$1.93 MAD 18.13

16.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$20.00 ฿669

$13.18 MAD 124

51.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿121

$6.90 MAD 64.7

-47.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.56 ฿453

$11.99 MAD 113

13.09%

Apples (1kg)

$3.24 ฿109

$1.58 MAD 14.87

105.06%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ฿54.7

$1.44 MAD 13.51

13.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.33 ฿78.0

$0.82 MAD 7.65

184.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.07 ฿69.3

$0.86 MAD 8.08

140.70%

Potato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.8

$0.67 MAD 6.29

131.34%

Onion (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.67

$0.67 MAD 6.27

117.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ฿32.94

$0.42 MAD 3.96

133.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.13

$0.60 MAD 5.60

-20.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.35 ฿146

$4.44 MAD 41.71

-2.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.57 ฿621

$7.70 MAD 72.3

141.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.1

$2.62 MAD 24.60

-29.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 ฿88.8

$2.55 MAD 23.94

3.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.42 ฿47.40

$0.50 MAD 4.72

184.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.57 ฿387

$16.19 MAD 152

-28.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 ฿106

$0.53 MAD 4.99

498.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.03 ฿34.51

$0.89 MAD 8.32

15.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.89 ฿465

$4.50 MAD 42.22

208.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ฿44.96

$1.58 MAD 14.79

-15.19%

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

$27.8K ฿929.6K

$37.0K MAD 347.0K

-24.86%

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

$33.4K ฿1.1M

$29.2K MAD 273.8K

14.41%

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

$123 ฿4,116

$40.97 MAD 384

200.34%

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

$13.77 ฿461

$11.09 MAD 104

24.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.33 ฿613

$39.78 MAD 373

-53.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.7 ฿2,030

$24.64 MAD 231

146.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.16 ฿574

$23.14 MAD 217

-25.84%

Cinema Ticket

$8.87 ฿297

$6.56 MAD 61.6

35.21%

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

$688 ฿23.0K

$160 MAD 1,505

329.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K ฿527.8K

$6,381 MAD 59.9K

147.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.3 ฿1,984

$53.1 MAD 498

11.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.69 ฿1,160

$47.44 MAD 445

-26.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,853

$107 MAD 1,005

7.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.8 ฿2,802

$98.8 MAD 927

-15.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$621 ฿20.8K

$286 MAD 2,684

117.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$446 ฿14.9K

$176 MAD 1,655

152.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,034 ฿68.0K

$514 MAD 4,819

296.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,496 ฿50.0K

$310 MAD 2,910

382.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,455 ฿115.6K

$1,165 MAD 10.9K

196.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,531 ฿84.7K

$932 MAD 8,745

171.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿16.5K

$246 MAD 2,311

100.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

4.81

10.81%

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

Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026

Last update for Oued Zem: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $621 in Phuket versus $286 in Oued Zem. 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 100% 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 $46.00 in Phuket versus $50.0 in Oued Zem. Groceries tell a different story – $291 in Phuket vs $208 in Oued Zem – so Oued Zem 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 Oued Zem: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,264 in Phuket, $790 in Oued Zem – roughly 60% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,896 per month in Phuket and $1,186 in Oued Zem. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,264 in Phuket and $790 in Oued Zem. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 40% less in Oued Zem. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Oued Zem, where all-in costs run around $790, than in Phuket at $1,264. In Oued Zem 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 $790 in Oued Zem to $1,264 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 Oued Zem. 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.