Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Mahajanga Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Mahajanga

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $566 in Mahajanga, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,054 per month in Phuket vs $841 in Mahajanga, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,876 per month in Phuket vs $1,116 in Mahajanga, rent included.

Phuket costs about 118% more than Mahajanga, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Phuket and Mahajanga are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 10% lower, Mahajanga 59% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.41 ฿147

$2.12 MGA 9,256

108.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.26 ฿1,073

$18.29 MGA 79.8K

76.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.93 ฿297

Cappuccino

$2.90 ฿96.3

$0.70 MGA 3,066

314.29%

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

$0.88 ฿29.27

$0.96 MGA 4,192

-8.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.00

$0.91 MGA 3,974

-47.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ฿78.2

$1.02 MGA 4,458

130.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿124

$1.60 MGA 6,985

132.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ฿62.0

$1.42 MGA 6,209

31.69%

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 ฿48.75

$0.84 MGA 3,680

75.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.6

$0.67 MGA 2,902

131.34%

Eggs

$2.10 ฿69.9

$2.20 MGA 9,595

-4.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.59 ฿651

$6.75 MGA 29.5K

190.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.42 ฿114

$6.79 MGA 29.6K

-49.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.38 ฿378

$3.64 MGA 15.9K

212.64%

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 ฿99.2

$1.13 MGA 4,937

163.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 ฿56.0

$0.62 MGA 2,694

170.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 ฿73.5

$0.70 MGA 3,066

215.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.16 ฿71.9

$0.71 MGA 3,109

204.23%

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.7

$0.54 MGA 2,375

181.48%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.49

$0.56 MGA 2,447

139.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ฿37.53

$0.36 MGA 1,584

213.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ฿18.17

$0.57 MGA 2,477

-3.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.26 ฿142

Wine (Bottle)

$19.09 ฿635

$9.22 MGA 40.2K

107.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿59.2

$0.80 MGA 3,474

122.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿92.5

$0.90 MGA 3,912

208.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.23 ฿74.1

$0.25 MGA 1,091

792.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.74 ฿756

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 ฿101

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ฿34.02

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.89 ฿129

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿49.57

$1.42 MGA 6,212

4.93%

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

$26.6K ฿883.8K

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

$27.0K ฿898.7K

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

$102 ฿3,407

$46.40 MGA 202.4K

120.84%

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

$11.33 ฿377

$7.01 MGA 30.6K

61.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.40 ฿578

$22.85 MGA 99.7K

-23.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.1 ฿1,732

$18.54 MGA 80.9K

180.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.07 ฿368

Cinema Ticket

$7.69 ฿256

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

$561 ฿18.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ฿382.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.0 ฿2,096

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.52 ฿982

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.0 ฿3,259

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.5 ฿2,943

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$738 ฿24.5K

$351 MGA 1.5M

110.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.0K

$283 MGA 1.2M

70.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,107 ฿70.0K

$703 MGA 3.1M

199.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,226 ฿40.8K

$455 MGA 2.0M

169.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,617 ฿120.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,603 ฿86.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿16.4K

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: September 15, 2026

Last update for Mahajanga: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $738 in Phuket versus $351 in Mahajanga. 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 $18.00 in Mahajanga. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $274 vs $150 – making Mahajanga 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 Mahajanga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Phuket costs about 118% more than Mahajanga, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $849 in Mahajanga. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,232 in Phuket and $566 in Mahajanga. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 82% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Mahajanga, where all-in costs run around $566, than in Phuket at $1,232. In Mahajanga it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mahajanga costs $566 versus $1,232 in Phuket. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Mahajanga. 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.