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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $717 in Umm As-summaq versus $1,250 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,387 in Umm As-summaq versus $2,284 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,056 in Umm As-summaq versus $3,317 in Phuket.

Living in Umm As-summaq costs roughly 43% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Umm As-summaq 46% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Umm As-summaq
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.47 JOD 4.58
$4.55 ฿153
42.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.79 JOD 35.24
$46.18 ฿1,554
7.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.07 JOD 3.59
$8.84 ฿298
-42.65%
Cappuccino
$4.00 JOD 2.83
$3.06 ฿103
30.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 JOD 0.34
$0.73 ฿24.42
-34.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 JOD 0.26
$0.40 ฿13.40
-7.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.76 JOD 4.08
$2.43 ฿81.8
137.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.19 JOD 5.09
$3.78 ฿127
90.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Umm As-summaq
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.30 JOD 0.92
$2.26 ฿76.0
-42.48%
White Bread (500g)
$0.36 JOD 0.26
$1.81 ฿60.9
-80.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.39 JOD 0.98
$2.25 ฿75.8
-38.22%
Eggs
$2.57 JOD 1.82
$2.25 ฿75.6
14.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$2.87 JOD 2.03
$19.51 ฿656
-85.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.38 JOD 4.51
$3.65 ฿123
74.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.39 JOD 8.06
$13.05 ฿439
-12.72%
Apples (1kg)
$1.39 JOD 0.99
$3.23 ฿109
-56.97%
Banana (1kg)
$0.69 JOD 0.49
$1.62 ฿54.4
-57.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.43 JOD 1.01
$2.38 ฿80.2
-39.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.29 JOD 0.21
$2.03 ฿68.2
-85.71%
Potato (1kg)
$0.37 JOD 0.26
$1.53 ฿51.6
-75.82%
Onion (1kg)
$0.29 JOD 0.21
$1.50 ฿50.5
-80.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.61 JOD 0.43
$0.98 ฿32.93
-37.76%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59 JOD 0.42
$0.52 ฿17.40
13.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.64 JOD 2.57
$4.44 ฿149
-18.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.84 JOD 11.92
$18.32 ฿616
-8.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.70 JOD 3.32
$1.86 ฿62.7
152.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.57 JOD 3.94
$2.68 ฿90.2
107.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Umm As-summaq
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.68 JOD 0.48
$1.41 ฿47.49
-51.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$11.70 ฿394
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.73 JOD 0.52
$3.11 ฿105
-76.53%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.29 JOD 0.21
$1.04 ฿35.08
-72.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.08 JOD 5.01
$14.11 ฿475
-49.82%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.38 JOD 0.98
$1.31 ฿44.13
5.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.3K JOD 19.3K
$27.8K ฿936.0K
-1.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K JOD 23.0K
$33.2K ฿1.1M
-2.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Umm As-summaq
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$104 JOD 73.7
$122 ฿4,120
-14.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.12 JOD 12.11
$13.59 ฿457
25.97%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.03 JOD 22.67
$18.70 ฿629
71.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Umm As-summaq
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.97 JOD 29.00
$60.5 ฿2,035
-32.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.31 JOD 24.99
$16.98 ฿572
107.95%
Cinema Ticket
$11.19 JOD 7.92
$9.07 ฿305
23.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Umm As-summaq
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$277 JOD 196
$706 ฿23.8K
-60.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,456 JOD 3,862
$15.8K ฿531.8K
-65.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Umm As-summaq
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.8 JOD 43.00
$58.6 ฿1,970
3.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.3 JOD 40.58
$35.36 ฿1,190
62.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$112 JOD 79.5
$115 ฿3,885
-2.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.2 JOD 57.5
$83.7 ฿2,818
-2.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Umm As-summaq
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$376 JOD 266
$626 ฿21.1K
-39.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$445 ฿15.0K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$470 JOD 333
$2,040 ฿68.7K
-76.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$359 JOD 254
$1,492 ฿50.2K
-75.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,701 JOD 1,204
$3,483 ฿117.2K
-51.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,577 ฿86.7K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Umm As-summaq
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$859 JOD 608
$500 ฿16.8K
71.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.67
5.33
25.14%

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

Last update for Umm As-summaq: July 12, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $376 in Umm As-summaq and $626 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Umm As-summaq pays 72% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $50.0 in Umm As-summaq vs $46.00 in Phuket. Groceries flip the comparison at $205 vs $289, 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
Umm As-summaq vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Umm As-summaq?
Umm As-summaq is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 74% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Umm As-summaq or Phuket?
Average pay runs 72% higher in Umm As-summaq, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Umm As-summaq and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $376 in Umm As-summaq versus $626 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $277 in Umm As-summaq versus $706 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Umm As-summaq or in Phuket?
Dining out is cheaper in Umm As-summaq – a meal for two runs $50.0 versus $46.00 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 Umm As-summaq or in Phuket?
At $717 in Umm As-summaq versus $1,250 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 Umm As-summaq or Phuket 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, Umm As-summaq or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Umm As-summaq 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 Umm As-summaq gentler on the wallet – expenses run 74% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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