Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Souk Ahras Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Souk Ahras

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Phuket versus $547 in Souk Ahras.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,286 in Phuket versus $837 in Souk Ahras.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,310 in Phuket versus $1,126 in Souk Ahras.

Living in Phuket is roughly 130% more expensive than Souk Ahras, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, Souk Ahras 59% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Souk Ahras
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56 ฿149
$2.46 DZD 326
85.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.63 ฿1,519
$10.96 DZD 1,453
325.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.47 ฿276
$3.95 DZD 523
114.43%
Cappuccino
$3.03 ฿98.6
$0.65 DZD 86.2
366.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ฿22.45
$0.50 DZD 65.9
38.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿11.92
$0.23 DZD 30.57
60.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.49 ฿81.0
$1.92 DZD 255
29.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿119
$2.41 DZD 320
51.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Souk Ahras
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 ฿71.0
$0.81 DZD 107
169.14%
White Bread (500g)
$1.90 ฿62.0
$0.23 DZD 29.86
726.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.20 ฿71.6
$1.25 DZD 166
76.00%
Eggs
$2.22 ฿72.4
$1.94 DZD 258
14.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.99 ฿651
$3.46 DZD 458
477.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.66 ฿119
$2.85 DZD 378
28.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.25 ฿432
$16.78 DZD 2,223
-21.04%
Apples (1kg)
$3.23 ฿105
$1.56 DZD 206
107.05%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 ฿55.3
$2.95 DZD 391
-42.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.39 ฿78.0
$1.23 DZD 163
94.31%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿67.7
$1.18 DZD 156
76.27%
Potato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿51.8
$0.44 DZD 57.9
261.36%
Onion (1kg)
$1.48 ฿48.31
$0.38 DZD 50.4
289.47%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 ฿33.54
$0.23 DZD 30.36
347.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿16.83
$0.29 DZD 38.96
79.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.25 ฿138
$2.28 DZD 303
86.40%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.79 ฿612
$6.18 DZD 819
204.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 ฿57.2
$1.29 DZD 171
36.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 ฿89.8
$2.17 DZD 288
27.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Souk Ahras
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.36 ฿44.32
$0.18 DZD 24.09
655.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.36 ฿370
$17.64 DZD 2,338
-35.60%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 ฿102
$0.66 DZD 87.2
375.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.04 ฿33.74
$0.48 DZD 63.5
116.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.77 ฿448
$5.34 DZD 708
157.87%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 ฿43.79
$0.33 DZD 44.05
306.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K ฿901.4K
$32.9K DZD 4.4M
-15.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9K ฿1.1M
$34.3K DZD 4.5M
-1.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Souk Ahras
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$124 ฿4,025
$40.58 DZD 5,379
204.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.52 ฿440
$9.30 DZD 1,233
45.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.69 ฿609
$20.01 DZD 2,652
-6.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Souk Ahras
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.8 ฿2,013
$12.05 DZD 1,598
413.03%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.25 ฿562
$4.07 DZD 540
323.83%
Cinema Ticket
$9.14 ฿298
$5.42 DZD 719
68.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Souk Ahras
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$703 ฿22.9K
$91.5 DZD 12.1K
668.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.9K ฿517.0K
$3,633 DZD 481.5K
336.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Souk Ahras
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5 ฿1,937
$30.65 DZD 4,062
94.00%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.07 ฿1,142
$46.03 DZD 6,101
-23.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,754
$79.2 DZD 10.5K
45.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.1 ฿2,737
$78.8 DZD 10.4K
6.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Souk Ahras
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$619 ฿20.1K
$197 DZD 26.1K
214.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$433 ฿14.1K
$114 DZD 15.2K
278.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,062 ฿67.2K
$305 DZD 40.4K
576.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,511 ฿49.2K
$182 DZD 24.1K
731.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,646 ฿118.7K
$1,133 DZD 150.1K
221.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,626 ฿85.5K
$1,151 DZD 152.5K
128.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Souk Ahras
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$507 ฿16.5K
$297 DZD 39.4K
70.70%
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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Souk Ahras: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $619 in Phuket and $197 in Souk Ahras. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Phuket pays 71% 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: $47.00 in Phuket vs $11.00 in Souk Ahras for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $164 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 130% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Souk Ahras?
Phuket pays 71% 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: $619 in Phuket versus $197 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 $703 in Phuket versus $91.5 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 79% 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 $547 in Souk Ahras versus $1,261 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 130% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Phuket vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities