🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $881 in Qalqilya versus $1,232 in Phuket.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,300 in Qalqilya versus $2,255 in Phuket.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,718 in Qalqilya versus $3,279 in Phuket.
🙂Living in Qalqilya costs roughly 28% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Qalqilya34% lower, Phuket8% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Qalqilya
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.83₪14.35
$4.63฿151
4.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.48₪66.8
$46.84฿1,523
-52.01%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.83₪23.27
$8.84฿287
-11.43%
Cappuccino
$1.38₪4.11
$3.00฿97.4
-54.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72₪2.13
$0.74฿24.11
-2.70%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62₪1.83
$0.37฿11.88
67.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.18₪9.45
$2.44฿79.3
30.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33₪9.89
$3.61฿117
-7.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Qalqilya
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.06₪6.13
$2.26฿73.5
-8.85%
White Bread(500g)
$1.14₪3.39
$1.84฿59.8
-38.04%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.12₪6.31
$2.24฿73.0
-5.36%
Eggs
$2.08₪6.18
$2.32฿75.3
-10.34%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.99₪14.81
$19.67฿639
-74.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.22₪21.45
$3.65฿119
97.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.55₪31.33
$13.10฿426
-19.47%
Apples(1kg)
$1.63₪4.86
$3.39฿110
-51.92%
Banana(1kg)
$1.18₪3.51
$1.64฿53.4
-28.05%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.87₪2.60
$2.41฿78.5
-63.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37₪4.08
$2.03฿66.0
-32.51%
Potato(1kg)
$1.05₪3.13
$1.56฿50.6
-32.69%
Onion(1kg)
$1.33₪3.95
$1.50฿48.66
-11.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.37₪4.08
$1.02฿33.30
34.31%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82₪2.44
$0.49฿15.91
67.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.44₪22.09
$4.45฿145
67.19%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$18.88฿614
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.64₪7.84
$1.78฿57.7
48.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44₪7.25
$2.75฿89.5
-11.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Qalqilya
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.24₪3.68
$1.40฿45.54
-11.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$56.2₪167
$11.48฿373
389.37%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.58₪7.67
$3.12฿101
-17.31%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.59₪7.68
$1.00฿32.48
159.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.18₪42.10
$14.09฿458
0.64%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.93₪5.72
$1.35฿43.93
42.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.2K₪113.5K
$27.2K฿883.7K
40.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.1K₪116.2K
$32.9K฿1.1M
18.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Qalqilya
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.9₪249
$125฿4,063
-32.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.78₪49.83
$13.57฿441
23.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.94₪91.9
$18.52฿602
67.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Qalqilya
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$24.21₪71.9
$61.5฿1,999
-60.62%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.01₪29.74
$16.84฿547
-40.56%
Cinema Ticket
$6.29₪18.68
$9.19฿299
-31.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Qalqilya
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$168₪499
$698฿22.7K
-75.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,761₪8,199
$15.6K฿506.9K
-82.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Qalqilya
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.59₪124
$57.8฿1,878
-28.00%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.01₪113
$35.24฿1,146
7.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.7₪216
$113฿3,677
-35.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$62.3₪185
$86.4฿2,808
-27.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Qalqilya
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$350₪1,040
$616฿20.0K
-43.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$238₪706
$446฿14.5K
-46.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$516₪1,531
$2,048฿66.6K
-74.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$311₪925
$1,492฿48.5K
-79.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,779฿122.8K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,649฿86.1K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Qalqilya
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$524฿17.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
5.33
-6.19%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Qalqilya: April 27, 2026
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $350 in Qalqilya and $616 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $22.00 in Qalqilya vs $47.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $196 vs $292 per month, with Qalqilya 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
Qalqilya vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Qalqilya?
Qalqilya is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 40% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,322 in Qalqilya and $1,847 in Phuket 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.
What is the rent difference between Qalqilya and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $350 in Qalqilya versus $616 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $168 in Qalqilya versus $698 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Qalqilya and Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 49% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Qalqilya or Phuket?
At $881 in Qalqilya versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Qalqilya but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Qalqilya the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Qalqilya or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Qalqilya 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, Qalqilya or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Qalqilya and Phuket 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 Qalqilya gentler on the wallet – expenses run 40% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.