Cost of Living Comparison Between Sa'dah and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Sa'dah and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $766 in Sa'dah versus $1,261 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,189 in Sa'dah versus $2,078 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,611 in Sa'dah versus $2,896 in Phuket.

Living in Sa'dah costs roughly 39% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sa'dah 44% lower, Phuket 8% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sa'dah
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16 YER 1,459
$4.43 ฿145
39.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.34 YER 6,001
$35.07 ฿1,151
-27.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.36 YER 2,217
$8.96 ฿294
4.46%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.97 YER 467
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45 YER 580
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.75 YER 888
$3.00 ฿98.4
25.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16 YER 274
$0.77 ฿25.33
50.65%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63 YER 149
$0.47 ฿15.44
34.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.40 ฿78.6
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.75 ฿123
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sa'dah
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.07 YER 491
$1.82 ฿59.8
13.74%
White Bread (500g)
$1.71 YER 404
$1.42 ฿46.65
20.42%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.99 YER 472
$1.55 ฿50.8
28.39%
Eggs
$3.57 YER 845
$2.13 ฿69.9
67.61%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.43 YER 4,128
$19.76 ฿648
-11.79%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.26 YER 1,955
$3.48 ฿114
137.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.81 YER 4,456
$11.09 ฿364
69.61%
Apples (1kg)
$3.35 YER 794
$2.91 ฿95.5
15.12%
Banana (1kg)
$1.00 YER 237
$1.66 ฿54.6
-39.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.19 YER 519
$2.27 ฿74.5
-3.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.62 YER 384
$2.10 ฿68.8
-22.86%
Potato (1kg)
$1.48 YER 350
$1.47 ฿48.24
0.68%
Onion (1kg)
$1.37 YER 324
$1.41 ฿46.29
-2.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.21 YER 287
$1.09 ฿35.78
11.01%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.69 YER 164
$0.54 ฿17.58
27.78%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$3.26 YER 773
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 YER 440
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.41 YER 807
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.52 YER 1,307
$4.48 ฿147
23.21%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$18.72 ฿614
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.84 ฿60.4
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.95 ฿96.7
-
🚌 Getting Around
Sa'dah
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$2.26 ฿74.1
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$23.07 ฿757
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.22 YER 1,000
$3.04 ฿99.9
38.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.15 YER 510
$1.09 ฿35.82
97.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.03 YER 1,666
$3.82 ฿125
84.03%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.10 YER 497
$1.49 ฿48.79
40.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.8K YER 4.0M
$27.4K ฿900.3K
-38.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.1K YER 8.3M
$27.5K ฿902.7K
27.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sa'dah
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$108 YER 25.6K
$102 ฿3,340
6.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.19 YER 5,491
$11.28 ฿370
105.59%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$103 YER 24.4K
$17.75 ฿582
480.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sa'dah
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$54.2 ฿1,777
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$10.96 ฿360
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.05 YER 1,432
$7.85 ฿258
-22.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sa'dah
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$115 YER 27.2K
$577 ฿18.9K
-80.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,150 YER 509.1K
$11.6K ฿381.6K
-81.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sa'dah
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.74 YER 10.1K
$65.4 ฿2,144
-34.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$121 YER 28.7K
$28.89 ฿948
319.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$48.10 YER 11.4K
$99.1 ฿3,250
-51.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.30 YER 9,545
$90.3 ฿2,961
-55.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sa'dah
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$756 ฿24.8K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$487 ฿16.0K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$2,085 ฿68.4K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,207 ฿39.6K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,591 ฿117.8K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,610 ฿85.6K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sa'dah
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$314 YER 74.4K
$502 ฿16.5K
-37.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.25
5.57
101.97%

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

Last update for Sa'dah: August 18, 2026

Last update for Phuket: August 18, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Phuket pays 60% 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: $25.00 in Sa'dah vs $35.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $270 vs $272 per month, with Sa'dah 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
Sa'dah vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Sa'dah?
Sa'dah is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 65% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Sa'dah or Phuket?
On paper, salaries run 60% lower in Phuket. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $115 in Sa'dah versus $577 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Sa'dah or in Phuket?
Dining out is cheaper in Sa'dah – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $35.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Sa'dah or in Phuket?
At $766 in Sa'dah versus $1,261 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Sa'dah but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Sa'dah the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Sa'dah or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Sa'dah 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, Sa'dah or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Sa'dah 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 Sa'dah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 65% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Sa'dah vs other spots: cost of living compared

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