😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,376 in Grimstad versus $1,265 in Phuket.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,522 in Grimstad versus $2,297 in Phuket.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,667 in Grimstad versus $3,329 in Phuket.
😐Living in Grimstad is roughly 88% more expensive than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Grimstad is 77% above, Phuket is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Grimstad
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.19NOK 215
$4.70฿153
393.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.5NOK 469
$45.37฿1,482
11.35%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.85NOK 138
$8.43฿275
76.16%
Cappuccino
$4.59NOK 42.64
$2.93฿95.6
56.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.13NOK 38.33
$0.69฿22.40
498.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30NOK 30.64
$0.37฿11.99
791.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$12.12NOK 113
$2.41฿78.6
402.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.08NOK 93.7
$3.72฿122
170.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Grimstad
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.37NOK 22.03
$2.23฿72.9
6.28%
White Bread(500g)
$3.17NOK 29.46
$1.83฿59.8
73.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.02NOK 28.06
$2.17฿70.8
39.17%
Eggs
$3.28NOK 30.45
$2.21฿72.3
48.42%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.70NOK 99.4
$19.74฿645
-45.80%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.68NOK 127
$3.63฿119
276.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.50NOK 153
$13.53฿442
21.95%
Apples(1kg)
$1.98NOK 18.36
$3.28฿107
-39.63%
Banana(1kg)
$2.34NOK 21.70
$1.61฿52.6
45.34%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.44NOK 31.93
$2.41฿78.6
42.74%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.98NOK 36.99
$2.08฿68.1
91.35%
Potato(1kg)
$2.51NOK 23.31
$1.53฿49.93
64.05%
Onion(1kg)
$2.69NOK 25.03
$1.48฿48.36
81.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.85NOK 26.44
$0.99฿32.29
187.88%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.79NOK 16.66
$0.51฿16.67
250.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$17.44NOK 162
$4.41฿144
295.46%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.90NOK 148
$19.38฿633
-17.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.35NOK 31.10
$1.78฿58.1
88.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.30NOK 39.96
$2.71฿88.6
58.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Grimstad
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$5.00NOK 46.43
$1.37฿44.79
264.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$76.8NOK 714
$11.39฿372
574.45%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$10.17NOK 94.5
$3.02฿98.6
236.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.45NOK 13.51
$0.99฿32.48
46.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$41.98NOK 390
$14.10฿461
197.73%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.17NOK 20.20
$1.36฿44.51
59.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.0KNOK 334.7K
$28.2K฿921.1K
27.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.7KNOK 396.4K
$32.9K฿1.1M
29.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Grimstad
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$305NOK 2,833
$122฿3,975
150.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.64NOK 257
$13.57฿443
103.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.3NOK 523
$18.31฿598
207.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Grimstad
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$50.1NOK 466
$60.2฿1,967
-16.76%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.26NOK 328
$17.14฿560
105.72%
Cinema Ticket
$14.95NOK 139
$8.69฿284
72.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Grimstad
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$271NOK 2,513
$693฿22.6K
-60.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.9KNOK 138.7K
$15.7K฿512.3K
-4.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Grimstad
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.92NOK 464
$59.5฿1,944
-16.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.6NOK 572
$34.77฿1,136
77.16%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$100NOK 930
$115฿3,743
-12.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$163NOK 1,517
$83.3฿2,720
96.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Grimstad
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,214NOK 11.3K
$613฿20.0K
97.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$891NOK 8,280
$437฿14.3K
103.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,790NOK 16.6K
$2,094฿68.4K
-14.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,535NOK 14.3K
$1,509฿49.3K
1.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,749฿122.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,616฿85.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Grimstad
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,641NOK 43.1K
$508฿16.6K
813.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.9
5.33
-8.07%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Grimstad: June 1, 2026
Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,214 in Grimstad and $613 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Grimstad pays 813% 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: $51.0 in Grimstad vs $45.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $391 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
Grimstad vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Grimstad?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 88% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Grimstad or Phuket?
Grimstad pays 813% more on average, 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 Grimstad and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,214 in Grimstad versus $613 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Grimstad vs Phuket?
All in, you'll spend $2,376 per month in Grimstad versus $1,265 in Phuket – a 88% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Phuket runs roughly 574% less than in Grimstad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Grimstad or Phuket?
At $1,265 in Phuket versus $2,376 in Grimstad, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Grimstad. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Grimstad or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Grimstad, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Grimstad or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Grimstad 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 88% less than in Grimstad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.