😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,270 in Phuket versus $549 in Souk Ahras.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,304 in Phuket versus $837 in Souk Ahras.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,339 in Phuket versus $1,126 in Souk Ahras.
😐Living in Phuket is roughly 131% more expensive than Souk Ahras, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket5% lower, Souk Ahras59% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Souk Ahras
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.66฿150
$2.46DZD 325
89.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.44฿1,496
$10.63DZD 1,407
336.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.68฿280
$3.80DZD 503
128.42%
Cappuccino
$2.95฿95.0
$0.67DZD 88.5
340.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70฿22.52
$0.51DZD 67.3
37.25%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39฿12.70
$0.21DZD 27.78
85.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.53฿81.6
$1.91DZD 253
32.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78฿122
$2.40DZD 318
57.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Souk Ahras
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.22฿71.5
$0.87DZD 115
155.17%
White Bread(500g)
$1.80฿57.8
$0.20DZD 26.33
800.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.19฿70.4
$1.24DZD 164
76.61%
Eggs
$2.31฿74.5
$1.89DZD 250
22.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.34฿623
$3.42DZD 452
465.50%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.77฿121
$2.80DZD 371
34.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.22฿426
$16.52DZD 2,186
-19.98%
Apples(1kg)
$3.33฿107
$1.54DZD 204
116.23%
Banana(1kg)
$1.65฿53.1
$2.98DZD 394
-44.63%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.29฿73.7
$1.21DZD 160
89.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.99฿64.1
$1.23DZD 162
61.79%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿49.24
$0.41DZD 54.0
273.17%
Onion(1kg)
$1.51฿48.77
$0.39DZD 51.0
287.18%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03฿33.12
$0.23DZD 30.40
347.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51฿16.57
$0.29DZD 38.86
75.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41฿142
$2.17DZD 288
103.23%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.41฿625
$7.76DZD 1,027
150.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80฿58.0
$1.31DZD 173
37.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68฿86.4
$2.14DZD 283
25.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Souk Ahras
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.43฿46.11
$0.22DZD 29.14
550.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.70฿377
$17.09DZD 2,262
-31.54%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.04฿97.9
$0.69DZD 91.8
340.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04฿33.37
$0.44DZD 58.9
136.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.68฿441
$5.29DZD 699
158.60%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30฿41.85
$0.33DZD 43.94
293.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9K฿898.9K
$32.5KDZD 4.3M
-14.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0K฿1.1M
$33.8KDZD 4.5M
-2.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Souk Ahras
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123฿3,962
$40.55DZD 5,367
203.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.82฿445
$9.58DZD 1,268
44.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.86฿608
$19.65DZD 2,601
-4.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Souk Ahras
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.2฿1,970
$12.11DZD 1,603
404.95%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.81฿541
$3.92DZD 519
328.83%
Cinema Ticket
$8.87฿286
$5.45DZD 721
62.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Souk Ahras
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$696฿22.4K
$93.2DZD 12.3K
646.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.1K฿517.4K
$3,576DZD 473.2K
349.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Souk Ahras
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3฿1,910
$30.46DZD 4,031
94.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.85฿1,123
$44.74DZD 5,921
-22.11%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113฿3,646
$80.8DZD 10.7K
40.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.1฿2,740
$79.0DZD 10.4K
7.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Souk Ahras
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$615฿19.8K
$194DZD 25.7K
217.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$448฿14.4K
$115DZD 15.2K
291.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,085฿67.2K
$305DZD 40.3K
584.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,496฿48.2K
$179DZD 23.7K
734.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,734฿120.3K
$309DZD 40.9K
1108.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,662฿85.8K
$283DZD 37.4K
841.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Souk Ahras
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$534฿17.2K
$307DZD 40.6K
73.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
5.42
-1.66%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 20, 2026
Last update for Souk Ahras: April 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $615 in Phuket and $194 in Souk Ahras. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Phuket pays 74% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $46 in Phuket vs $11 in Souk Ahras for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $291 vs $166 per month, with Souk Ahras 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 Souk Ahras: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Souk Ahras cheaper than Phuket?
Souk Ahras is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 131% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Souk Ahras?
Phuket pays 74% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Souk Ahras?
Rent for a central apartment: $615 in Phuket versus $194 in Souk Ahras. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $696 in Phuket versus $93.2 in Souk Ahras. 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 Souk Ahras?
Supermarket bills run roughly 75% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Souk Ahras?
At $549 in Souk Ahras versus $1,270 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Souk Ahras but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Souk Ahras the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Souk Ahras more family-friendly?
For families, Souk Ahras 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 Souk Ahras?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Souk Ahras 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 Souk Ahras gentler on the wallet – expenses run 131% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.