Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Toliara Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Toliara

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $184 in Toliara.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,054 in Phuket versus $273 in Toliara.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,876 in Phuket versus $363 in Toliara.

Living in Phuket is roughly 570% more expensive than in Toliara, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 10% lower, Toliara 87% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.41 ฿147

$1.90 MGA 8,282

132.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.26 ฿1,073

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.93 ฿297

Cappuccino

$2.90 ฿96.3

$0.84 MGA 3,658

245.24%

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

$0.88 ฿29.27

$0.66 MGA 2,873

33.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.00

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ฿78.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿124

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ฿62.0

$1.48 MGA 6,452

26.35%

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 ฿48.75

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.6

$0.39 MGA 1,702

297.44%

Eggs

$2.10 ฿69.9

$2.19 MGA 9,536

-4.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.59 ฿651

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.42 ฿114

$4.89 MGA 21.4K

-30.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.38 ฿378

$5.18 MGA 22.6K

119.69%

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 ฿99.2

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 ฿56.0

$0.71 MGA 3,105

136.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 ฿73.5

Tomato (1kg)

$2.16 ฿71.9

$1.81 MGA 7,880

19.34%

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.7

$0.53 MGA 2,328

186.79%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.49

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ฿37.53

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ฿18.17

$0.72 MGA 3,135

-23.61%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.26 ฿142

$1.82 MGA 7,955

134.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.09 ฿635

$5.94 MGA 25.9K

221.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿59.2

$0.72 MGA 3,133

147.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿92.5

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

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ฿34.02

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.89 ฿129

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿49.57

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

$26.6K ฿883.8K

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

$27.0K ฿898.7K

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

$102 ฿3,407

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

$11.33 ฿377

$17.16 MGA 74.9K

-33.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.40 ฿578

$34.95 MGA 152.5K

-50.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.1 ฿1,732

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.07 ฿368

Cinema Ticket

$7.69 ฿256

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

$561 ฿18.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ฿382.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.0 ฿2,096

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.52 ฿982

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.0 ฿3,259

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.5 ฿2,943

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$738 ฿24.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,107 ฿70.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,226 ฿40.8K

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

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Last update for Toliara: September 13, 2026

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 Toliara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Toliara is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 570% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,847 in Phuket and $276 in Toliara to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 163% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,232 per month in Phuket versus $184 in Toliara – a 570% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $184 in Toliara versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Toliara but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Toliara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Toliara is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Phuket and Toliara are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Toliara gentler on the wallet – expenses run 570% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.