Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Antsirabe

For one person, living is cheaper in Antsirabe: $455 a month against $1,207 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $9,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,207
/mo nomad
Antsirabe
🇲🇬 Madagascar
$455
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Antsirabe

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Phuket and in Antsirabe actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,207 in Phuket versus $455 in Antsirabe.

  • Phuket $1,207
  • Antsirabe $455

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,037 in Phuket versus $684 in Antsirabe.

  • Phuket $2,037
  • Antsirabe $684

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,867 in Phuket versus $912 in Antsirabe.

  • Phuket $2,867
  • Antsirabe $912

Living in Phuket is roughly 166% more expensive than in Antsirabe, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 11% lower, Antsirabe 66% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Antsirabe
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.58 ฿153
$1.08 MGA 4,931
324.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.48 ฿1,086
$15.62 MGA 71.3K
107.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.55 ฿286
$5.62 MGA 25.6K
52.14%
Cappuccino
$2.72 ฿91.0
$1.31 MGA 5,996
107.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94 ฿31.25
$0.75 MGA 3,430
25.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.39
$0.45 MGA 2,030
8.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.59 ฿86.6
$1.03 MGA 4,691
151.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.83 ฿128
$2.25 MGA 10.3K
70.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Antsirabe
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 ฿58.1
$0.93 MGA 4,253
87.10%
White Bread (500g)
$1.43 ฿47.82
$1.02 MGA 4,674
40.20%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.53 ฿51.0
$0.74 MGA 3,388
106.76%
Eggs
$2.17 ฿72.7
$2.04 MGA 9,307
6.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.15 ฿640
$8.25 MGA 37.7K
132.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.30 ฿110
$4.48 MGA 20.4K
-26.34%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.14 ฿372
$4.85 MGA 22.1K
129.69%
Apples (1kg)
$2.95 ฿98.5
$1.07 MGA 4,894
175.70%
Banana (1kg)
$1.68 ฿56.1
$0.53 MGA 2,398
216.98%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.30 ฿76.8
$1.05 MGA 4,774
119.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.13 ฿71.3
$0.81 MGA 3,687
162.96%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿51.1
$0.58 MGA 2,650
163.79%
Onion (1kg)
$1.36 ฿45.55
$0.96 MGA 4,396
41.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.12 ฿37.44
$0.34 MGA 1,574
229.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿18.24
$0.45 MGA 2,055
22.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26 ฿142
$1.53 MGA 6,993
178.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.19 ฿608
$5.01 MGA 22.9K
263.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 ฿58.2
$0.96 MGA 4,396
81.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79 ฿93.3
$1.85 MGA 8,458
50.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Antsirabe
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.22 ฿74.1
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.06 ฿737
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.91 ฿97.3
$3.30 MGA 15.0K
-11.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.01 ฿33.79
$1.94 MGA 8,836
-47.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.83 ฿128
$4.42 MGA 20.2K
-13.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 ฿49.85
$1.11 MGA 5,078
34.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.7K ฿891.6K
$11.8K MGA 54.0M
125.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿892.7K
$25.0K MGA 113.9M
6.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Antsirabe
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$99.4 ฿3,321
$73.7 MGA 336.3K
34.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.28 ฿377
$16.25 MGA 74.1K
-30.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.36 ฿580
$56.8 MGA 259.0K
-69.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Antsirabe
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.3 ฿1,747
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.85 ฿362
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.57 ฿253
$5.45 MGA 24.9K
38.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Antsirabe
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$558 ฿18.7K
$24.76 MGA 112.9K
2154.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.5K ฿383.9K
$14.8K MGA 67.6M
-22.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Antsirabe
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.9 ฿2,102
$28.64 MGA 130.7K
119.55%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.58 ฿955
$27.45 MGA 125.2K
4.12%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.1 ฿3,213
$76.1 MGA 347.2K
26.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.1 ฿2,943
$68.1 MGA 310.6K
29.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Antsirabe
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$729 ฿24.4K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$460 ฿15.4K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,096 ฿70.0K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,222 ฿40.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,459 ฿115.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,489 ฿83.2K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Antsirabe
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$493 ฿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: October 13, 2026

Last update for Antsirabe: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$460
Antsirabe
- * 100%
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$268
Antsirabe
$138 48.4% $129
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$128
Antsirabe
$147 14.6% $19
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$124
Antsirabe
$90 27.3% $34
Eating Out
Phuket
$121
Antsirabe
$56 54.1% $66
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$67
Antsirabe
$11 * 83.8% $57
Getting Around
Phuket
$39
Antsirabe
$13 * 66.6% $26

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $32.00 in Phuket vs $16.00 in Antsirabe for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $268 vs $138 per month, with Antsirabe cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇲🇬 Antsirabe
🕒 Local time
13:26 1:26 PM
09:26 9:26 AM
4 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
246,354
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

MGA, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Malagasy Ariary exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 4,562 MGA (10,000 MGA = 2.19 USD). 1 EUR = 5,128 MGA (10,000 MGA = 1.95 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Antsirabe 6,410 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Antsirabe

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Antsirabe: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Antsirabe cheaper than Phuket?
Antsirabe is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. The 166% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,811 in Phuket and $682 in Antsirabe to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and in Antsirabe?
Supermarket bills run roughly 94% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket and in Antsirabe?
All in, you'll spend $1,207 per month in Phuket versus $455 in Antsirabe – a 166% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Antsirabe?
At $455 in Antsirabe versus $1,207 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Antsirabe but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Antsirabe the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Antsirabe more family-friendly?
For families, Antsirabe is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Antsirabe?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Antsirabe are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Antsirabe gentler on the wallet – expenses run 166% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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