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: $1,261 in Phuket versus $751 in Tikrit.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,286 in Phuket versus $1,150 in Tikrit.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,310 in Phuket versus $1,549 in Tikrit.

Living in Phuket is roughly 68% more expensive than Tikrit, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, Tikrit 44% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Tikrit
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56 ฿149
$4.08 IQD 5,339
11.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.63 ฿1,519
$24.79 IQD 32.5K
88.10%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.47 ฿276
$6.93 IQD 9,081
22.22%
Cappuccino
$3.03 ฿98.6
$2.58 IQD 3,384
17.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ฿22.45
$0.39 IQD 513
76.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿11.92
$0.21 IQD 277
76.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.49 ฿81.0
$2.95 IQD 3,865
-15.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿119
$2.86 IQD 3,744
27.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Tikrit
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 ฿71.0
$1.37 IQD 1,796
59.12%
White Bread (500g)
$1.90 ฿62.0
$0.84 IQD 1,094
126.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.20 ฿71.6
$1.65 IQD 2,157
33.33%
Eggs
$2.22 ฿72.4
$1.79 IQD 2,344
24.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.99 ฿651
$4.62 IQD 6,044
332.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.66 ฿119
$4.63 IQD 6,067
-20.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.25 ฿432
$13.08 IQD 17.1K
1.30%
Apples (1kg)
$3.23 ฿105
$1.15 IQD 1,505
180.87%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 ฿55.3
$1.16 IQD 1,522
46.55%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.39 ฿78.0
$1.05 IQD 1,374
127.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿67.7
$0.75 IQD 981
177.33%
Potato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿51.8
$0.65 IQD 848
144.62%
Onion (1kg)
$1.48 ฿48.31
$0.68 IQD 888
117.65%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 ฿33.54
$0.66 IQD 865
56.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿16.83
$0.56 IQD 732
-7.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.25 ฿138
$1.94 IQD 2,538
119.07%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.79 ฿612
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 ฿57.2
$1.82 IQD 2,385
-3.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 ฿89.8
$2.14 IQD 2,805
28.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Tikrit
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.36 ฿44.32
$0.40 IQD 518
240.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.36 ฿370
$30.84 IQD 40.4K
-63.16%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 ฿102
$2.23 IQD 2,922
40.81%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.04 ฿33.74
$1.49 IQD 1,948
-30.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.77 ฿448
$6.14 IQD 8,041
124.27%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 ฿43.79
$0.56 IQD 735
139.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K ฿901.4K
$19.3K IQD 25.3M
43.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9K ฿1.1M
$20.1K IQD 26.3M
68.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Tikrit
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$124 ฿4,025
$76.6 IQD 100.3K
61.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.52 ฿440
$17.48 IQD 22.9K
-22.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.69 ฿609
$35.05 IQD 45.9K
-46.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Tikrit
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.8 ฿2,013
$37.03 IQD 48.5K
66.95%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.25 ฿562
$16.76 IQD 22.0K
2.92%
Cinema Ticket
$9.14 ฿298
$7.75 IQD 10.1K
17.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Tikrit
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$703 ฿22.9K
$153 IQD 199.9K
360.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.9K ฿517.0K
$3,246 IQD 4.2M
389.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Tikrit
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5 ฿1,937
$26.95 IQD 35.3K
120.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.07 ฿1,142
$25.06 IQD 32.8K
39.94%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,754
$60.1 IQD 78.7K
91.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.1 ฿2,737
$41.46 IQD 54.3K
102.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Tikrit
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$619 ฿20.1K
$246 IQD 321.8K
151.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$433 ฿14.1K
$175 IQD 229.5K
146.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,062 ฿67.2K
$581 IQD 760.8K
254.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,511 ฿49.2K
$341 IQD 447.1K
342.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,646 ฿118.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,626 ฿85.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Tikrit
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$507 ฿16.5K
$332 IQD 435.1K
52.58%
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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Tikrit: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $619 in Phuket and $246 in Tikrit. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Phuket pays 53% 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 $293 vs $159 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?
Phuket pays 53% 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: $619 in Phuket versus $246 in Tikrit. 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 $153 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 84% 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 $751 in Tikrit versus $1,261 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.

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