Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Langkawi Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Langkawi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,253 per month in Phuket vs $544 in Langkawi, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,043 per month in Phuket vs $786 in Langkawi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,833 per month in Phuket vs $1,028 in Langkawi, rent included.

Phuket costs about 130% more than Langkawi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Langkawi are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 9% lower, Langkawi 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.56 ฿150

$3.34 MYR 13.49

36.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.62 ฿1,072

$19.59 MYR 79.2

66.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.90 ฿293

$6.25 MYR 25.26

42.40%

Cappuccino

$2.80 ฿92.2

$1.67 MYR 6.77

67.66%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 ฿28.93

$0.83 MYR 3.35

6.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.08

$0.55 MYR 2.21

-10.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.39 ฿78.5

$1.76 MYR 7.13

35.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 ฿122

$2.19 MYR 8.85

69.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 ฿58.7

$1.70 MYR 6.86

5.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ฿47.38

$1.32 MYR 5.34

9.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 ฿52.1

Eggs

$2.13 ฿69.9

$1.75 MYR 7.09

21.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.92 ฿655

$17.33 MYR 70.1

14.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.43 ฿113

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.33 ฿372

Apples (1kg)

$2.95 ฿96.9

$1.99 MYR 8.05

48.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 ฿56.6

$0.98 MYR 3.95

75.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.32 ฿76.4

$1.72 MYR 6.97

34.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.4

$1.77 MYR 7.14

17.51%

Potato (1kg)

$1.47 ฿48.33

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 ฿44.64

$0.76 MYR 3.08

78.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ฿36.12

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ฿18.89

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿140

$3.71 MYR 14.99

15.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.42 ฿605

$8.90 MYR 35.98

106.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 ฿61.5

$0.96 MYR 3.89

94.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 ฿96.0

$1.22 MYR 4.94

139.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.22 ฿72.9

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.90 ฿753

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 ฿99.6

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.07 ฿35.31

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.93 ฿129

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿49.04

$0.75 MYR 3.03

98.67%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$27.1K ฿891.7K

$25.2K MYR 101.9K

7.58%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.5K ฿902.3K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$103 ฿3,379

$36.55 MYR 148

181.26%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$10.99 ฿361

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.51 ฿576

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.5 ฿1,760

$24.81 MYR 100

115.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.20 ฿368

Cinema Ticket

$7.48 ฿246

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$557 ฿18.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.9K ฿389.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.1 ฿2,106

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.07 ฿956

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.0 ฿3,154

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.3 ฿2,970

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$730 ฿24.0K

$309 MYR 1,251

135.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$500 ฿16.4K

$246 MYR 993

103.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,090 ฿68.7K

$370 MYR 1,497

464.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,209 ฿39.7K

$326 MYR 1,319

270.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,596 ฿118.2K

$1,158 MYR 4,682

210.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,512 ฿82.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$503 ฿16.5K

$1,268 MYR 5,125

-60.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026

Last update for Langkawi: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $730 in Phuket versus $309 in Langkawi. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 152% higher in Langkawi, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Phuket versus $20.00 in Langkawi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $273 vs $147 – making Langkawi 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 Langkawi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,253 in Phuket, $544 in Langkawi – roughly 130% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,880 per month in Phuket and $816 in Langkawi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Langkawi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Phuket and $20.00 in Langkawi. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,253 in Phuket and $544 in Langkawi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Langkawi, where all-in costs run around $544, than in Phuket at $1,253. In Langkawi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $544 in Langkawi to $1,253 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Langkawi. 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.