Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Ambositra Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Ambositra

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,261 per month in Phuket vs $502 in Ambositra, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,078 per month in Phuket vs $769 in Ambositra, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,896 per month in Phuket vs $1,035 in Ambositra, rent included.

Phuket costs about 151% more than Ambositra, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Ambositra are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 8% lower, Ambositra 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.43 ฿145

$2.82 MGA 12.1K

57.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.07 ฿1,151

$20.53 MGA 88.1K

70.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.96 ฿294

$5.66 MGA 24.3K

58.30%

Cappuccino

$3.00 ฿98.4

$1.66 MGA 7,123

80.72%

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

$0.77 ฿25.33

$0.83 MGA 3,580

-7.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 ฿15.44

$0.47 MGA 2,021

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.40 ฿78.6

$1.02 MGA 4,394

135.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 ฿123

$2.29 MGA 9,818

63.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 ฿59.8

$1.08 MGA 4,652

68.52%

White Bread (500g)

$1.42 ฿46.65

$1.06 MGA 4,565

33.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 ฿50.8

$0.79 MGA 3,411

96.20%

Eggs

$2.13 ฿69.9

$2.05 MGA 8,807

3.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.76 ฿648

$8.93 MGA 38.3K

121.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.48 ฿114

$4.56 MGA 19.6K

-23.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.09 ฿364

$4.99 MGA 21.4K

122.24%

Apples (1kg)

$2.91 ฿95.5

$1.12 MGA 4,823

159.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 ฿54.6

$0.56 MGA 2,419

196.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.27 ฿74.5

$1.08 MGA 4,622

110.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.10 ฿68.8

$0.91 MGA 3,916

130.77%

Potato (1kg)

$1.47 ฿48.24

$0.62 MGA 2,664

137.10%

Onion (1kg)

$1.41 ฿46.29

$0.96 MGA 4,106

46.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 ฿35.78

$0.36 MGA 1,529

202.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 ฿17.58

$0.76 MGA 3,241

-28.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.48 ฿147

$1.67 MGA 7,155

168.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.72 ฿614

$5.34 MGA 22.9K

250.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 ฿60.4

$1.02 MGA 4,375

80.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 ฿96.7

$1.94 MGA 8,315

52.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.26 ฿74.1

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.07 ฿757

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.04 ฿99.9

$3.44 MGA 14.7K

-11.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.09 ฿35.82

$2.07 MGA 8,892

-47.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.82 ฿125

$4.62 MGA 19.8K

-17.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿48.79

$1.24 MGA 5,300

20.16%

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

$27.4K ฿900.3K

$12.4K MGA 53.3M

120.99%

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

$27.5K ฿902.7K

$26.1K MGA 111.9M

5.45%

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

$102 ฿3,340

$75.4 MGA 323.7K

34.95%

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

$11.28 ฿370

$17.68 MGA 75.9K

-36.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.75 ฿582

$57.8 MGA 248.1K

-69.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.2 ฿1,777

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.96 ฿360

Cinema Ticket

$7.85 ฿258

$6.45 MGA 27.7K

21.71%

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

$577 ฿18.9K

$25.33 MGA 108.7K

2178.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ฿381.6K

$15.4K MGA 65.9M

-24.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.4 ฿2,144

$29.42 MGA 126.2K

122.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.89 ฿948

$28.88 MGA 123.9K

0.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.1 ฿3,250

$80.2 MGA 344.0K

23.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.3 ฿2,961

$70.9 MGA 304.1K

27.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$756 ฿24.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$487 ฿16.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,085 ฿68.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,207 ฿39.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,591 ฿117.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,610 ฿85.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$502 ฿16.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

15.75

-64.63%

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

Last update for Phuket: August 18, 2026

Last update for Ambositra: August 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Phuket versus $21.00 in Ambositra. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $272 vs $149 – making Ambositra 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

Phuket vs Ambositra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 151%, 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 $1,891 per month in Phuket and $754 in Ambositra. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,261 in Phuket and $502 in Ambositra. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $577 per month in Phuket and $25.33 in Ambositra. 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 Ambositra, where all-in costs run around $502, than in Phuket at $1,261. In Ambositra it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ambositra – 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 Ambositra. 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.