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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,190 per month in Phuket vs $490 in Ambositra, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,006 per month in Phuket vs $745 in Ambositra, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,822 per month in Phuket vs $1,000 in Ambositra, rent included.

Phuket costs about 143% more than Ambositra, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Ambositra are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 11% lower, Ambositra 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.35 ฿146

$2.69 MGA 12.0K

61.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.45 ฿1,093

$20.82 MGA 92.6K

55.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.42 ฿283

$5.79 MGA 25.7K

45.42%

Cappuccino

$2.81 ฿94.5

$1.65 MGA 7,330

70.30%

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

$0.87 ฿29.46

$0.82 MGA 3,660

6.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ฿15.48

$0.45 MGA 2,007

2.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.59 ฿87.0

$1.02 MGA 4,519

153.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.64 ฿123

$2.24 MGA 9,944

62.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿57.5

$1.04 MGA 4,615

64.42%

White Bread (500g)

$1.45 ฿48.69

$1.01 MGA 4,510

43.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 ฿52.5

$0.72 MGA 3,217

116.67%

Eggs

$2.10 ฿70.7

$2.01 MGA 8,948

4.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.53 ฿657

$8.49 MGA 37.7K

130.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.40 ฿114

$4.43 MGA 19.7K

-23.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.14 ฿375

$5.02 MGA 22.3K

121.91%

Apples (1kg)

$2.83 ฿95.4

$1.06 MGA 4,709

166.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.6

$0.54 MGA 2,414

200.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.22 ฿74.9

$1.07 MGA 4,737

107.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.15 ฿72.3

$0.90 MGA 3,995

138.89%

Potato (1kg)

$1.49 ฿50.2

$0.60 MGA 2,682

148.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.33 ฿44.65

$0.99 MGA 4,398

34.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 ฿35.92

$0.33 MGA 1,466

224.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿17.10

$0.68 MGA 3,023

-25.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.38 ฿148

$1.62 MGA 7,222

170.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.77 ฿632

$5.03 MGA 22.4K

273.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 ฿58.6

$1.04 MGA 4,606

67.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿93.5

$1.81 MGA 8,056

53.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.17 ฿73.0

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.28 ฿750

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿102

$3.38 MGA 15.0K

-10.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.06 ฿35.63

$2.01 MGA 8,939

-47.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.71 ฿125

$4.57 MGA 20.3K

-18.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 ฿48.16

$1.13 MGA 5,023

26.55%

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

$26.3K ฿887.1K

$11.9K MGA 53.1M

120.54%

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

$26.2K ฿882.3K

$25.6K MGA 113.9M

2.31%

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

$96.7 ฿3,254

$76.0 MGA 337.8K

27.20%

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

$11.41 ฿384

$17.22 MGA 76.6K

-33.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.11 ฿576

$58.3 MGA 259.1K

-70.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.8 ฿1,778

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.07 ฿373

Cinema Ticket

$7.65 ฿258

$5.65 MGA 25.1K

35.40%

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

$555 ฿18.7K

$25.50 MGA 113.4K

2075.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.3K ฿379.9K

$14.9K MGA 66.3M

-24.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.4 ฿2,135

$28.78 MGA 127.9K

120.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.61 ฿963

$28.22 MGA 125.5K

1.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.7 ฿3,256

$77.4 MGA 343.9K

25.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.6 ฿2,983

$70.2 MGA 311.9K

26.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$735 ฿24.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$458 ฿15.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,102 ฿70.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,187 ฿40.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,493 ฿117.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,491 ฿83.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$501 ฿16.9K

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: October 4, 2026

Last update for Ambositra: October 4, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Phuket versus $21.00 in Ambositra. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $268 vs $144 – 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 143%, 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 $1,785 per month in Phuket and $735 in Ambositra. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,190 in Phuket and $490 in Ambositra. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $555 per month in Phuket and $25.50 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 $490, than in Phuket at $1,190. 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.