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: $1,250 in Phuket versus $176 in Toliara.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,284 in Phuket versus $267 in Toliara.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,317 in Phuket versus $357 in Toliara.

Living in Phuket is roughly 612% more expensive than in Toliara, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, Toliara 87% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.55 ฿153

$1.82 MGA 7,804

150.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.18 ฿1,553

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.84 ฿297

Cappuccino

$3.06 ฿103

$0.80 MGA 3,415

282.50%

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

$0.73 ฿24.40

$0.64 MGA 2,733

14.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ฿13.39

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 ฿81.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.78 ฿127

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ฿76.0

$1.35 MGA 5,804

67.41%

White Bread (500g)

$1.81 ฿60.9

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 ฿75.8

$0.38 MGA 1,626

492.11%

Eggs

$2.25 ฿75.5

$2.15 MGA 9,235

4.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.51 ฿656

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.65 ฿123

$4.60 MGA 19.7K

-20.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.05 ฿439

$4.74 MGA 20.4K

175.32%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ฿109

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.4

$0.66 MGA 2,829

145.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.38 ฿80.1

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 ฿68.1

$1.67 MGA 7,174

21.56%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿51.6

$0.49 MGA 2,095

212.24%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.5

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ฿32.91

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.39

$0.68 MGA 2,939

-23.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.44 ฿149

$1.80 MGA 7,715

146.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.32 ฿616

$5.80 MGA 24.9K

215.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.7

$0.64 MGA 2,765

190.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 ฿90.1

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.41 ฿47.46

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.70 ฿393

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.11 ฿105

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿35.06

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.11 ฿474

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 ฿44.10

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

$27.8K ฿935.4K

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

$33.2K ฿1.1M

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

$122 ฿4,118

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

$13.59 ฿457

$16.52 MGA 70.9K

-17.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.70 ฿629

$33.66 MGA 144.4K

-44.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.5 ฿2,034

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.98 ฿571

Cinema Ticket

$9.07 ฿305

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

$706 ฿23.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K ฿531.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 ฿1,969

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.36 ฿1,189

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,883

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.7 ฿2,816

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$626 ฿21.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$445 ฿15.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,040 ฿68.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,492 ฿50.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,483 ฿117.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,577 ฿86.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$500 ฿16.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

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

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Last update for Toliara: July 12, 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 612% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,875 in Phuket and $264 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 196% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,250 per month in Phuket versus $176 in Toliara – a 612% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $176 in Toliara versus $1,250 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 612% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.