Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Tikrit Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Tikrit

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $747 in Tikrit.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $1,153 in Tikrit.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $1,558 in Tikrit.

Living in Phuket is roughly 65% more expensive than Tikrit, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 8% lower, Tikrit 44% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Tikrit
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63 ฿151
$4.11 IQD 5,380
12.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84 ฿1,532
$25.00 IQD 32.8K
87.36%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.84 ฿289
$6.82 IQD 8,937
29.62%
Cappuccino
$3.00 ฿98.0
$2.65 IQD 3,474
13.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 ฿24.25
$0.36 IQD 478
105.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿11.95
$0.18 IQD 237
105.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.44 ฿79.8
$2.98 IQD 3,910
-18.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61 ฿118
$2.81 IQD 3,675
28.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Tikrit
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.26 ฿73.9
$1.32 IQD 1,732
71.21%
White Bread (500g)
$1.84 ฿60.1
$0.85 IQD 1,110
116.47%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.24 ฿73.4
$1.60 IQD 2,092
40.00%
Eggs
$2.32 ฿75.7
$1.79 IQD 2,346
29.61%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.67 ฿643
$4.58 IQD 6,002
329.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.65 ฿119
$4.62 IQD 6,059
-21.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.10 ฿428
$13.21 IQD 17.3K
-0.83%
Apples (1kg)
$3.39 ฿111
$1.15 IQD 1,505
194.78%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 ฿53.7
$1.20 IQD 1,574
36.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 ฿79.0
$1.06 IQD 1,387
127.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 ฿66.4
$0.70 IQD 923
190.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.56 ฿50.9
$0.70 IQD 915
122.86%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 ฿48.94
$0.63 IQD 828
138.10%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 ฿33.50
$0.66 IQD 871
54.55%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.00
$0.51 IQD 674
-3.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45 ฿145
$1.96 IQD 2,567
127.04%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.88 ฿617
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿58.1
$1.86 IQD 2,435
-4.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 ฿90.1
$2.07 IQD 2,716
32.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Tikrit
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.40 ฿45.81
$0.39 IQD 515
258.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.48 ฿376
$31.07 IQD 40.7K
-63.05%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.12 ฿102
$2.35 IQD 3,079
32.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.00 ฿32.67
$1.53 IQD 2,000
-34.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.09 ฿461
$5.97 IQD 7,818
136.01%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 ฿44.19
$0.54 IQD 706
150.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K ฿888.9K
$19.3K IQD 25.3M
40.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K ฿1.1M
$20.1K IQD 26.3M
63.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Tikrit
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$125 ฿4,087
$78.2 IQD 102.4K
59.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 ฿444
$17.96 IQD 23.5K
-24.44%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52 ฿606
$34.16 IQD 44.7K
-45.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Tikrit
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.5 ฿2,010
$37.04 IQD 48.5K
65.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84 ฿551
$16.99 IQD 22.3K
-0.88%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19 ฿300
$7.52 IQD 9,858
22.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Tikrit
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$698 ฿22.8K
$154 IQD 201.9K
353.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.6K ฿509.9K
$3,253 IQD 4.3M
379.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Tikrit
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8 ฿1,889
$26.75 IQD 35.0K
115.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24 ฿1,152
$25.66 IQD 33.6K
37.33%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 ฿3,699
$62.4 IQD 81.7K
81.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4 ฿2,825
$41.91 IQD 54.9K
106.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Tikrit
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$616 ฿20.1K
$247 IQD 323.6K
149.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$446 ฿14.6K
$175 IQD 229.3K
154.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,048 ฿67.0K
$570 IQD 746.2K
259.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,492 ฿48.8K
$339 IQD 444.7K
339.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,779 ฿123.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,649 ฿86.6K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Tikrit
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$524 ฿17.1K
$341 IQD 446.3K
53.76%
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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Tikrit: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $616 in Phuket and $247 in Tikrit. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Phuket pays 54% 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 $25.00 in Tikrit for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $158 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 65% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Tikrit?
Phuket pays 54% 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 Tikrit?
Rent for a central apartment: $616 in Phuket versus $247 in Tikrit. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $698 in Phuket versus $154 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 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 Phuket or Tikrit?
At $747 in Tikrit versus $1,232 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 65% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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