😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $296 in Antsirabe.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $479 in Antsirabe.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $662 in Antsirabe.
😐Living in Phuket is roughly 316% more expensive than Antsirabe, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket8% lower, Antsirabe78% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Antsirabe
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63฿151
$1.03MGA 4,268
349.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84฿1,532
$14.15MGA 58.7K
231.02%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84฿289
$4.50MGA 18.7K
96.44%
Cappuccino
$3.00฿98.0
$1.36MGA 5,640
120.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74฿24.25
$0.82MGA 3,391
-9.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿11.95
$0.54MGA 2,226
-31.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44฿79.8
$1.51MGA 6,283
61.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61฿118
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Antsirabe
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26฿73.9
$0.38MGA 1,578
494.74%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84฿60.1
$0.45MGA 1,877
308.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24฿73.4
$0.58MGA 2,397
286.21%
Eggs
$2.32฿75.7
$0.81MGA 3,367
186.42%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67฿643
$7.57MGA 31.4K
159.84%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65฿119
$3.67MGA 15.2K
-0.54%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10฿428
$4.08MGA 16.9K
221.08%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39฿111
$0.69MGA 2,868
391.30%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64฿53.7
$0.26MGA 1,077
530.77%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿79.0
$0.69MGA 2,844
249.28%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03฿66.4
$0.32MGA 1,318
534.37%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56฿50.9
$0.23MGA 955
578.26%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50฿48.94
$0.42MGA 1,740
257.14%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02฿33.50
$0.09MGA 381
1033.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49฿16.00
$0.46MGA 1,889
6.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45฿145
-
-
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88฿617
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿58.1
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75฿90.1
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Antsirabe
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40฿45.81
$0.10MGA 422
1300.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48฿376
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12฿102
-
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00฿32.67
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09฿461
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35฿44.19
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K฿888.9K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K฿1.1M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Antsirabe
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125฿4,087
$38.21MGA 158.5K
227.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57฿444
-
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52฿606
$63.3MGA 262.5K
-70.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Antsirabe
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5฿2,010
$16.97MGA 70.4K
262.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84฿551
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.19฿300
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Antsirabe
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698฿22.8K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6K฿509.9K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Antsirabe
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8฿1,889
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24฿1,152
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113฿3,699
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4฿2,825
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Antsirabe
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616฿20.1K
$66.0MGA 273.6K
833.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446฿14.6K
$44.38MGA 184.1K
904.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048฿67.0K
$224MGA 929.5K
814.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492฿48.8K
$157MGA 650.1K
852.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779฿123.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649฿86.6K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Antsirabe
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524฿17.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Antsirabe: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $616 in Phuket and $66.0 in Antsirabe. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $14.00 in Antsirabe for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $84.0 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 316% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,847 in Phuket and $445 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.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Antsirabe?
Rent for a central apartment: $616 in Phuket versus $66.0 in Antsirabe. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and Antsirabe?
Supermarket bills run roughly 248% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or Antsirabe?
Dining out is cheaper in Antsirabe – a meal for two runs $14.00 versus $47.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Antsirabe?
At $296 in Antsirabe versus $1,232 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 316% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.