😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,722 in Eskilstuna versus $1,265 in Phuket.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,669 in Eskilstuna versus $2,297 in Phuket.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,615 in Eskilstuna versus $3,329 in Phuket.
😐Living in Eskilstuna is roughly 36% more expensive than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Eskilstuna is 29% above, Phuket is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Eskilstuna
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.22SEK 123
$4.70฿153
181.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.8SEK 652
$45.37฿1,482
53.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.49SEK 97.9
$8.43฿275
24.44%
Cappuccino
$4.67SEK 43.55
$2.93฿95.6
59.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71SEK 25.25
$0.69฿22.40
292.75%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43SEK 22.67
$0.37฿11.99
556.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.50SEK 70.0
$2.41฿78.6
211.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.54SEK 70.4
$3.72฿122
102.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Eskilstuna
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.50SEK 13.96
$2.23฿72.9
-32.74%
White Bread(500g)
$3.20SEK 29.85
$1.83฿59.8
74.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.58SEK 33.42
$2.17฿70.8
64.98%
Eggs
$3.85SEK 35.90
$2.21฿72.3
74.21%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.28SEK 133
$19.74฿645
-27.66%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.85SEK 111
$3.63฿119
226.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.41SEK 125
$13.53฿442
-0.89%
Apples(1kg)
$3.43SEK 32.05
$3.28฿107
4.57%
Banana(1kg)
$2.71SEK 25.29
$1.61฿52.6
68.32%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.59SEK 24.19
$2.41฿78.6
7.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.92SEK 36.55
$2.08฿68.1
88.46%
Potato(1kg)
$1.49SEK 13.88
$1.53฿49.93
-2.61%
Onion(1kg)
$2.13SEK 19.90
$1.48฿48.36
43.92%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.65SEK 24.69
$0.99฿32.29
167.68%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.74SEK 16.26
$0.51฿16.67
241.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.54SEK 70.3
$4.41฿144
70.98%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.76SEK 81.7
$19.38฿633
-54.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.43SEK 22.71
$1.78฿58.1
36.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98SEK 18.51
$2.71฿88.6
-26.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Eskilstuna
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.22SEK 30.09
$1.37฿44.79
135.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$70.1SEK 654
$11.39฿372
515.19%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.48SEK 60.5
$3.02฿98.6
114.57%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.20SEK 11.18
$0.99฿32.48
21.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$63.0SEK 588
$14.10฿461
346.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.99SEK 18.55
$1.36฿44.51
46.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.5KSEK 303.4K
$28.2K฿921.1K
15.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4KSEK 320.8K
$32.9K฿1.1M
4.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Eskilstuna
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.0SEK 849
$122฿3,975
-25.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.96SEK 261
$13.57฿443
106.04%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.08SEK 337
$18.31฿598
97.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Eskilstuna
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.97SEK 242
$60.2฿1,967
-56.87%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.38SEK 237
$17.14฿560
48.07%
Cinema Ticket
$11.44SEK 107
$8.69฿284
31.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Eskilstuna
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$125SEK 1,165
$693฿22.6K
-82.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$735SEK 6,858
$15.7K฿512.3K
-95.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Eskilstuna
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103SEK 962
$59.5฿1,944
73.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.39SEK 293
$34.77฿1,136
-9.72%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.5SEK 873
$115฿3,743
-18.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$156SEK 1,459
$83.3฿2,720
87.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Eskilstuna
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$735SEK 6,862
$613฿20.0K
19.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$631SEK 5,892
$437฿14.3K
44.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,215SEK 11.3K
$2,094฿68.4K
-42.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,056SEK 9,852
$1,509฿49.3K
-30.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,174SEK 29.6K
$3,749฿122.5K
-15.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,704SEK 25.2K
$2,616฿85.4K
3.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Eskilstuna
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,312SEK 40.2K
$508฿16.6K
748.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.53
5.33
-15.01%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Eskilstuna: June 1, 2026
Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $735 in Eskilstuna and $613 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Eskilstuna pays 749% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $70.0 in Eskilstuna vs $45.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $356 vs $293 per month, with Phuket cheaper across the board.
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
Eskilstuna vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Eskilstuna or Phuket?
Phuket wins on cost – living expenses run 36% lower than in Eskilstuna. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Phuket the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Eskilstuna or Phuket?
Eskilstuna pays 749% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Eskilstuna vs Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $735 in Eskilstuna versus $613 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Eskilstuna compared to Phuket?
All in, you'll spend $1,722 per month in Eskilstuna versus $1,265 in Phuket – a 36% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Eskilstuna vs Phuket?
A monthly transit pass in Phuket runs roughly 515% less than in Eskilstuna. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Eskilstuna or Phuket?
At $1,265 in Phuket versus $1,722 in Eskilstuna, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Eskilstuna. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Eskilstuna or Phuket?
Both work as nomad bases, but Phuket delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,265 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Phuket hard to pass up.
How safe is Eskilstuna compared to Phuket?
Safety-wise, Eskilstuna 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 36% less than in Eskilstuna. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Eskilstuna vs other spots: cost of living compared