Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Umm As-summaq Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Umm As-summaq

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $716 in Umm As-summaq.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $1,378 in Umm As-summaq.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $2,039 in Umm As-summaq.

Living in Phuket is roughly 77% more expensive than Umm As-summaq, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, Umm As-summaq 47% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Umm As-summaq
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70 ฿153
$6.31 JOD 4.47
-25.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37 ฿1,482
$49.60 JOD 35.10
-8.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.43 ฿275
$5.08 JOD 3.59
65.94%
Cappuccino
$2.93 ฿95.6
$3.99 JOD 2.82
-26.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ฿22.40
$0.52 JOD 0.37
32.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿11.99
$0.34 JOD 0.24
8.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.41 ฿78.6
$5.80 JOD 4.11
-58.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 ฿122
$7.22 JOD 5.11
-48.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Umm As-summaq
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.23 ฿72.9
$1.24 JOD 0.88
79.84%
White Bread (500g)
$1.83 ฿59.8
$0.34 JOD 0.24
438.24%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.17 ฿70.8
$1.45 JOD 1.02
49.66%
Eggs
$2.21 ฿72.3
$2.45 JOD 1.73
-9.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.74 ฿645
$2.79 JOD 1.97
607.53%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.63 ฿119
$6.60 JOD 4.67
-45.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.53 ฿442
$11.20 JOD 7.93
20.80%
Apples (1kg)
$3.28 ฿107
$1.39 JOD 0.98
135.97%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ฿52.6
$0.74 JOD 0.52
117.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 ฿78.6
$1.38 JOD 0.98
74.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿68.1
$0.27 JOD 0.19
670.37%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿49.93
$0.33 JOD 0.24
363.64%
Onion (1kg)
$1.48 ฿48.36
$0.27 JOD 0.19
448.15%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 ฿32.29
$0.66 JOD 0.47
50.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.67
$0.59 JOD 0.41
-13.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41 ฿144
$3.62 JOD 2.56
21.82%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.38 ฿633
$16.82 JOD 11.90
15.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿58.1
$4.88 JOD 3.45
-63.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 ฿88.6
$5.48 JOD 3.88
-50.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Umm As-summaq
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.37 ฿44.79
$0.69 JOD 0.49
98.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.39 ฿372
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿98.6
$0.74 JOD 0.53
308.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.99 ฿32.48
$0.29 JOD 0.21
241.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.10 ฿461
$6.95 JOD 4.92
102.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 ฿44.51
$1.38 JOD 0.98
-1.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K ฿921.1K
$26.7K JOD 18.9K
5.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K ฿1.1M
$32.3K JOD 22.8K
1.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Umm As-summaq
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ฿3,975
$105 JOD 74.5
15.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 ฿443
$16.95 JOD 11.99
-19.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31 ฿598
$32.11 JOD 22.73
-42.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Umm As-summaq
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.2 ฿1,967
$41.42 JOD 29.31
45.39%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14 ฿560
$34.88 JOD 24.69
-50.86%
Cinema Ticket
$8.69 ฿284
$11.25 JOD 7.96
-22.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Umm As-summaq
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$693 ฿22.6K
$272 JOD 193
154.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.7K ฿512.3K
$5,407 JOD 3,826
190.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Umm As-summaq
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5 ฿1,944
$61.8 JOD 43.71
-3.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77 ฿1,136
$55.8 JOD 39.48
-37.68%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,743
$115 JOD 81.1
0.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3 ฿2,720
$81.9 JOD 57.9
1.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Umm As-summaq
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$613 ฿20.0K
$379 JOD 269
61.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$437 ฿14.3K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,094 ฿68.4K
$460 JOD 325
355.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,509 ฿49.3K
$354 JOD 251
325.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,749 ฿122.5K
$1,707 JOD 1,208
119.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,616 ฿85.4K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Umm As-summaq
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$508 ฿16.6K
$851 JOD 602
-40.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
6.67
-20.09%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Umm As-summaq: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $613 in Phuket and $379 in Umm As-summaq. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Umm As-summaq pays 67% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $45.00 in Phuket vs $50.0 in Umm As-summaq. Groceries flip the comparison at $293 vs $205, 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, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 77% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Umm As-summaq?
On paper, Umm As-summaq earns 67% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Umm As-summaq?
Rent for a central apartment: $613 in Phuket versus $379 in Umm As-summaq. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $693 in Phuket versus $272 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 Umm As-summaq?
Dining out is cheaper in Umm As-summaq – a meal for two runs $50.0 versus $45.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Phuket or Umm As-summaq?
At $716 in Umm As-summaq versus $1,265 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 77% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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