Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Manakara Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Manakara

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,250 per month in Phuket vs $387 in Manakara, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,284 per month in Phuket vs $590 in Manakara, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,317 per month in Phuket vs $794 in Manakara, rent included.

Phuket costs about 223% more than Manakara, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Manakara are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Manakara 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.55 ฿153

$2.19 MGA 9,379

107.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.18 ฿1,553

$14.83 MGA 63.6K

211.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.84 ฿297

$3.56 MGA 15.3K

148.31%

Cappuccino

$3.06 ฿103

$1.15 MGA 4,937

166.09%

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

$0.73 ฿24.40

$0.58 MGA 2,478

25.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ฿13.39

$0.58 MGA 2,488

-31.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 ฿81.8

$1.15 MGA 4,922

111.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.78 ฿127

$1.47 MGA 6,288

157.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ฿76.0

$1.73 MGA 7,415

30.64%

White Bread (500g)

$1.81 ฿60.9

$1.01 MGA 4,353

79.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 ฿75.8

$0.68 MGA 2,912

230.88%

Eggs

$2.25 ฿75.5

$2.31 MGA 9,911

-2.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.51 ฿656

$6.46 MGA 27.7K

202.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.65 ฿123

$3.37 MGA 14.4K

8.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.05 ฿439

$3.65 MGA 15.7K

257.53%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ฿109

$1.02 MGA 4,361

216.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.4

$0.69 MGA 2,957

134.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.38 ฿80.1

$0.35 MGA 1,490

580.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 ฿68.1

$0.68 MGA 2,921

198.53%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿51.6

$0.55 MGA 2,353

178.18%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.5

$0.76 MGA 3,279

97.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ฿32.91

$0.34 MGA 1,480

188.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.39

$0.65 MGA 2,794

-20.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.44 ฿149

$1.41 MGA 6,066

214.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.32 ฿616

$4.78 MGA 20.5K

283.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.7

$1.04 MGA 4,450

78.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 ฿90.1

$1.24 MGA 5,339

116.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.41 ฿47.46

$0.21 MGA 901

571.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.70 ฿393

$17.57 MGA 75.4K

-33.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.11 ฿105

$1.08 MGA 4,638

187.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿35.06

$2.15 MGA 9,219

-51.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.11 ฿474

$3.27 MGA 14.0K

331.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 ฿44.10

$1.13 MGA 4,862

15.93%

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

$27.8K ฿935.4K

$15.8K MGA 67.6M

76.58%

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

$33.2K ฿1.1M

$20.3K MGA 87.2M

63.39%

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

$122 ฿4,118

$42.54 MGA 182.5K

187.82%

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

$13.59 ฿457

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.70 ฿629

$54.1 MGA 232.2K

-65.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.5 ฿2,034

$11.46 MGA 49.2K

427.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.98 ฿571

Cinema Ticket

$9.07 ฿305

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

$706 ฿23.8K

$22.28 MGA 95.6K

3070.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K ฿531.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 ฿1,969

$16.21 MGA 69.5K

261.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.36 ฿1,189

$20.29 MGA 87.1K

74.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,883

$45.92 MGA 197.0K

151.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.7 ฿2,816

$44.81 MGA 192.3K

86.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$626 ฿21.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$445 ฿15.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,040 ฿68.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,492 ฿50.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,483 ฿117.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,577 ฿86.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$500 ฿16.8K

$123 MGA 527.4K

306.68%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

-77.79%

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

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Last update for Manakara: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 307% higher in Phuket, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Phuket versus $15.00 in Manakara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $289 vs $130 – making Manakara 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 Manakara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 223%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,875 per month in Phuket and $581 in Manakara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Kindergarten costs $706 per month in Phuket and $22.28 in Manakara. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 122% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Manakara, where all-in costs run around $387, than in Phuket at $1,250. In Manakara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Manakara – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Manakara. 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.