Cost of Living Comparison Between Matola and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Matola and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,024 per month in Matola vs $1,265 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,519 per month in Matola vs $2,297 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,014 per month in Matola vs $3,329 in Phuket, rent included.

Matola is about 19% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Matola and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Matola 24% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.67 MZN 485

$4.70 ฿153

63.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.94 MZN 3,095

$45.37 ฿1,482

7.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.60 MZN 481

$8.43 ฿275

-9.85%

Cappuccino

$1.60 MZN 101

$2.93 ฿95.6

-45.39%

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

$0.75 MZN 47.55

$0.69 ฿22.40

8.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.58 MZN 36.58

$0.37 ฿11.99

56.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.19 MZN 75.2

$2.41 ฿78.6

-50.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 MZN 101

$3.72 ฿122

-56.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.57 MZN 99.1

$2.23 ฿72.9

-29.60%

White Bread (500g)

$1.04 MZN 65.8

$1.83 ฿59.8

-43.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.69 MZN 107

$2.17 ฿70.8

-22.12%

Eggs

$1.92 MZN 122

$2.21 ฿72.3

-13.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.03 MZN 824

$19.74 ฿645

-33.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.28 MZN 334

$3.63 ฿119

45.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.65 MZN 294

$13.53 ฿442

-65.63%

Apples (1kg)

$1.97 MZN 124

$3.28 ฿107

-39.94%

Banana (1kg)

$0.63 MZN 39.82

$1.61 ฿52.6

-60.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.34 MZN 84.6

$2.41 ฿78.6

-44.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.99 MZN 62.6

$2.08 ฿68.1

-52.40%

Potato (1kg)

$0.93 MZN 59.1

$1.53 ฿49.93

-39.22%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 MZN 42.60

$1.48 ฿48.36

-54.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 MZN 62.4

$0.99 ฿32.29

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 MZN 33.63

$0.51 ฿16.67

3.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.61 MZN 165

$4.41 ฿144

-40.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.14 MZN 451

$19.38 ฿633

-63.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 MZN 61.8

$1.78 ฿58.1

-44.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.29 MZN 81.4

$2.71 ฿88.6

-52.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.37 ฿44.79

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.39 ฿372

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.60 MZN 101

$3.02 ฿98.6

-47.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.89 MZN 183

$0.99 ฿32.48

191.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.44 MZN 1,545

$14.10 ฿461

73.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MZN 83.1

$1.36 ฿44.51

-3.68%

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

$35.8K MZN 2.3M

$28.2K ฿921.1K

26.92%

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

$19.7K MZN 1.2M

$32.9K ฿1.1M

-40.11%

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

$38.50 MZN 2,435

$122 ฿3,975

-68.36%

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

$14.16 MZN 895

$13.57 ฿443

4.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$79.6 MZN 5,031

$18.31 ฿598

334.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.34 MZN 2,488

$60.2 ฿1,967

-34.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 ฿560

Cinema Ticket

$7.67 MZN 485

$8.69 ฿284

-11.74%

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

$185 MZN 11.7K

$693 ฿22.6K

-73.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,823 MZN 368.2K

$15.7K ฿512.3K

-62.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.19 MZN 3,111

$59.5 ฿1,944

-17.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$62.7 MZN 3,966

$34.77 ฿1,136

80.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.7 MZN 5,227

$115 ฿3,743

-27.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.4 MZN 5,085

$83.3 ฿2,720

-3.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 MZN 30.1K

$613 ฿20.0K

-22.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$396 MZN 25.0K

$437 ฿14.3K

-9.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$794 MZN 50.2K

$2,094 ฿68.4K

-62.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$579 MZN 36.6K

$1,509 ฿49.3K

-61.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,749 ฿122.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,616 ฿85.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$310 MZN 19.6K

$508 ฿16.6K

-39.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

24.33

5.33

356.47%

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

Last update for Matola: May 31, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Matola 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 64% 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 $49.00 in Matola versus $45.00 in Phuket. Groceries tell a different story – $180 in Matola vs $293 in Phuket – so Matola wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Matola vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,024 in Matola, $1,265 in Phuket – roughly 24% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,535 per month in Matola 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 Matola, 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 $1,024 in Matola and $1,265 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $185 per month in Matola and $693 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Matola, where all-in costs run around $1,024, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Matola it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,024 in Matola to $1,265 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Matola. 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.