😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $733 in Umm As-summaq.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,054 in Phuket versus $1,270 in Umm As-summaq.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,876 in Phuket versus $1,806 in Umm As-summaq.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 68% more expensive than in Umm As-summaq, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket10% lower, Umm As-summaq46% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Umm As-summaq
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.41฿147
$7.17JOD 5.08
-38.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26฿1,077
$66.7JOD 47.20
-51.61%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.93฿298
$7.14JOD 5.05
25.07%
Cappuccino
$2.90฿96.6
$2.74JOD 1.94
5.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88฿29.38
$0.60JOD 0.43
46.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.06
$0.60JOD 0.42
-20.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.35฿78.5
$6.88JOD 4.87
-65.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿124
$8.61JOD 6.10
-56.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Umm As-summaq
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.87฿62.3
$1.44JOD 1.02
29.86%
White Bread(500g)
$1.47฿48.94
$0.67JOD 0.48
119.40%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.55฿51.8
$1.39JOD 0.98
11.51%
Eggs
$2.10฿70.1
$2.24JOD 1.58
-6.25%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.59฿654
$9.14JOD 6.47
114.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.42฿114
$2.76JOD 1.96
23.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.38฿380
$12.89JOD 9.13
-11.71%
Apples(1kg)
$2.98฿99.6
$2.42JOD 1.72
23.14%
Banana(1kg)
$1.68฿56.2
$2.00JOD 1.42
-16.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.21฿73.7
$1.88JOD 1.33
17.55%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.16฿72.1
$0.86JOD 0.61
151.16%
Potato(1kg)
$1.52฿50.9
$0.93JOD 0.66
63.44%
Onion(1kg)
$1.34฿44.67
$0.83JOD 0.59
61.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.13฿37.67
$0.65JOD 0.46
73.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55฿18.24
$0.61JOD 0.43
-9.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26฿142
$2.87JOD 2.03
48.43%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.09฿637
$16.79JOD 11.89
13.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿59.4
$4.15JOD 2.94
-57.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78฿92.9
$4.16JOD 2.95
-33.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Umm As-summaq
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.23฿74.4
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.74฿759
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.03฿101
$0.61JOD 0.43
396.72%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02฿34.15
$1.43JOD 1.02
-28.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.89฿130
$7.08JOD 5.01
-45.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49฿49.77
$1.61JOD 1.14
-7.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K฿887.3K
$35.3KJOD 25.0K
-24.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K฿902.2K
$34.2KJOD 24.2K
-21.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Umm As-summaq
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102฿3,420
$53.5JOD 37.90
91.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.33฿378
$15.44JOD 10.93
-26.62%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.40฿581
$32.25JOD 22.83
-46.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Umm As-summaq
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.1฿1,738
$56.4JOD 39.96
-7.73%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07฿370
$49.88JOD 35.31
-77.81%
Cinema Ticket
$7.69฿257
$11.49JOD 8.14
-33.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Umm As-summaq
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$561฿18.7K
$353JOD 250
59.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.5K฿384.1K
$5,679JOD 4,021
102.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Umm As-summaq
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.0฿2,104
$57.1JOD 40.45
10.31%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.52฿986
$63.7JOD 45.06
-53.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.0฿3,272
$128JOD 90.3
-23.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5฿2,954
$87.3JOD 61.8
1.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Umm As-summaq
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$738฿24.6K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$482฿16.1K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,107฿70.3K
$787JOD 557
167.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,226฿40.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,617฿120.7K
$1,707JOD 1,208
111.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,603฿86.9K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Umm As-summaq
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494฿16.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
6.81
-18.21%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026
Last update for Umm As-summaq: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $32.00 in Phuket vs $67.0 in Umm As-summaq. Groceries flip the comparison at $274 vs $229, with Umm As-summaq cheaper for home cooking.
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 Umm As-summaq: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Umm As-summaq cheaper than Phuket?
Umm As-summaq is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Getting Around. The 68% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,847 in Phuket and $1,100 in Umm As-summaq to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $561 in Phuket versus $353 in Umm As-summaq. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or in Umm As-summaq?
Dining out is cheaper in Umm As-summaq – a meal for two runs $67.0 versus $32.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Umm As-summaq?
At $733 in Umm As-summaq versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Umm As-summaq but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Umm As-summaq the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Umm As-summaq more family-friendly?
For families, Umm As-summaq 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 Umm As-summaq?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Umm As-summaq 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 Umm As-summaq 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.