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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $410 in Manakara, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,089 per month in Phuket vs $629 in Manakara, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,913 per month in Phuket vs $848 in Manakara, rent included.

Phuket costs about 209% more than Manakara, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Manakara are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 8% lower, Manakara 70% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.66 ฿154

$2.26 MGA 9,807

106.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.22 ฿1,066

$15.04 MGA 65.2K

114.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.68 ฿287

$3.67 MGA 15.9K

136.51%

Cappuccino

$2.90 ฿95.9

$1.26 MGA 5,478

130.16%

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

$0.84 ฿27.91

$0.59 MGA 2,552

42.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.17

$0.60 MGA 2,598

-18.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.48 ฿82.1

$1.25 MGA 5,424

98.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿123

$1.52 MGA 6,568

145.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ฿62.3

$1.89 MGA 8,201

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿46.58

$1.06 MGA 4,600

33.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.6

$0.70 MGA 3,050

131.43%

Eggs

$2.24 ฿74.1

$2.35 MGA 10.2K

-4.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.84 ฿656

$6.90 MGA 29.9K

187.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.48 ฿115

$3.60 MGA 15.6K

-3.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.37 ฿376

$3.60 MGA 15.6K

215.83%

Apples (1kg)

$2.90 ฿95.9

$1.00 MGA 4,321

190.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 ฿57.0

$0.75 MGA 3,241

129.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.27 ฿75.2

$0.36 MGA 1,566

530.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.13 ฿70.5

$0.75 MGA 3,270

184.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.47 ฿48.77

$0.62 MGA 2,673

137.10%

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.96

$0.79 MGA 3,403

79.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ฿36.29

$0.34 MGA 1,472

223.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 ฿19.78

$0.72 MGA 3,101

-16.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.31 ฿142

$1.47 MGA 6,348

193.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.60 ฿615

$4.70 MGA 20.4K

295.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿59.6

$1.12 MGA 4,869

60.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 ฿98.1

$1.34 MGA 5,824

121.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.25 ฿74.3

$0.22 MGA 953

922.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.49 ฿777

$36.40 MGA 157.7K

-35.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.10 ฿103

$1.17 MGA 5,083

164.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.08 ฿35.59

$2.36 MGA 10.2K

-54.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.87 ฿128

$3.55 MGA 15.4K

9.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 ฿47.20

$1.19 MGA 5,172

20.17%

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

$27.8K ฿918.9K

$16.1K MGA 69.9M

72.27%

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

$27.0K ฿892.4K

$21.5K MGA 93.1M

25.57%

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

$105 ฿3,466

$44.88 MGA 194.4K

133.51%

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

$11.39 ฿377

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.54 ฿580

$55.8 MGA 242.0K

-68.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.3 ฿1,797

$12.07 MGA 52.3K

350.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.44 ฿378

Cinema Ticket

$7.78 ฿257

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

$576 ฿19.1K

$22.71 MGA 98.4K

2438.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ฿383.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.6 ฿2,104

$17.15 MGA 74.3K

271.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.10 ฿962

$21.34 MGA 92.5K

36.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.2 ฿3,182

$48.43 MGA 209.9K

98.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.0 ฿2,977

$46.11 MGA 199.8K

95.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$733 ฿24.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$501 ฿16.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,126 ฿70.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,252 ฿41.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,534 ฿116.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,622 ฿86.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.8K

$120 MGA 521.5K

321.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-76.79%

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

Last update for Phuket: September 6, 2026

Last update for Manakara: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 322% 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 $32.00 in Phuket versus $15.00 in Manakara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $275 vs $137 – 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 209%, 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 $1,898 per month in Phuket and $615 in Manakara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Kindergarten costs $576 per month in Phuket and $22.71 in Manakara. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 101% 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 $410, than in Phuket at $1,265. 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.