Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Ruwi Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Ruwi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,253 in Phuket versus $624 in Ruwi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,043 in Phuket versus $824 in Ruwi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,833 in Phuket versus $1,023 in Ruwi.

Living in Phuket is roughly 101% more expensive than in Ruwi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 9% lower, Ruwi 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.56 ฿150

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.62 ฿1,073

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.90 ฿293

Cappuccino

$2.80 ฿92.2

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

$0.88 ฿28.94

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.08

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.39 ฿78.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 ฿58.8

$1.98 OMR 0.76

-9.60%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ฿47.40

$1.97 OMR 0.76

-26.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 ฿52.1

$1.01 OMR 0.39

56.44%

Eggs

$2.13 ฿69.9

$1.22 OMR 0.47

74.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.92 ฿655

$2.02 OMR 0.78

886.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.43 ฿113

$1.99 OMR 0.77

72.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.33 ฿372

$4.87 OMR 1.87

132.65%

Apples (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.0

$0.97 OMR 0.37

204.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 ฿56.6

$1.03 OMR 0.40

66.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.32 ฿76.5

$1.03 OMR 0.40

125.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.4

$1.02 OMR 0.39

103.92%

Potato (1kg)

$1.47 ฿48.34

$0.98 OMR 0.38

50.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 ฿44.65

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ฿36.13

$0.99 OMR 0.38

11.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ฿18.89

$1.03 OMR 0.40

-44.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿140

Wine (Bottle)

$18.42 ฿606

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 ฿61.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 ฿96.1

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.22 ฿73.0

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.90 ฿753

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 ฿99.6

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.07 ฿35.32

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.93 ฿129

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿49.06

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

$27.1K ฿892.0K

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

$27.5K ฿902.6K

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

$103 ฿3,380

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

$10.99 ฿361

$25.65 OMR 9.88

-57.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.51 ฿576

$77.9 OMR 30.00

-77.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.5 ฿1,760

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.20 ฿368

Cinema Ticket

$7.48 ฿246

$8.93 OMR 3.44

-16.24%

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

$557 ฿18.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.9K ฿389.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.1 ฿2,107

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.07 ฿956

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.0 ฿3,155

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.3 ฿2,970

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$730 ฿24.0K

$396 OMR 153

84.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$500 ฿16.4K

$385 OMR 148

29.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,090 ฿68.7K

$912 OMR 351

129.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,209 ฿39.8K

$582 OMR 224

107.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,596 ฿118.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,512 ฿82.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$503 ฿16.6K

$4,419 OMR 1,701

-88.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026

Last update for Ruwi: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $730 in Phuket and $396 in Ruwi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ruwi pays 778% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

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 Ruwi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ruwi is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 101% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 778% lower in Ruwi. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $730 in Phuket versus $396 in Ruwi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 131% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,253 per month in Phuket versus $624 in Ruwi – a 101% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $624 in Ruwi versus $1,253 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Ruwi but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Ruwi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Ruwi is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Phuket and Ruwi are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Ruwi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 101% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.