😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,030 in Fredrikstad versus $1,253 in Phuket.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,355 in Fredrikstad versus $2,043 in Phuket.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,681 in Fredrikstad versus $2,833 in Phuket.
🌍Living in Fredrikstad is roughly 142% more expensive than in Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Fredrikstad is 121% above, Phuket is 9% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fredrikstad
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.41NOK 218
$4.56฿151
413.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$119NOK 1,110
$32.62฿1,082
265.30%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.56NOK 117
$8.90฿295
41.12%
Cappuccino
$6.72NOK 62.6
$2.80฿93.0
140.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.87NOK 54.7
$0.88฿29.19
567.05%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.60NOK 42.82
$0.49฿16.23
838.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$12.33NOK 115
$2.39฿79.2
415.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.41NOK 87.7
$3.71฿123
153.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fredrikstad
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.42NOK 22.54
$1.79฿59.3
35.20%
White Bread(500g)
$4.34NOK 40.42
$1.44฿47.81
201.39%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.56NOK 33.13
$1.58฿52.6
125.32%
Eggs
$6.10NOK 56.9
$2.13฿70.5
186.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.26NOK 124
$19.92฿661
-33.43%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$18.44NOK 172
$3.43฿114
437.61%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$35.83NOK 334
$11.33฿376
216.24%
Apples(1kg)
$4.68NOK 43.62
$2.95฿97.8
58.64%
Banana(1kg)
$3.55NOK 33.03
$1.72฿57.1
106.40%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.46NOK 41.58
$2.32฿77.1
92.24%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.21NOK 48.57
$2.08฿69.0
150.48%
Potato(1kg)
$2.95NOK 27.45
$1.47฿48.77
100.68%
Onion(1kg)
$2.83NOK 26.35
$1.36฿45.05
108.09%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.96NOK 27.61
$1.10฿36.45
169.09%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.40NOK 22.37
$0.57฿19.06
321.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$16.07NOK 150
$4.27฿142
276.35%
Wine(Bottle)
$22.17NOK 207
$18.42฿611
20.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.58NOK 33.35
$1.87฿62.1
91.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.28NOK 39.88
$2.92฿96.9
46.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Fredrikstad
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.16NOK 38.72
$2.22฿73.6
87.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$66.8NOK 622
$22.90฿759
191.70%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$12.99NOK 121
$3.03฿101
328.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.69NOK 15.76
$1.07฿35.63
57.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$72.7NOK 677
$3.93฿130
1749.62%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.39NOK 22.29
$1.49฿49.49
60.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$42.7KNOK 397.8K
$27.1K฿899.8K
57.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$50.0KNOK 466.3K
$27.5K฿910.6K
82.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fredrikstad
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$338NOK 3,153
$103฿3,410
229.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$46.68NOK 435
$10.99฿365
324.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.5NOK 619
$17.51฿581
279.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fredrikstad
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.1NOK 550
$53.5฿1,776
10.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$41.58NOK 387
$11.20฿371
271.25%
Cinema Ticket
$20.69NOK 193
$7.48฿248
176.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fredrikstad
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$174NOK 1,621
$557฿18.5K
-68.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.1KNOK 103.3K
$11.9K฿393.2K
-6.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fredrikstad
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$162NOK 1,508
$64.1฿2,125
152.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$79.4NOK 740
$29.07฿964
173.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$144NOK 1,343
$96.0฿3,183
50.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114NOK 1,061
$90.3฿2,997
26.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fredrikstad
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,391NOK 13.0K
$730฿24.2K
90.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,125NOK 10.5K
$500฿16.6K
125.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,851NOK 17.2K
$2,090฿69.3K
-11.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,510NOK 14.1K
$1,209฿40.1K
24.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,312NOK 58.8K
$3,596฿119.3K
75.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,204NOK 39.2K
$2,512฿83.3K
67.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fredrikstad
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,454NOK 32.2K
$503฿16.7K
586.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.95
5.57
-11.13%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Fredrikstad: September 1, 2026
Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,391 in Fredrikstad and $730 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Fredrikstad pays 586% 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: $119 in Fredrikstad vs $33.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $560 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
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, Getting Around. The 142% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Fredrikstad or Phuket?
Average pay runs 586% 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: $1,391 in Fredrikstad versus $730 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $174 in Fredrikstad versus $557 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 105% 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 $1,253 in Phuket versus $3,030 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 142% 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