😐A single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $875 in Kangar, Perlis, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,255 per month in Phuket vs $1,342 in Kangar, Perlis, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,279 per month in Phuket vs $1,808 in Kangar, Perlis, rent included.
😐Phuket costs about 41% more than Kangar, Perlis, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Phuket and Kangar, Perlis are more affordable than the global median – Phuket8% lower, Kangar, Perlis35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63฿151
$3.46MYR 13.68
33.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84฿1,532
$19.11MYR 75.5
145.11%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84฿289
$4.73MYR 18.70
86.89%
Cappuccino
$3.00฿98.0
$2.82MYR 11.13
6.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74฿24.25
$0.73MYR 2.87
1.37%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿11.95
$0.36MYR 1.43
2.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44฿79.8
$3.45MYR 13.62
-29.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61฿118
$4.89MYR 19.32
-26.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26฿73.9
$1.82MYR 7.18
24.18%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84฿60.1
$0.99MYR 3.91
85.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24฿73.4
$1.26MYR 4.96
77.78%
Eggs
$2.32฿75.7
$2.11MYR 8.32
9.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67฿643
$15.08MYR 59.6
30.44%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65฿119
$4.34MYR 17.13
-15.90%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10฿428
$9.46MYR 37.35
38.48%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39฿111
$2.84MYR 11.21
19.37%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64฿53.7
$1.47MYR 5.82
11.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿79.0
$2.51MYR 9.93
-3.98%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03฿66.4
$1.43MYR 5.66
41.96%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56฿50.9
$1.18MYR 4.68
32.20%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50฿48.94
$1.29MYR 5.09
16.28%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02฿33.50
$0.99MYR 3.92
3.03%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49฿16.00
$0.55MYR 2.18
-10.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45฿145
$4.34MYR 17.13
2.53%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88฿617
$17.98MYR 71.0
5.01%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿58.1
$2.82MYR 11.16
-36.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75฿90.1
$2.97MYR 11.72
-7.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40฿45.81
$0.73MYR 2.88
91.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48฿376
$11.58MYR 45.75
-0.86%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12฿102
$1.15MYR 4.55
171.30%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00฿32.67
$0.99MYR 3.91
1.01%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09฿461
$5.95MYR 23.49
136.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35฿44.19
$0.50MYR 1.96
170.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K฿888.9K
$35.4KMYR 139.7K
-23.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K฿1.1M
$31.2KMYR 123.3K
5.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125฿4,087
$43.03MYR 170
190.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57฿444
$9.19MYR 36.31
47.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52฿606
$28.86MYR 114
-35.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5฿2,010
$37.24MYR 147
65.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84฿551
$5.82MYR 23.00
189.35%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19฿300
$4.89MYR 19.32
87.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698฿22.8K
$186MYR 734
275.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6K฿509.9K
$7,019MYR 27.7K
122.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8฿1,889
$60.0MYR 237
-3.70%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24฿1,152
$27.64MYR 109
27.50%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113฿3,699
$73.5MYR 290
53.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4฿2,825
$50.6MYR 200
70.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616฿20.1K
$388MYR 1,533
58.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446฿14.6K
$273MYR 1,079
63.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048฿67.0K
$644MYR 2,542
218.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492฿48.8K
$462MYR 1,825
222.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779฿123.6K
$1,676MYR 6,621
125.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649฿86.6K
$950MYR 3,751
178.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524฿17.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
4.07
30.96%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Kangar, Perlis: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $616 in Phuket versus $388 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 $47.00 in Phuket versus $19.00 in Kangar, Perlis. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $250 – 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 Kangar, Perlis compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,232 in Phuket, $875 in Kangar, Perlis – roughly 41% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets 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 $1,312 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 $47.00 in Phuket and $19.00 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 $875 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 $875, 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 $875 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.