Cost of Living Comparison Between Antananarivo and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Antananarivo and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $571 per month in Antananarivo vs $1,265 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,045 per month in Antananarivo vs $2,297 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,519 per month in Antananarivo vs $3,329 in Phuket, rent included.

Antananarivo is about 55% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Antananarivo and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Antananarivo 57% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.34 MGA 14.0K

$4.70 ฿154

-28.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.75 MGA 78.6K

$45.37 ฿1,483

-58.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.81 MGA 20.2K

$8.43 ฿276

-42.94%

Cappuccino

$1.29 MGA 5,424

$2.93 ฿95.7

-55.97%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.06 MGA 4,432

$0.69 ฿22.42

53.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.59 MGA 2,494

$0.37 ฿12.00

59.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.75 MGA 3,137

$2.41 ฿78.7

-68.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 MGA 6,583

$3.72 ฿122

-57.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 MGA 4,710

$2.23 ฿73.0

-49.78%

White Bread (500g)

$1.09 MGA 4,567

$1.83 ฿59.9

-40.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.74 MGA 3,113

$2.17 ฿70.9

-65.90%

Eggs

$2.07 MGA 8,664

$2.21 ฿72.4

-6.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.33 MGA 43.3K

$19.74 ฿645

-47.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.55 MGA 19.1K

$3.63 ฿119

25.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.42 MGA 18.5K

$13.53 ฿442

-67.33%

Apples (1kg)

$1.31 MGA 5,510

$3.28 ฿107

-60.06%

Banana (1kg)

$0.59 MGA 2,492

$1.61 ฿52.7

-63.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.08 MGA 4,516

$2.41 ฿78.7

-55.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.00 MGA 4,189

$2.08 ฿68.1

-51.92%

Potato (1kg)

$0.73 MGA 3,060

$1.53 ฿49.97

-52.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.00 MGA 4,212

$1.48 ฿48.41

-32.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.34 MGA 1,437

$0.99 ฿32.32

-65.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 MGA 2,905

$0.51 ฿16.68

35.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.61 MGA 10.9K

$4.41 ฿144

-40.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.49 MGA 23.0K

$19.38 ฿634

-71.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 MGA 3,438

$1.78 ฿58.1

-53.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.28 MGA 5,347

$2.71 ฿88.7

-52.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.12 MGA 491

$1.37 ฿44.83

-91.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.39 ฿372

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.92 MGA 12.2K

$3.02 ฿98.7

-3.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.71 MGA 7,158

$0.99 ฿32.51

72.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.39 MGA 18.4K

$14.10 ฿461

-68.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 MGA 5,148

$1.36 ฿44.55

-9.56%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$12.0K MGA 50.4M

$28.2K ฿921.9K

-57.36%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$24.0K MGA 100.8M

$32.9K ฿1.1M

-26.94%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$58.5 MGA 245.5K

$122 ฿3,978

-51.90%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$15.69 MGA 65.8K

$13.57 ฿444

15.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$47.42 MGA 198.9K

$18.31 ฿599

158.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.55 MGA 153.3K

$60.2 ฿1,969

-39.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.34 MGA 26.6K

$17.14 ฿560

-63.01%

Cinema Ticket

$6.78 MGA 28.4K

$8.69 ฿284

-21.98%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$72.2 MGA 302.8K

$693 ฿22.7K

-89.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K MGA 48.8M

$15.7K ฿512.8K

-25.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.63 MGA 128.4K

$59.5 ฿1,946

-48.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.63 MGA 124.2K

$34.77 ฿1,137

-14.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.8 MGA 326.3K

$115 ฿3,746

-32.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.3 MGA 320.0K

$83.3 ฿2,723

-8.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$382 MGA 1.6M

$613 ฿20.0K

-37.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$77.8 MGA 326.1K

$437 ฿14.3K

-82.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$584 MGA 2.4M

$2,094 ฿68.5K

-72.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$436 MGA 1.8M

$1,509 ฿49.3K

-71.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$699 MGA 2.9M

$3,749 ฿122.6K

-81.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$587 MGA 2.5M

$2,616 ฿85.5K

-77.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$122 MGA 509.8K

$508 ฿16.6K

-76.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

181.43%

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

Last update for Antananarivo: June 1, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $382 in Antananarivo versus $613 in Phuket. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 318% higher in Phuket, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Antananarivo versus $45.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $151 vs $293 – making Antananarivo the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Antananarivo vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 121%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $857 per month in Antananarivo and $1,898 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Antananarivo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $571 in Antananarivo and $1,265 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $72.2 per month in Antananarivo and $693 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Antananarivo, where all-in costs run around $571, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Antananarivo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Antananarivo – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Antananarivo. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.