Mugla vs Khamis Mushayt: Which City Wins for Expats in 2026?
Mugla costs roughly 13% less than Khamis Mushayt. Beyond cost, the two cities are closely matched — lifestyle fit and visa options are likely the deciding factors. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Mugla is approximately 11% less expensive than Khamis Mushayt based on cost of living including rent. This makes Mugla a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Mugla has a FIRE Score of 83/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 75, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Mugla is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
About Mugla
Mugla is a small inland city of 65 thousand at 670 m elevation, so you trade beachfront bustle for cooler air and cheap living: a city center one-bedroom runs $405/mo while a three-bedroom outside the center drops to $507/mo. The catch is earning power, since the average monthly net salary of $1,520/mo barely clears the $3,000/mo income floor for Turkey's Digital Nomad Visa, making remote work the only sensible play here. With a cost of living index of 38/100, a safety index of 75/100, and an expat score of 81/100, it suits budget-minded remote workers and early retirees who want a small, widely English-speaking community and can tolerate a small expat scene and a 90 km haul to DLM.
About Turkey
Best for digital nomads meeting the $3,000/mo income requirement for Turkey’s dedicated visa. COL is 61% lower than NYC with a single monthly budget of $646.20 excluding rent. However, internists and a moderate political stability score pose risks for long-term stays.
$2,247/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
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About Khamis Mushayt
Khamis Mushayt is a cheap, high-altitude Saudi city that rewards budget-minded expats willing to trade big-city polish for real savings. A 1-bedroom outside the center runs $320/mo, utilities average just $34/mo, and the overall cost of living index sits at 43/100, which helps explain the strong FIRE score of 81/100. The catch is the local average net salary of $1,599/mo and limited English proficiency, so a small expat community in Al Khalidiyah and As-Suqoor suits those with a remote income or a local contract. Air quality at 72 and internet at 15 Mbps are the honest drawbacks, but a safety index of 78/100 makes daily life here easy to like.
About Saudi Arabia
Best for FIRE & GeoArbitrage seekers who want zero income tax and low costs — $780/mo excluding rent is 58% cheaper than NYC. Safety is strong with a 76.1 index and crime at 23.9, well below US averages. The dealbreaker: no retirement or digital nomad visa, a difficult path to PR, and a Travel Advisory Level of 3 from the US signals political risk.
$2,332/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
Which visa fits your move?
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| Metric | Mugla | Khamis Mushayt |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $405.35 | $450 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $304.01 | $320 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $810.7 | $850 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $506.69 | $600 |
| Safety Index | 75 | 78 |
| Internet Speed | 48Mbps | 15Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | Mugla | Khamis Mushayt |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | $714/mo | $719/mo |
| Excluding rent | $410/mo | $399/mo |
| Rent | $304/mo | $320/mo |
| Groceries | $107/mo | $124/mo |
| Dining out | $66.00/mo | $47.00/mo |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | $137/mo | $142/mo |
| Utilities & connectivity | $100/mo | $86.00/mo |
| Transport | N/A | N/A |
Usage-based estimates from this city's own average prices. A row marked N/A means that city is missing data, so no figure is shown instead of a stale one.
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Mugla vs Khamis Mushayt -- Frequently Asked Questions
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