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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $177 in Toliara versus $1,265 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $264 in Toliara versus $2,297 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $352 in Toliara versus $3,329 in Phuket.

Living in Toliara costs roughly 86% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.80 MGA 7,536

$4.70 ฿153

-61.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.37 ฿1,482

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.43 ฿275

Cappuccino

$0.81 MGA 3,386

$2.93 ฿95.6

-72.35%

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

$0.65 MGA 2,705

$0.69 ฿22.40

-5.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.99

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿78.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$1.41 MGA 5,909

$2.23 ฿72.9

-36.77%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 ฿59.8

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.41 MGA 1,707

$2.17 ฿70.8

-81.11%

Eggs

$2.14 MGA 8,975

$2.21 ฿72.3

-3.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.74 ฿645

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.53 MGA 19.0K

$3.63 ฿119

24.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.87 MGA 20.4K

$13.53 ฿442

-64.01%

Apples (1kg)

$3.28 ฿107

Banana (1kg)

$0.69 MGA 2,893

$1.61 ฿52.6

-57.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.6

Tomato (1kg)

$1.74 MGA 7,307

$2.08 ฿68.1

-16.35%

Potato (1kg)

$0.48 MGA 1,998

$1.53 ฿49.93

-68.63%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.36

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ฿32.29

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 MGA 2,690

$0.51 ฿16.67

25.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.74 MGA 7,304

$4.41 ฿144

-60.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.03 MGA 25.3K

$19.38 ฿633

-68.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 MGA 2,690

$1.78 ฿58.1

-64.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ฿88.6

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

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 ฿32.48

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.10 ฿461

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 ฿44.51

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

$28.2K ฿921.1K

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

$32.9K ฿1.1M

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

$122 ฿3,975

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

$16.78 MGA 70.3K

$13.57 ฿443

23.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.00 MGA 138.3K

$18.31 ฿598

80.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.2 ฿1,967

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 ฿560

Cinema Ticket

$8.69 ฿284

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

$693 ฿22.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K ฿512.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,944

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.77 ฿1,136

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,743

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.3 ฿2,720

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 ฿68.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,509 ฿49.3K

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

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 Toliara: May 31, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 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

Toliara vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Toliara is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 615% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $266 in Toliara and $1,898 in Phuket 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 $177 per month in Toliara versus $1,265 in Phuket – a 615% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $177 in Toliara versus $1,265 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, Toliara and Phuket 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 615% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.