😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,856 in Eskilstuna versus $1,253 in Phuket.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,818 in Eskilstuna versus $2,043 in Phuket.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,780 in Eskilstuna versus $2,833 in Phuket.
🌍Living in Eskilstuna is roughly 48% more expensive than in Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Eskilstuna is 35% above, Phuket is 9% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Eskilstuna
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.74SEK 141
$4.56฿150
223.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.0SEK 658
$32.62฿1,073
111.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.48SEK 99.9
$8.90฿293
17.75%
Cappuccino
$4.65SEK 44.36
$2.80฿92.2
66.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73SEK 26.00
$0.88฿28.94
210.23%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27SEK 21.63
$0.49฿16.08
363.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.41SEK 51.6
$2.39฿78.5
126.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.21SEK 49.72
$3.71฿122
40.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Eskilstuna
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.47SEK 13.98
$1.79฿58.8
-17.88%
White Bread(500g)
$3.30SEK 31.50
$1.44฿47.40
129.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.43SEK 32.67
$1.58฿52.1
117.09%
Eggs
$4.27SEK 40.73
$2.13฿69.9
100.47%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.29SEK 136
$19.92฿655
-28.26%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.18SEK 126
$3.43฿113
284.26%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.66SEK 130
$11.33฿372
20.56%
Apples(1kg)
$3.36SEK 32.04
$2.95฿97.0
13.90%
Banana(1kg)
$2.79SEK 26.55
$1.72฿56.6
62.21%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.58SEK 24.60
$2.32฿76.5
11.21%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.82SEK 36.40
$2.08฿68.4
83.65%
Potato(1kg)
$1.55SEK 14.73
$1.47฿48.34
5.44%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85SEK 17.66
$1.36฿44.65
36.03%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.25SEK 30.98
$1.10฿36.13
195.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.78SEK 16.95
$0.57฿18.89
212.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.36SEK 70.2
$4.27฿140
72.37%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.62SEK 82.2
$18.42฿606
-53.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.02SEK 19.24
$1.87฿61.5
8.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34SEK 22.33
$2.92฿96.1
-19.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Eskilstuna
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.41SEK 32.50
$2.22฿73.0
53.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$68.8SEK 656
$22.90฿753
200.48%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$13.82SEK 132
$3.03฿99.6
356.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05SEK 19.54
$1.07฿35.32
91.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$84.1SEK 802
$3.93฿129
2039.44%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.77SEK 16.84
$1.49฿49.06
18.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.3KSEK 317.8K
$27.1K฿892.0K
22.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.8KSEK 321.9K
$27.5K฿902.6K
22.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Eskilstuna
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$185SEK 1,768
$103฿3,380
80.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.38SEK 261
$10.99฿361
149.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.03SEK 391
$17.51฿576
134.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Eskilstuna
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.77SEK 246
$53.5฿1,760
-51.86%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.10SEK 258
$11.20฿368
141.96%
Cinema Ticket
$11.80SEK 112
$7.48฿246
57.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Eskilstuna
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$159SEK 1,513
$557฿18.3K
-71.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,323SEK 50.7K
$11.9K฿389.7K
-55.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Eskilstuna
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104SEK 992
$64.1฿2,107
62.34%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.65SEK 302
$29.07฿956
8.88%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.6SEK 902
$96.0฿3,155
-1.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$159SEK 1,513
$90.3฿2,970
75.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Eskilstuna
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$833SEK 7,943
$730฿24.0K
14.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$633SEK 6,038
$500฿16.4K
26.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,233SEK 11.8K
$2,090฿68.7K
-41.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,078SEK 10.3K
$1,209฿39.8K
-10.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,245SEK 40.5K
$3,596฿118.2K
18.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,965SEK 28.3K
$2,512฿82.6K
18.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Eskilstuna
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,351SEK 41.5K
$503฿16.6K
764.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.2
5.57
-42.55%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Eskilstuna: August 30, 2026
Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $833 in Eskilstuna and $730 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Eskilstuna pays 764% 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: $69.0 in Eskilstuna vs $33.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $366 vs $273 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 48% 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 in Phuket?
Average pay runs 764% higher in Eskilstuna, 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 compared to Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $833 in Eskilstuna versus $730 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 $1,856 per month in Eskilstuna versus $1,253 in Phuket – a 48% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Eskilstuna compared to Phuket?
A monthly transit pass in Phuket runs roughly 200% 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 in Phuket?
At $1,253 in Phuket versus $1,856 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 $1,253 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 48% 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