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 $389 in Manakara, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,297 per month in Phuket vs $583 in Manakara, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,329 per month in Phuket vs $776 in Manakara, rent included.

Phuket costs about 225% 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

$4.70 ฿154

$2.16 MGA 9,043

117.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.37 ฿1,483

$14.90 MGA 62.5K

204.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.43 ฿276

$3.53 MGA 14.8K

138.81%

Cappuccino

$2.93 ฿95.7

$1.19 MGA 5,010

146.22%

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

$0.69 ฿22.42

$0.61 MGA 2,572

13.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿12.00

$0.55 MGA 2,286

-32.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿78.7

$1.19 MGA 5,002

102.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿122

$1.42 MGA 5,965

161.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 ฿73.0

$1.82 MGA 7,612

22.53%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 ฿59.9

$0.98 MGA 4,124

86.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ฿70.9

$0.73 MGA 3,075

197.26%

Eggs

$2.21 ฿72.4

$2.23 MGA 9,332

-0.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.74 ฿645

$6.32 MGA 26.5K

212.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿119

$3.36 MGA 14.1K

8.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.53 ฿442

$3.52 MGA 14.8K

284.38%

Apples (1kg)

$3.28 ฿107

$0.95 MGA 3,978

245.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ฿52.7

$0.73 MGA 3,075

120.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.7

$0.35 MGA 1,454

588.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.1

$0.73 MGA 3,065

184.93%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.97

$0.54 MGA 2,267

183.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.41

$0.76 MGA 3,192

94.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ฿32.32

$0.31 MGA 1,315

219.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.68

$0.70 MGA 2,915

-27.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 ฿144

$1.41 MGA 5,901

212.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.38 ฿634

$4.71 MGA 19.8K

311.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

$1.07 MGA 4,469

66.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ฿88.7

$1.32 MGA 5,519

105.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.37 ฿44.83

$0.21 MGA 877

552.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.39 ฿372

$17.46 MGA 73.2K

-34.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿98.7

$1.13 MGA 4,721

167.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 ฿32.51

$2.18 MGA 9,142

-54.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.10 ฿461

$3.42 MGA 14.3K

312.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 ฿44.55

$1.19 MGA 4,993

14.29%

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

$28.2K ฿921.9K

$15.4K MGA 64.6M

83.11%

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

$32.9K ฿1.1M

$20.4K MGA 85.6M

61.18%

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

$122 ฿3,978

$42.44 MGA 178.0K

186.76%

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

$13.57 ฿444

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.31 ฿599

$53.1 MGA 222.8K

-65.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.2 ฿1,969

$11.41 MGA 47.8K

427.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 ฿560

Cinema Ticket

$8.69 ฿284

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

$693 ฿22.7K

$21.80 MGA 91.4K

3080.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K ฿512.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,946

$16.48 MGA 69.1K

261.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.77 ฿1,137

$20.25 MGA 84.9K

71.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,746

$45.64 MGA 191.4K

151.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.3 ฿2,723

$44.89 MGA 188.2K

85.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$613 ฿20.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$437 ฿14.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,094 ฿68.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,509 ฿49.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,749 ฿122.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,616 ฿85.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.6K

$125 MGA 525.5K

305.42%

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Manakara: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 305% 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 $45.00 in Phuket versus $15.00 in Manakara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 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 225%, 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 $584 in Manakara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Kindergarten costs $693 per month in Phuket and $21.80 in Manakara. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 124% 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 $389, 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.