Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and TikritCost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Tikrit
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,264 in Phuket versus $751 in Tikrit.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,256 in Phuket versus $1,152 in Tikrit.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,248 in Phuket versus $1,553 in Tikrit.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 68% more expensive than in Tikrit, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket5% lower, Tikrit44% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Tikrit
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.48฿150
$3.99IQD 5,219
12.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.59฿1,525
$24.41IQD 32.0K
86.77%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.76฿293
$6.81IQD 8,924
28.63%
Cappuccino
$2.97฿99.3
$2.57IQD 3,362
15.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.96
$0.36IQD 476
91.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39฿13.07
$0.18IQD 229
116.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.53฿84.7
$2.97IQD 3,890
-14.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75฿125
$2.95IQD 3,868
27.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Tikrit
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.15฿71.8
$1.31IQD 1,709
64.12%
White Bread(500g)
$1.82฿60.7
$0.78IQD 1,027
133.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.18฿73.1
$1.60IQD 2,098
36.25%
Eggs
$2.25฿75.2
$1.71IQD 2,240
31.58%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$20.00฿669
$4.40IQD 5,763
354.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63฿121
$4.61IQD 6,040
-21.26%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.56฿453
$13.41IQD 17.6K
1.12%
Apples(1kg)
$3.24฿109
$1.15IQD 1,510
181.74%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64฿54.7
$1.17IQD 1,532
40.17%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.33฿78.0
$1.05IQD 1,371
121.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.07฿69.3
$0.74IQD 965
179.73%
Potato(1kg)
$1.55฿51.8
$0.64IQD 843
142.19%
Onion(1kg)
$1.46฿48.67
$0.66IQD 868
121.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98฿32.94
$0.68IQD 892
44.12%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.13
$0.56IQD 728
-14.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35฿146
$1.96IQD 2,565
121.94%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.57฿621
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿62.1
$1.79IQD 2,349
3.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65฿88.8
$2.17IQD 2,836
22.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Tikrit
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.42฿47.40
$0.40IQD 519
255.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.57฿387
$30.53IQD 40.0K
-62.10%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.17฿106
$2.33IQD 3,051
36.05%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.03฿34.51
$1.48IQD 1,942
-30.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.89฿465
$5.91IQD 7,738
135.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34฿44.96
$0.56IQD 739
139.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿929.6K
$18.9KIQD 24.8M
46.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4K฿1.1M
$20.3KIQD 26.5M
64.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Tikrit
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123฿4,116
$76.4IQD 100.1K
61.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77฿461
$17.79IQD 23.3K
-22.60%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.33฿613
$33.93IQD 44.4K
-45.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Tikrit
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.7฿2,030
$36.77IQD 48.2K
65.05%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.16฿574
$16.55IQD 21.7K
3.69%
Cinema Ticket
$8.87฿297
$7.81IQD 10.2K
13.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Tikrit
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$688฿23.0K
$151IQD 197.9K
355.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8K฿527.8K
$3,306IQD 4.3M
377.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Tikrit
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3฿1,984
$27.51IQD 36.0K
115.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.69฿1,160
$25.02IQD 32.8K
38.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,853
$61.8IQD 80.9K
86.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.8฿2,802
$41.18IQD 53.9K
103.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Tikrit
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$621฿20.8K
$238IQD 312.2K
160.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446฿14.9K
$182IQD 238.0K
145.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,034฿68.0K
$571IQD 747.1K
256.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,496฿50.0K
$339IQD 444.1K
341.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,455฿115.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,531฿84.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Tikrit
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494฿16.5K
$319IQD 418.2K
54.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
5.67
-6.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026
Last update for Tikrit: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $621 in Phuket and $238 in Tikrit. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Phuket pays 55% 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: $46.00 in Phuket vs $24.00 in Tikrit for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $291 vs $157 per month, with Tikrit 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 Tikrit: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tikrit cheaper than Phuket?
Tikrit is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment. The 68% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Tikrit?
Average pay runs 55% higher in Phuket, 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 Tikrit?
Rent for a central apartment: $621 in Phuket versus $238 in Tikrit. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $688 in Phuket versus $151 in Tikrit. 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 Tikrit?
Supermarket bills run roughly 85% 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 Tikrit?
At $751 in Tikrit versus $1,264 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Tikrit but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Tikrit the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Tikrit more family-friendly?
For families, Tikrit 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 Tikrit?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Tikrit 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 Tikrit gentler on the wallet – expenses run 68% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.