Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Matola Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Matola

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $1,024 in Matola, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,297 per month in Phuket vs $1,519 in Matola, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,329 per month in Phuket vs $2,014 in Matola, rent included.

Phuket costs about 24% more than Matola, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Matola are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Matola 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.70 ฿153

$7.67 MZN 485

-38.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.37 ฿1,482

$48.94 MZN 3,095

-7.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.43 ฿275

$7.60 MZN 481

10.92%

Cappuccino

$2.93 ฿95.6

$1.60 MZN 101

83.13%

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

$0.69 ฿22.40

$0.75 MZN 47.55

-8.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.99

$0.58 MZN 36.58

-36.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$1.19 MZN 75.2

102.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿122

$1.60 MZN 101

132.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 ฿72.9

$1.57 MZN 99.1

42.04%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 ฿59.8

$1.04 MZN 65.8

75.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ฿70.8

$1.69 MZN 107

28.40%

Eggs

$2.21 ฿72.3

$1.92 MZN 122

15.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.74 ฿645

$13.03 MZN 824

51.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿119

$5.28 MZN 334

-31.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.53 ฿442

$4.65 MZN 294

190.97%

Apples (1kg)

$3.28 ฿107

$1.97 MZN 124

66.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ฿52.6

$0.63 MZN 39.82

155.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$1.34 MZN 84.6

79.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.1

$0.99 MZN 62.6

110.10%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.93

$0.93 MZN 59.1

64.52%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.36

$0.67 MZN 42.60

120.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ฿32.29

$0.99 MZN 62.4

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.67

$0.53 MZN 33.63

-3.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 ฿144

$2.61 MZN 165

68.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.38 ฿633

$7.14 MZN 451

171.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

$0.98 MZN 61.8

81.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ฿88.6

$1.29 MZN 81.4

110.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.37 ฿44.79

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.39 ฿372

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿98.6

$1.60 MZN 101

88.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 ฿32.48

$2.89 MZN 183

-65.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.10 ฿461

$24.44 MZN 1,545

-42.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 ฿44.51

$1.31 MZN 83.1

3.82%

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

$28.2K ฿921.1K

$35.8K MZN 2.3M

-21.21%

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

$32.9K ฿1.1M

$19.7K MZN 1.2M

66.97%

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

$122 ฿3,975

$38.50 MZN 2,435

216.10%

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

$13.57 ฿443

$14.16 MZN 895

-4.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.31 ฿598

$79.6 MZN 5,031

-76.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.2 ฿1,967

$39.34 MZN 2,488

53.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 ฿560

Cinema Ticket

$8.69 ฿284

$7.67 MZN 485

13.30%

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

$693 ฿22.6K

$185 MZN 11.7K

275.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K ฿512.3K

$5,823 MZN 368.2K

169.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,944

$49.19 MZN 3,111

21.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.77 ฿1,136

$62.7 MZN 3,966

-44.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,743

$82.7 MZN 5,227

38.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.3 ฿2,720

$80.4 MZN 5,085

3.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$613 ฿20.0K

$475 MZN 30.1K

29.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$437 ฿14.3K

$396 MZN 25.0K

10.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,094 ฿68.4K

$794 MZN 50.2K

163.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,509 ฿49.3K

$579 MZN 36.6K

160.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,749 ฿122.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,616 ฿85.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.6K

$310 MZN 19.6K

64.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

24.33

-78.09%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Matola: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $613 in Phuket versus $475 in Matola. 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 64% 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 $49.00 in Matola. Groceries tell a different story – $293 in Phuket vs $180 in Matola – so Matola wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Matola: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,265 in Phuket, $1,024 in Matola – roughly 24% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,898 per month in Phuket and $1,535 in Matola. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Matola, 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 $1,265 in Phuket and $1,024 in Matola. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $693 per month in Phuket and $185 in Matola. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Matola, where all-in costs run around $1,024, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Matola 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 $1,024 in Matola to $1,265 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 Matola. 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.