😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,032 in Wadi Musa.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,054 in Phuket versus $1,330 in Wadi Musa.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,876 in Phuket versus $1,628 in Wadi Musa.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 19% more expensive than in Wadi Musa, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket10% lower, Wadi Musa25% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Wadi Musa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.41฿147
$7.03JOD 4.97
-37.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26฿1,073
$34.63JOD 24.51
-6.84%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.93฿297
$6.84JOD 4.84
30.56%
Cappuccino
$2.90฿96.3
$2.77JOD 1.96
4.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88฿29.27
$0.51JOD 0.36
72.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.00
$0.41JOD 0.29
17.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.35฿78.2
$8.33JOD 5.89
-71.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿124
$10.80JOD 7.64
-65.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Wadi Musa
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.87฿62.0
$1.43JOD 1.02
30.77%
White Bread(500g)
$1.47฿48.75
$0.72JOD 0.51
104.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.55฿51.6
$1.37JOD 0.97
13.14%
Eggs
$2.10฿69.9
$2.39JOD 1.69
-12.13%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.59฿651
$9.25JOD 6.55
111.78%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.42฿114
$5.55JOD 3.93
-38.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.38฿378
$11.23JOD 7.95
1.34%
Apples(1kg)
$2.98฿99.2
$1.44JOD 1.02
106.94%
Banana(1kg)
$1.68฿56.0
$1.39JOD 0.99
20.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.21฿73.5
$1.38JOD 0.98
60.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.16฿71.9
$0.72JOD 0.51
200.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.52฿50.7
$0.74JOD 0.52
105.41%
Onion(1kg)
$1.34฿44.49
$0.69JOD 0.49
94.20%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.13฿37.53
$0.60JOD 0.42
88.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55฿18.17
$0.40JOD 0.29
37.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26฿142
$3.60JOD 2.55
18.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.09฿635
$21.37JOD 15.12
-10.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿59.2
$5.22JOD 3.69
-65.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78฿92.5
$5.20JOD 3.68
-46.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Wadi Musa
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.23฿74.1
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.74฿756
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.03฿101
$0.59JOD 0.42
413.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02฿34.02
$1.38JOD 0.98
-26.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.89฿129
$7.10JOD 5.02
-45.21%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49฿49.57
$1.11JOD 0.78
34.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K฿883.8K
$35.0KJOD 24.7K
-23.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K฿898.7K
$34.0KJOD 24.0K
-20.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Wadi Musa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102฿3,407
$69.2JOD 48.94
48.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.33฿377
$4.14JOD 2.93
173.67%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.40฿578
$13.84JOD 9.80
25.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Wadi Musa
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.1฿1,732
$35.30JOD 24.98
47.54%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07฿368
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.69฿256
$11.35JOD 8.03
-32.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Wadi Musa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$561฿18.6K
$489JOD 346
14.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.5K฿382.6K
$9,433JOD 6,676
21.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Wadi Musa
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.0฿2,096
$63.8JOD 45.14
-1.19%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.52฿982
$82.2JOD 58.2
-64.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.0฿3,259
$124JOD 87.8
-20.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5฿2,943
$85.3JOD 60.4
3.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Wadi Musa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$738฿24.5K
$346JOD 245
113.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$482฿16.0K
$285JOD 202
69.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,107฿70.0K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,226฿40.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,617฿120.3K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,603฿86.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Wadi Musa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494฿16.4K
$496JOD 351
-0.49%
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 Wadi Musa: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $738 in Phuket and $346 in Wadi Musa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Wadi Musa pays 0% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $32.00 in Phuket vs $35.00 in Wadi Musa. Groceries flip the comparison at $274 vs $241, with Wadi Musa 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 Wadi Musa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wadi Musa cheaper than Phuket?
Wadi Musa is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 19% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Wadi Musa?
On paper, salaries run 0% lower in Wadi Musa. 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 Wadi Musa?
Rent for a central apartment: $738 in Phuket versus $346 in Wadi Musa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $561 in Phuket versus $489 in Wadi Musa. 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 Wadi Musa?
Dining out is cheaper in Wadi Musa – a meal for two runs $35.00 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 Wadi Musa?
At $1,032 in Wadi Musa versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Wadi Musa but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Wadi Musa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Wadi Musa more family-friendly?
For families, Wadi Musa 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 Wadi Musa?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Wadi Musa 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 Wadi Musa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.