😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,682 in Fredrikstad versus $1,250 in Phuket.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,010 in Fredrikstad versus $2,284 in Phuket.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,338 in Fredrikstad versus $3,317 in Phuket.
🌍Living in Fredrikstad is roughly 115% more expensive than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Fredrikstad is 101% above, Phuket is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fredrikstad
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.97NOK 173
$4.55฿153
294.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$114NOK 1,093
$46.18฿1,550
145.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.91NOK 115
$8.84฿297
34.73%
Cappuccino
$5.34NOK 51.4
$3.06฿103
74.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.97NOK 38.21
$0.73฿24.36
443.84%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74NOK 26.44
$0.40฿13.37
585.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$11.01NOK 106
$2.43฿81.6
353.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.29NOK 99.1
$3.78฿127
172.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fredrikstad
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.19NOK 21.07
$2.26฿75.8
-3.10%
White Bread(500g)
$4.25NOK 40.97
$1.81฿60.8
134.81%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.27NOK 31.50
$2.25฿75.7
45.33%
Eggs
$5.22NOK 50.3
$2.25฿75.4
132.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.78NOK 113
$19.51฿655
-39.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.02NOK 154
$3.65฿122
338.90%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$34.17NOK 329
$13.05฿438
161.84%
Apples(1kg)
$4.51NOK 43.45
$3.23฿109
39.63%
Banana(1kg)
$3.52NOK 33.91
$1.62฿54.3
117.28%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.50NOK 43.34
$2.38฿80.0
89.08%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.04NOK 48.57
$2.03฿68.0
148.28%
Potato(1kg)
$2.75NOK 26.49
$1.53฿51.5
79.74%
Onion(1kg)
$2.66NOK 25.61
$1.50฿50.4
77.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.64NOK 25.47
$0.98฿32.85
169.39%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.85NOK 17.79
$0.52฿17.36
255.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.87NOK 143
$4.44฿149
234.91%
Wine(Bottle)
$21.86NOK 211
$18.32฿615
19.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.43NOK 33.00
$1.86฿62.6
84.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.11NOK 58.9
$2.68฿90.0
127.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Fredrikstad
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.87NOK 37.30
$1.41฿47.37
174.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$63.7NOK 613
$11.70฿393
444.19%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.22NOK 59.9
$3.11฿104
100.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.46NOK 14.02
$1.04฿35.00
40.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$52.3NOK 503
$14.11฿474
270.45%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.27NOK 21.90
$1.31฿44.02
73.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1KNOK 337.9K
$27.8K฿933.8K
26.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.1KNOK 376.6K
$33.2K฿1.1M
17.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fredrikstad
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$339NOK 3,268
$122฿4,110
177.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.93NOK 365
$13.59฿456
179.10%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.0NOK 549
$18.70฿628
205.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fredrikstad
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.85NOK 470
$60.5฿2,031
-19.24%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$39.15NOK 377
$16.98฿570
130.57%
Cinema Ticket
$22.16NOK 213
$9.07฿305
144.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fredrikstad
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$284NOK 2,734
$706฿23.7K
-59.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.2KNOK 98.2K
$15.8K฿530.5K
-35.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fredrikstad
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$154NOK 1,483
$58.6฿1,965
162.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.2NOK 580
$35.36฿1,187
70.33%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$166NOK 1,604
$115฿3,876
44.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133NOK 1,278
$83.7฿2,811
58.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fredrikstad
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,266NOK 12.2K
$626฿21.0K
102.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$943NOK 9,086
$445฿14.9K
111.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,100NOK 20.2K
$2,040฿68.5K
2.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,541NOK 14.8K
$1,492฿50.1K
3.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,874NOK 56.6K
$3,483฿116.9K
68.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,915NOK 37.7K
$2,577฿86.5K
51.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fredrikstad
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,227NOK 31.1K
$500฿16.8K
545.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.25
5.33
-20.26%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Fredrikstad: July 12, 2026
Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,266 in Fredrikstad and $626 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Fredrikstad pays 546% 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: $114 in Fredrikstad vs $46.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $523 vs $289 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
Fredrikstad vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Fredrikstad?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 115% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Fredrikstad or Phuket?
Average pay runs 546% higher in Fredrikstad, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Fredrikstad and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,266 in Fredrikstad versus $626 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $284 in Fredrikstad versus $706 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Fredrikstad and in Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 81% higher in Fredrikstad. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Fredrikstad or in Phuket?
At $1,250 in Phuket versus $2,682 in Fredrikstad, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Fredrikstad. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Fredrikstad or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Fredrikstad, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Fredrikstad or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Fredrikstad 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 115% less than in Fredrikstad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Fredrikstad vs other spots: cost of living compared