Cost of Living Comparison Between Saham and PhuketCost of Living Comparison Between Saham and Phuket
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $960 in Saham versus $1,253 in Phuket.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,432 in Saham versus $2,043 in Phuket.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,904 in Saham versus $2,833 in Phuket.
🌍Living in Saham costs roughly 23% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Saham30% lower, Phuket9% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Saham
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.32OMR 2.05
$4.56฿150
16.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.16OMR 12.77
$32.62฿1,073
1.66%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.96OMR 3.07
$8.90฿293
-10.56%
Cappuccino
$4.90OMR 1.89
$2.80฿92.2
75.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85OMR 0.33
$0.88฿28.94
-3.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29OMR 0.11
$0.49฿16.08
-40.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$12.87OMR 4.95
$2.39฿78.5
438.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$13.25OMR 5.10
$3.71฿122
257.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Saham
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26OMR 0.87
$1.79฿58.8
26.26%
White Bread(500g)
$1.24OMR 0.48
$1.44฿47.40
-13.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91OMR 0.73
$1.58฿52.1
20.89%
Eggs
$2.84OMR 1.09
$2.13฿69.9
33.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.55OMR 2.91
$19.92฿655
-62.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.71OMR 2.58
$3.43฿113
95.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.72OMR 4.13
$11.33฿372
-5.38%
Apples(1kg)
$3.53OMR 1.36
$2.95฿97.0
19.66%
Banana(1kg)
$1.91OMR 0.73
$1.72฿56.6
11.05%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.30OMR 0.89
$2.32฿76.5
-0.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.24OMR 0.48
$2.08฿68.4
-40.38%
Potato(1kg)
$1.19OMR 0.46
$1.47฿48.34
-19.05%
Onion(1kg)
$1.29OMR 0.50
$1.36฿44.65
-5.15%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.84OMR 0.71
$1.10฿36.13
67.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.62OMR 0.24
$0.57฿18.89
8.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.60OMR 2.54
$4.27฿140
54.57%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.65OMR 6.03
$18.42฿606
-15.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$5.56OMR 2.14
$1.87฿61.5
197.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.69OMR 3.34
$2.92฿96.1
197.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Saham
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$2.22฿73.0
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$22.90฿753
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.21OMR 1.24
$3.03฿99.6
5.94%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.53OMR 0.97
$1.07฿35.32
136.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.76OMR 2.99
$3.93฿129
97.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.59OMR 0.23
$1.49฿49.06
-60.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.9KOMR 9,975
$27.1K฿892.0K
-4.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.3KOMR 8,593
$27.5K฿902.6K
-18.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saham
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$170OMR 65.4
$103฿3,380
65.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.30OMR 12.05
$10.99฿361
184.80%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.5OMR 27.53
$17.51฿576
308.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Saham
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$53.5฿1,760
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$11.20฿368
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.29OMR 3.96
$7.48฿246
37.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Saham
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$286OMR 110
$557฿18.3K
-48.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KOMR 4,025
$11.9K฿389.7K
-11.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Saham
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.3OMR 22.07
$64.1฿2,107
-10.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.21OMR 16.64
$29.07฿956
48.64%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.6OMR 35.25
$96.0฿3,155
-4.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.1OMR 36.21
$90.3฿2,970
4.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Saham
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$730฿24.0K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$500฿16.4K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,090฿68.7K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,209฿39.8K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,596฿118.2K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,512฿82.6K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Saham
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$503฿16.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.25
5.57
-5.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Saham: August 31, 2026
Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Saham vs $33.00 in Phuket. Groceries flip the comparison at $284 vs $273, with Phuket 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
Saham vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Saham?
Saham is cheaper overall, especially in Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 31% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,440 in Saham and $1,880 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.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $286 in Saham versus $557 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Saham or in Phuket?
Dining out is cheaper in Saham – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $33.00 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 Saham or in Phuket?
At $960 in Saham versus $1,253 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Saham but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Saham the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Saham or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Saham 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, Saham or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Saham 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 Saham gentler on the wallet – expenses run 31% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.