😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,190 in Phuket versus $651 in Sidi Kacem.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,006 in Phuket versus $971 in Sidi Kacem.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,822 in Phuket versus $1,291 in Sidi Kacem.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 83% more expensive than in Sidi Kacem, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket11% lower, Sidi Kacem51% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Sidi Kacem
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.35฿146
$2.98MAD 29.74
45.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.45฿1,093
$17.82MAD 178
82.10%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.42฿283
$8.14MAD 81.3
3.44%
Cappuccino
$2.81฿94.5
$1.77MAD 17.64
58.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87฿29.46
$0.72MAD 7.18
20.83%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46฿15.48
$0.33MAD 3.25
39.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.59฿87.0
$2.66MAD 26.59
-2.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.64฿123
$3.16MAD 31.51
15.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Sidi Kacem
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71฿57.5
$0.76MAD 7.60
125.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.45฿48.69
$0.27MAD 2.70
437.04%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56฿52.5
$1.47MAD 14.65
6.12%
Eggs
$2.10฿70.7
$1.67MAD 16.64
25.75%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.53฿657
$5.74MAD 57.4
240.24%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.40฿114
$3.78MAD 37.70
-10.05%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.14฿375
$8.79MAD 87.8
26.73%
Apples(1kg)
$2.83฿95.4
$1.38MAD 13.83
105.07%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62฿54.6
$1.46MAD 14.62
10.96%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.22฿74.9
$0.84MAD 8.34
164.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.15฿72.3
$0.58MAD 5.83
270.69%
Potato(1kg)
$1.49฿50.2
$0.60MAD 5.96
148.33%
Onion(1kg)
$1.33฿44.65
$0.45MAD 4.54
195.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07฿35.92
$0.32MAD 3.22
234.38%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51฿17.10
$0.58MAD 5.82
-12.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.38฿148
$3.40MAD 33.92
28.82%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.77฿632
$6.25MAD 62.4
200.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74฿58.6
$1.71MAD 17.12
1.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78฿93.5
$1.68MAD 16.76
65.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Sidi Kacem
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.17฿73.0
$0.53MAD 5.24
309.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.28฿750
$18.95MAD 189
17.57%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.02฿102
$0.71MAD 7.06
325.35%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.06฿35.63
$1.12MAD 11.21
-5.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.71฿125
$3.32MAD 33.14
11.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.43฿48.16
$1.22MAD 12.16
17.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.3K฿887.1K
$34.5KMAD 344.5K
-23.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K฿882.3K
$31.0KMAD 309.7K
-15.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Sidi Kacem
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$96.7฿3,254
$43.86MAD 438
120.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.41฿384
$10.70MAD 107
6.64%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.11฿576
$40.77MAD 407
-58.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Sidi Kacem
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.8฿1,778
$25.83MAD 258
104.41%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07฿373
$21.23MAD 212
-47.86%
Cinema Ticket
$7.65฿258
$3.81MAD 38.05
100.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Sidi Kacem
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$555฿18.7K
$47.09MAD 470
1078.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.3K฿379.9K
$5,739MAD 57.3K
96.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Sidi Kacem
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.4฿2,135
$18.01MAD 180
252.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.61฿963
$47.38MAD 473
-39.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.7฿3,256
$54.7MAD 546
76.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.6฿2,983
$66.8MAD 667
32.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Sidi Kacem
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$735฿24.7K
$269MAD 2,681
173.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$458฿15.4K
$169MAD 1,691
170.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,102฿70.8K
$474MAD 4,734
343.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,187฿40.0K
$266MAD 2,658
345.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,493฿117.6K
$1,175MAD 11.7K
197.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,491฿83.9K
$828MAD 8,270
200.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Sidi Kacem
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$501฿16.9K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
5.5
1.27%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: October 4, 2026
Last update for Sidi Kacem: October 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $735 in Phuket and $269 in Sidi Kacem. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $32.00 in Phuket vs $18.00 in Sidi Kacem for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $268 vs $143 per month, with Sidi Kacem 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 Sidi Kacem: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sidi Kacem cheaper than Phuket?
Sidi Kacem is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 83% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,785 in Phuket and $977 in Sidi Kacem 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.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Sidi Kacem?
Rent for a central apartment: $735 in Phuket versus $269 in Sidi Kacem. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $555 in Phuket versus $47.09 in Sidi Kacem. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and in Sidi Kacem?
Supermarket bills run roughly 88% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Sidi Kacem?
At $651 in Sidi Kacem versus $1,190 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Sidi Kacem but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Sidi Kacem the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Sidi Kacem more family-friendly?
For families, Sidi Kacem 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.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Sidi Kacem?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Sidi Kacem are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Sidi Kacem gentler on the wallet – expenses run 83% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.