Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Sabah Al Salem Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Sabah Al Salem

😐 Solo nomad: Phuket is 4.6% more expensive than Sabah Al Salem without rent, and 7% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Phuket is 13.5% more expensive than Sabah Al Salem without rent, and 8.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Sabah Al Salem
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.59 ฿147
$7.63 KWD 2.35
-39.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.83 ฿1,497
$59.4 KWD 18.31
-21.21%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.70 ฿278
$8.34 KWD 2.57
4.32%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.47 KWD 0.76
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.44 KWD 1.06
-
Cappuccino
$2.92 ฿93.5
$5.44 KWD 1.67
-46.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 ฿21.86
$0.60 KWD 0.18
13.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40 ฿12.66
$0.34 KWD 0.10
17.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.51 ฿80.2
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80 ฿122
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Sabah Al Salem
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.16 ฿69.1
$1.41 KWD 0.43
53.19%
White Bread (500g)
$1.88 ฿60.1
$1.08 KWD 0.33
74.07%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.16 ฿69.0
$1.66 KWD 0.51
30.12%
Eggs
$2.22 ฿71.0
$1.98 KWD 0.61
12.12%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.57 ฿626
$4.58 KWD 1.41
327.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.80 ฿122
$6.32 KWD 1.95
-39.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.41 ฿429
$9.84 KWD 3.03
36.28%
Apples (1kg)
$3.26 ฿104
$2.25 KWD 0.69
44.89%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ฿51.5
$1.68 KWD 0.52
-4.17%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.31 ฿73.8
$1.51 KWD 0.47
52.98%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.06 ฿65.8
$1.42 KWD 0.44
45.07%
Potato (1kg)
$1.61 ฿51.3
$1.29 KWD 0.40
24.81%
Onion (1kg)
$1.44 ฿46.13
$1.10 KWD 0.34
30.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 ฿32.91
$1.66 KWD 0.51
-37.95%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48 ฿15.34
$0.45 KWD 0.14
6.67%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.06 KWD 0.33
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.38 KWD 0.43
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.50 ฿144
$2.88 KWD 0.89
56.25%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.18 ฿613
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 ฿58.3
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69 ฿86.0
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Sabah Al Salem
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.38 ฿44.04
$0.83 KWD 0.26
66.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.76 ฿376
$44.84 KWD 13.81
-73.77%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.11 ฿99.3
$3.21 KWD 0.99
-3.12%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.00 ฿32.09
$3.31 KWD 1.02
-69.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.74 ฿439
$16.19 KWD 4.99
-15.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 ฿41.49
$0.36 KWD 0.11
261.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.4K ฿874.5K
$20.2K KWD 6,225
35.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0K ฿1.1M
$19.2K KWD 5,924
71.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Sabah Al Salem
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$125 ฿3,993
$61.3 KWD 18.89
103.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.74 ฿439
$18.08 KWD 5.57
-24.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.61 ฿595
$25.83 KWD 7.96
-27.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Sabah Al Salem
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.6 ฿1,936
$95.1 KWD 29.30
-36.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.15 ฿548
$46.34 KWD 14.27
-62.99%
Cinema Ticket
$9.01 ฿288
$11.56 KWD 3.56
-22.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Sabah Al Salem
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$698 ฿22.3K
$284 KWD 87.6
145.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.1K ฿515.1K
$6,028 KWD 1,857
167.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Sabah Al Salem
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.2 ฿1,893
$42.68 KWD 13.15
38.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.86 ฿1,115
$42.62 KWD 13.13
-18.21%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$114 ฿3,651
$88.5 KWD 27.25
29.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.8 ฿2,743
$81.0 KWD 24.94
5.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Sabah Al Salem
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$619 ฿19.8K
$781 KWD 241
-20.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$437 ฿14.0K
$602 KWD 185
-27.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,075 ฿66.3K
$1,596 KWD 492
30.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,509 ฿48.2K
$1,270 KWD 391
18.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,764 ฿120.3K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,694 ฿86.1K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Sabah Al Salem
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$528 ฿16.9K
$2,961 KWD 912
-82.15%
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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Sabah Al Salem: April 13, 2026

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

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