😐A single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $954 in Kangar, Perlis, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,054 per month in Phuket vs $1,396 in Kangar, Perlis, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,876 per month in Phuket vs $1,838 in Kangar, Perlis, rent included.
😐Phuket costs about 29% more than Kangar, Perlis, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Phuket and Kangar, Perlis are more affordable than the global median – Phuket10% lower, Kangar, Perlis30% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.41฿147
$3.79MYR 15.52
16.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26฿1,073
$20.49MYR 83.9
57.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.93฿297
$4.85MYR 19.85
84.12%
Cappuccino
$2.90฿96.3
$2.68MYR 10.97
8.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88฿29.27
$0.71MYR 2.90
23.94%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.00
$0.40MYR 1.62
20.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.35฿78.2
$4.15MYR 16.99
-43.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿124
$4.76MYR 19.49
-21.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.87฿62.0
$1.84MYR 7.55
1.63%
White Bread(500g)
$1.47฿48.75
$1.10MYR 4.51
33.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.55฿51.6
$1.55MYR 6.36
-
Eggs
$2.10฿69.9
$1.99MYR 8.15
5.53%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.59฿651
$12.28MYR 50.3
59.53%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.42฿114
$4.39MYR 17.95
-22.10%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.38฿378
$9.77MYR 40.00
16.48%
Apples(1kg)
$2.98฿99.2
$3.30MYR 13.49
-9.70%
Banana(1kg)
$1.68฿56.0
$1.71MYR 7.01
-1.75%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.21฿73.5
$2.67MYR 10.91
-17.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.16฿71.9
$1.84MYR 7.52
17.39%
Potato(1kg)
$1.52฿50.7
$1.10MYR 4.50
38.18%
Onion(1kg)
$1.34฿44.49
$1.23MYR 5.05
8.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.13฿37.53
$1.01MYR 4.13
11.88%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55฿18.17
$0.49MYR 2.02
12.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26฿142
$4.85MYR 19.83
-12.16%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.09฿635
$20.05MYR 82.1
-4.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿59.2
$2.98MYR 12.21
-40.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78฿92.5
$4.03MYR 16.48
-31.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.23฿74.1
$0.74MYR 3.01
201.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.74฿756
$11.21MYR 45.88
102.85%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.03฿101
$1.05MYR 4.31
188.57%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02฿34.02
$0.48MYR 1.95
112.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.89฿129
$7.86MYR 32.18
-50.51%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49฿49.57
$0.84MYR 3.45
77.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K฿883.8K
$47.0KMYR 192.5K
-43.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K฿898.7K
$34.1KMYR 139.7K
-20.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102฿3,407
$44.65MYR 183
129.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.33฿377
$9.56MYR 39.12
18.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.40฿578
$25.71MYR 105
-32.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.1฿1,732
$46.17MYR 189
12.80%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07฿368
$7.45MYR 30.47
48.59%
Cinema Ticket
$7.69฿256
$5.18MYR 21.20
48.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$561฿18.6K
$192MYR 787
191.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.5K฿382.6K
$5,435MYR 22.2K
111.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.0฿2,096
$65.0MYR 266
-2.96%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.52฿982
$30.04MYR 123
-1.73%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.0฿3,259
$88.6MYR 363
10.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5฿2,943
$65.2MYR 267
35.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$738฿24.5K
$421MYR 1,724
75.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$482฿16.0K
$330MYR 1,351
46.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,107฿70.0K
$584MYR 2,389
260.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,226฿40.8K
$494MYR 2,024
147.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,617฿120.3K
$1,783MYR 7,299
102.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,603฿86.5K
$1,067MYR 4,368
143.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494฿16.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
4.2
32.62%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026
Last update for Kangar, Perlis: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $738 in Phuket versus $421 in Kangar, Perlis. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Phuket versus $20.00 in Kangar, Perlis. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $274 vs $257 – making Kangar, Perlis 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 Kangar, Perlis: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Phuket and in Kangar, Perlis compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,232 in Phuket, $954 in Kangar, Perlis – roughly 29% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Phuket compared to Kangar, Perlis?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $1,431 in Kangar, Perlis. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Phuket and Kangar, Perlis?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kangar, Perlis, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Phuket and $20.00 in Kangar, Perlis. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Phuket or Kangar, Perlis?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,232 in Phuket and $954 in Kangar, Perlis. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kangar, Perlis, where all-in costs run around $954, than in Phuket at $1,232. In Kangar, Perlis it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Kangar, Perlis?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $954 in Kangar, Perlis to $1,232 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Phuket or Kangar, Perlis safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Phuket and Kangar, Perlis?
If budget matters most, go with Kangar, Perlis. 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.