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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Matola vs $1,232 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,513 per month in Matola vs $2,054 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,013 per month in Matola vs $2,876 in Phuket, rent included.

Matola is about 18% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Matola and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Matola 26% lower, Phuket 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.02 MZN 507

$4.41 ฿147

81.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.5 MZN 4,015

$32.26 ฿1,073

96.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.41 MZN 468

$8.93 ฿297

-17.02%

Cappuccino

$1.55 MZN 97.8

$2.90 ฿96.3

-46.55%

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

$0.89 MZN 56.0

$0.88 ฿29.27

1.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 MZN 44.16

$0.48 ฿16.00

45.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.20 MZN 75.9

$2.35 ฿78.2

-48.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.53 MZN 96.6

$3.72 ฿124

-58.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.52 MZN 96.0

$1.87 ฿62.0

-18.72%

White Bread (500g)

$1.00 MZN 63.1

$1.47 ฿48.75

-31.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 MZN 102

$1.55 ฿51.6

3.23%

Eggs

$1.83 MZN 116

$2.10 ฿69.9

-12.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.22 MZN 836

$19.59 ฿651

-32.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.75 MZN 364

$3.42 ฿114

68.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.63 MZN 293

$11.38 ฿378

-59.31%

Apples (1kg)

$1.98 MZN 126

$2.98 ฿99.2

-33.56%

Banana (1kg)

$0.59 MZN 37.41

$1.68 ฿56.0

-64.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 MZN 103

$2.21 ฿73.5

-26.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.04 MZN 66.0

$2.16 ฿71.9

-51.85%

Potato (1kg)

$1.00 MZN 63.2

$1.52 ฿50.7

-34.21%

Onion (1kg)

$0.82 MZN 51.7

$1.34 ฿44.49

-38.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.95 MZN 60.1

$1.13 ฿37.53

-15.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 MZN 33.52

$0.55 ฿18.17

-3.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.76 MZN 175

$4.26 ฿142

-35.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.24 MZN 458

$19.09 ฿635

-62.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 MZN 60.9

$1.78 ฿59.2

-46.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.21 MZN 76.8

$2.78 ฿92.5

-56.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.23 ฿74.1

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.74 ฿756

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.60 MZN 101

$3.03 ฿101

-47.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.20 MZN 75.6

$1.02 ฿34.02

17.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.78 MZN 1,568

$3.89 ฿129

537.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 MZN 84.1

$1.49 ฿49.57

-10.74%

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

$31.1K MZN 2.0M

$26.6K ฿883.8K

17.16%

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

$22.6K MZN 1.4M

$27.0K ฿898.7K

-16.22%

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

$38.84 MZN 2,456

$102 ฿3,407

-62.10%

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

$7.69 MZN 487

$11.33 ฿377

-32.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.9 MZN 4,863

$17.40 ฿578

341.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.93 MZN 2,462

$52.1 ฿1,732

-25.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.07 ฿368

Cinema Ticket

$7.71 MZN 487

$7.69 ฿256

0.26%

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

$127 MZN 8,020

$561 ฿18.6K

-77.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,198 MZN 328.8K

$11.5K ฿382.6K

-54.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.8 MZN 3,212

$63.0 ฿2,096

-19.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.5 MZN 3,573

$29.52 ฿982

91.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.0 MZN 4,936

$98.0 ฿3,259

-20.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.7 MZN 5,043

$88.5 ฿2,943

-9.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$465 MZN 29.4K

$738 ฿24.5K

-37.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$393 MZN 24.8K

$482 ฿16.0K

-18.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$714 MZN 45.2K

$2,107 ฿70.0K

-66.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$557 MZN 35.2K

$1,226 ฿40.8K

-54.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,617 ฿120.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,603 ฿86.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$309 MZN 19.6K

$494 ฿16.4K

-37.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

348.83%

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

Last update for Matola: September 14, 2026

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $465 in Matola versus $738 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 60% 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 $63.0 in Matola versus $32.00 in Phuket. Groceries tell a different story – $183 in Matola vs $274 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: $1,013 in Matola, $1,232 in Phuket – roughly 22% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,520 per month in Matola and $1,847 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 $1,013 in Matola and $1,232 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $127 per month in Matola and $561 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 $1,013, than in Phuket at $1,232. 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 $1,013 in Matola to $1,232 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.