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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $1,013 in Matola, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,054 per month in Phuket vs $1,513 in Matola, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,876 per month in Phuket vs $2,013 in Matola, rent included.

Phuket costs about 22% more than Matola, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Matola are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 10% lower, Matola 26% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.41 ฿147

$8.02 MZN 507

-45.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.26 ฿1,073

$63.5 MZN 4,015

-49.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.93 ฿297

$7.41 MZN 468

20.51%

Cappuccino

$2.90 ฿96.3

$1.55 MZN 97.8

87.10%

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

$0.88 ฿29.27

$0.89 MZN 56.0

-1.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.00

$0.70 MZN 44.16

-31.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ฿78.2

$1.20 MZN 75.9

95.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿124

$1.53 MZN 96.6

143.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ฿62.0

$1.52 MZN 96.0

23.03%

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 ฿48.75

$1.00 MZN 63.1

47.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.6

$1.60 MZN 102

-3.13%

Eggs

$2.10 ฿69.9

$1.83 MZN 116

14.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.59 ฿651

$13.22 MZN 836

48.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.42 ฿114

$5.75 MZN 364

-40.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.38 ฿378

$4.63 MZN 293

145.79%

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 ฿99.2

$1.98 MZN 126

50.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 ฿56.0

$0.59 MZN 37.41

184.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 ฿73.5

$1.63 MZN 103

35.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.16 ฿71.9

$1.04 MZN 66.0

107.69%

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.7

$1.00 MZN 63.2

52.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.49

$0.82 MZN 51.7

63.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ฿37.53

$0.95 MZN 60.1

18.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ฿18.17

$0.53 MZN 33.52

3.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.26 ฿142

$2.76 MZN 175

54.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.09 ฿635

$7.24 MZN 458

163.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿59.2

$0.96 MZN 60.9

85.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿92.5

$1.21 MZN 76.8

129.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.23 ฿74.1

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.74 ฿756

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 ฿101

$1.60 MZN 101

89.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ฿34.02

$1.20 MZN 75.6

-15.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.89 ฿129

$24.78 MZN 1,568

-84.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿49.57

$1.33 MZN 84.1

12.03%

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

$26.6K ฿883.8K

$31.1K MZN 2.0M

-14.64%

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

$27.0K ฿898.7K

$22.6K MZN 1.4M

19.36%

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

$102 ฿3,407

$38.84 MZN 2,456

163.83%

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

$11.33 ฿377

$7.69 MZN 487

47.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.40 ฿578

$76.9 MZN 4,863

-77.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.1 ฿1,732

$38.93 MZN 2,462

33.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.07 ฿368

Cinema Ticket

$7.69 ฿256

$7.71 MZN 487

-0.26%

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

$561 ฿18.6K

$127 MZN 8,020

342.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ฿382.6K

$5,198 MZN 328.8K

121.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.0 ฿2,096

$50.8 MZN 3,212

24.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.52 ฿982

$56.5 MZN 3,573

-47.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.0 ฿3,259

$78.0 MZN 4,936

25.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.5 ฿2,943

$79.7 MZN 5,043

11.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$738 ฿24.5K

$465 MZN 29.4K

58.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.0K

$393 MZN 24.8K

22.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,107 ฿70.0K

$714 MZN 45.2K

194.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,226 ฿40.8K

$557 MZN 35.2K

120.08%

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

$309 MZN 19.6K

59.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-77.72%

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

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Last update for Matola: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $738 in Phuket versus $465 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 60% 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 $63.0 in Matola. Groceries tell a different story – $274 in Phuket vs $183 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: $1,232 in Phuket, $1,013 in Matola – roughly 22% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $1,520 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 $1,232 in Phuket and $1,013 in Matola. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $561 per month in Phuket and $127 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 $1,013, than in Phuket at $1,232. 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 $1,013 in Matola to $1,232 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.