Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Sohar

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,278 a month against $1,430 in Sohar, rent and utilities included – about $1,800 less a year. The total is higher in Sohar despite lower rent and utilities.

Phuket, Thailand
Sohar, Oman
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,278
/mo nomad
Sohar
🇴🇲 Oman
$1,430
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Sohar

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Phuket and in Sohar actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,278 in Phuket versus $1,430 in Sohar.

  • Phuket $1,278
  • Sohar $1,430

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,216 in Phuket versus $2,095 in Sohar.

  • Phuket $2,216
  • Sohar $2,095

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,154 in Phuket versus $2,759 in Sohar.

  • Phuket $3,154
  • Sohar $2,759

Living in Phuket costs roughly 11% less than in Sohar, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 6% below, Sohar is 5% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Sohar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.47 ฿151
$6.35 OMR 2.45
-29.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.41 ฿1,094
$21.17 OMR 8.15
53.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.81 ฿297
$9.17 OMR 3.53
-3.93%
Cappuccino
$2.83 ฿95.4
$4.93 OMR 1.90
-42.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 ฿29.42
$0.69 OMR 0.26
26.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.66
$0.30 OMR 0.12
63.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.56 ฿86.3
$13.15 OMR 5.06
-80.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 ฿124
$14.51 OMR 5.59
-74.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Sohar
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 ฿56.0
$2.13 OMR 0.82
-22.07%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 ฿49.32
$1.10 OMR 0.43
32.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.5
$3.27 OMR 1.26
-54.13%
Eggs
$2.09 ฿70.5
$2.69 OMR 1.04
-22.30%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.07 ฿643
$13.27 OMR 5.11
43.71%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.30 ฿111
$9.06 OMR 3.49
-63.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.91 ฿368
$14.23 OMR 5.48
-23.33%
Apples (1kg)
$2.93 ฿98.9
$3.22 OMR 1.24
-9.01%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 ฿57.0
$2.21 OMR 0.85
-23.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 ฿75.8
$2.55 OMR 0.98
-11.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿70.1
$1.17 OMR 0.45
77.78%
Potato (1kg)
$1.51 ฿51.0
$1.83 OMR 0.71
-17.49%
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.54
$1.87 OMR 0.72
-26.20%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ฿35.97
$1.73 OMR 0.67
-38.15%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.51
$0.92 OMR 0.35
-43.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20 ฿142
$5.96 OMR 2.29
-29.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.79 ฿634
$26.26 OMR 10.11
-28.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 ฿61.5
$3.99 OMR 1.54
-54.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 ฿95.9
$8.51 OMR 3.28
-66.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Sohar
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.45 ฿49.00
$2.54 OMR 0.98
-42.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$56.7 ฿1,912
$51.9 OMR 19.98
9.21%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿102
$3.23 OMR 1.24
-6.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ฿34.34
$1.60 OMR 0.62
-36.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.69 ฿125
$10.34 OMR 3.98
-64.31%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ฿49.78
$0.64 OMR 0.25
129.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K ฿903.7K
$18.3K OMR 7,060
46.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿900.8K
$20.2K OMR 7,758
32.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Sohar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.4 ฿3,252
$104 OMR 39.96
-7.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.26 ฿380
$29.67 OMR 11.42
-62.05%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.85 ฿569
$87.6 OMR 33.71
-80.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Sohar
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.2 ฿2,269
$49.50 OMR 19.06
35.82%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.73 ฿362
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.50 ฿253
$11.74 OMR 4.52
-36.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Sohar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$476 ฿16.1K
$294 OMR 113
61.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.3K ฿380.1K
$6,986 OMR 2,690
61.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Sohar
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.4 ฿2,105
$51.2 OMR 19.72
21.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.41 ฿959
$43.66 OMR 16.81
-34.93%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.3 ฿3,182
$80.2 OMR 30.86
17.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.8 ฿2,896
$47.50 OMR 18.29
80.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Sohar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$716 ฿24.2K
$489 OMR 188
46.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$491 ฿16.6K
$381 OMR 147
28.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,927 ฿65.0K
$809 OMR 312
138.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,431 ฿48.3K
$674 OMR 260
112.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,175 ฿140.9K
$1,153 OMR 444
262.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,045 ฿102.8K
$767 OMR 295
296.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Sohar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$502 ฿17.0K
$2,503 OMR 964
-79.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
6.33
-12.01%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Last update for Sohar: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$491
Sohar
$381 22.5% $110
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$266
Sohar
$346 30% $80
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$124
Sohar
$221 77.6% $97
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$122
Sohar
$100 17.8% $22
Eating Out
Phuket
$122
Sohar
$236 94.1% $115
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$82
Sohar
$73 11.3% $9.3
Getting Around
Phuket
$71
Sohar
$73 3.9% $2.7

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $716 in Phuket and $489 in Sohar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sohar pays about 5 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $32 in Phuket vs $21 in Sohar. Groceries flip the comparison at $266 vs $346, with Phuket cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇴🇲 Sohar
🕒 Local time
17:43 5:43 PM
14:43 2:43 PM
3 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
221,605
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Omani Rial OMR ر.ع.
Exchange rates and currency converter

OMR, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.75 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.66 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Omani Rial exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 0.385 OMR (1 OMR = 2.6 USD). 1 EUR = 0.43 OMR (1 OMR = 2.33 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Sohar 4,790 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Sohar

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Sohar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Sohar?
Phuket is about 11% cheaper overall, especially in eating out, utilities, and groceries. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Sohar?
On paper, salaries run 80% lower in Phuket. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Sohar?
Rent for a central apartment: $716 in Phuket versus $489 in Sohar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $476 in Phuket versus $294 in Sohar. 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 Sohar?
Supermarket bills run roughly 30% higher in Sohar. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is it better to live in Phuket or in Sohar?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Sohar?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Sohar are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
It comes down to priorities – Phuket wins on affordability, Sohar on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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