Cost of Living Comparison Between Matara and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Matara and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $598 per month in Matara vs $1,265 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $867 per month in Matara vs $2,089 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,136 per month in Matara vs $2,913 in Phuket, rent included.

Matara is about 53% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Matara and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Matara 57% lower, Phuket 8% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.32 LKR 1,421

$4.66 ฿154

-7.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.06 LKR 8,564

$32.22 ฿1,065

-19.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.79 LKR 2,560

$8.68 ฿287

-10.25%

Cappuccino

$2.48 LKR 816

$2.90 ฿95.8

-14.48%

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

$0.69 LKR 227

$0.84 ฿27.89

-17.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 LKR 89.1

$0.49 ฿16.16

-44.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.28 LKR 748

$2.48 ฿82.0

-8.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.09 LKR 1,015

$3.73 ฿123

-17.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.56 LKR 514

$1.89 ฿62.3

-17.46%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 LKR 172

$1.41 ฿46.54

-63.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.79 LKR 260

$1.62 ฿53.6

-51.23%

Eggs

$1.46 LKR 480

$2.24 ฿74.1

-34.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.18 LKR 4,331

$19.84 ฿656

-33.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.20 LKR 1,708

$3.48 ฿115

49.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.26 LKR 2,384

$11.37 ฿376

-36.15%

Apples (1kg)

$6.95 LKR 2,285

$2.90 ฿95.8

139.66%

Banana (1kg)

$0.44 LKR 144

$1.72 ฿57.0

-74.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.30 LKR 1,413

$2.27 ฿75.1

89.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.86 LKR 283

$2.13 ฿70.4

-59.62%

Potato (1kg)

$0.98 LKR 321

$1.47 ฿48.72

-33.33%

Onion (1kg)

$0.62 LKR 204

$1.42 ฿46.92

-56.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 LKR 299

$1.10 ฿36.25

-17.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 LKR 149

$0.60 ฿19.76

-25.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.70 LKR 3,186

$4.31 ฿142

125.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.99 LKR 4,597

$18.60 ฿615

-24.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 LKR 591

$1.80 ฿59.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 LKR 962

$2.97 ฿98.0

-1.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 LKR 94.8

$2.25 ฿74.2

-87.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.49 ฿776

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.38 LKR 126

$3.10 ฿102

-87.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 LKR 117

$1.08 ฿35.56

-66.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 LKR 285

$3.87 ฿128

-77.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 LKR 419

$1.43 ฿47.16

-10.49%

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

$30.4K LKR 10.0M

$27.8K ฿918.0K

9.46%

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

$42.1K LKR 13.8M

$27.0K ฿891.5K

56.13%

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

$45.58 LKR 15.0K

$105 ฿3,462

-56.51%

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

$4.12 LKR 1,355

$11.39 ฿376

-63.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.35 LKR 7,016

$17.54 ฿580

21.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.3 ฿1,795

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.44 ฿378

Cinema Ticket

$4.47 LKR 1,469

$7.78 ฿257

-42.54%

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

$38.10 LKR 12.5K

$576 ฿19.0K

-93.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,210 LKR 397.5K

$11.6K ฿382.7K

-89.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.00 LKR 6,571

$63.6 ฿2,103

-68.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.05 LKR 5,602

$29.10 ฿961

-41.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.5 LKR 26.1K

$96.2 ฿3,179

-17.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$42.56 LKR 14.0K

$90.0 ฿2,974

-52.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$180 LKR 59.3K

$733 ฿24.2K

-75.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$92.6 LKR 30.4K

$501 ฿16.5K

-81.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,126 ฿70.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,252 ฿41.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,534 ฿116.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,622 ฿86.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$105 LKR 34.4K

$508 ฿16.8K

-79.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.69

5.57

127.83%

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

Last update for Matara: September 5, 2026

Last update for Phuket: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $180 in Matara versus $733 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 385% 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 $26.00 in Matara versus $32.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $232 vs $275 – making Matara 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

Matara vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 111%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $898 per month in Matara 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 Matara, 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 $598 in Matara and $1,265 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $38.10 per month in Matara and $576 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 Matara, where all-in costs run around $598, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Matara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Matara – 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 Matara. 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.