😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Phuket versus $472 in Antsirabe.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,078 in Phuket versus $706 in Antsirabe.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,896 in Phuket versus $941 in Antsirabe.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 167% more expensive than in Antsirabe, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket8% lower, Antsirabe66% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Antsirabe
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.43฿145
$1.17MGA 5,027
278.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.07฿1,151
$16.54MGA 71.0K
112.03%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.96฿294
$5.86MGA 25.1K
52.90%
Cappuccino
$3.00฿98.4
$1.35MGA 5,791
122.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77฿25.33
$0.80MGA 3,418
-3.75%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47฿15.44
$0.47MGA 2,013
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.40฿78.6
$1.03MGA 4,414
133.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75฿123
$2.30MGA 9,880
63.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Antsirabe
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.82฿59.8
$1.08MGA 4,640
68.52%
White Bread(500g)
$1.42฿46.65
$1.03MGA 4,430
37.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.55฿50.8
$0.79MGA 3,390
96.20%
Eggs
$2.13฿69.9
$2.06MGA 8,828
3.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.76฿648
$8.79MGA 37.7K
124.80%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.48฿114
$4.60MGA 19.8K
-24.35%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.09฿364
$4.94MGA 21.2K
124.49%
Apples(1kg)
$2.91฿95.5
$1.14MGA 4,871
155.26%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66฿54.6
$0.61MGA 2,601
172.13%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.27฿74.5
$1.08MGA 4,646
110.19%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.10฿68.8
$0.86MGA 3,674
144.19%
Potato(1kg)
$1.47฿48.24
$0.61MGA 2,623
140.98%
Onion(1kg)
$1.41฿46.29
$1.01MGA 4,337
39.60%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.09฿35.78
$0.32MGA 1,388
240.63%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54฿17.58
$0.48MGA 2,056
12.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.48฿147
$1.62MGA 6,946
176.54%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.72฿614
$5.13MGA 22.0K
264.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84฿60.4
$1.07MGA 4,582
71.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95฿96.7
$1.93MGA 8,296
52.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Antsirabe
Difference
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
$3.41MGA 14.6K
-10.85%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.09฿35.82
$2.05MGA 8,812
-46.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.82฿125
$4.71MGA 20.2K
-18.90%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49฿48.79
$1.21MGA 5,213
23.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.4K฿900.3K
$12.2KMGA 52.3M
125.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5K฿902.7K
$26.8KMGA 115.0M
2.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Antsirabe
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102฿3,340
$77.2MGA 331.3K
31.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.28฿370
$17.09MGA 73.3K
-34.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.75฿582
$59.7MGA 256.3K
-70.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Antsirabe
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.2฿1,777
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.96฿360
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.85฿258
$6.21MGA 26.6K
26.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Antsirabe
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$577฿18.9K
$25.89MGA 111.1K
2129.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.6K฿381.6K
$15.5KMGA 66.4M
-24.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Antsirabe
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.4฿2,144
$29.98MGA 128.6K
118.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.89฿948
$28.51MGA 122.3K
1.33%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.1฿3,250
$80.3MGA 344.5K
23.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.3฿2,961
$71.7MGA 307.5K
25.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Antsirabe
Difference
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
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Antsirabe
Difference
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 Antsirabe: August 16, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $35.00 in Phuket vs $17.00 in Antsirabe for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $272 vs $145 per month, with Antsirabe cheaper across the board.
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 & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 167% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,891 in Phuket and $707 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 87% 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 $1,261 per month in Phuket versus $472 in Antsirabe – a 167% 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 $472 in Antsirabe versus $1,261 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 167% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.