😐A single person spends $2,493 per month in Haugesund vs $1,232 in Phuket, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,755 per month in Haugesund vs $2,255 in Phuket, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,017 per month in Haugesund vs $3,279 in Phuket, rent included.
😐Haugesund costs about 102% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Haugesund sits 86% above the global median, while Phuket is 8% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Haugesund
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.11NOK 197
$4.63฿151
355.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$102NOK 949
$46.84฿1,523
117.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.84NOK 129
$8.84฿287
56.56%
Cappuccino
$4.76NOK 44.32
$3.00฿97.4
58.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10NOK 28.89
$0.74฿24.11
318.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94NOK 27.44
$0.37฿11.88
694.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$10.69NOK 99.6
$2.44฿79.3
338.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.37NOK 87.3
$3.61฿117
159.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Haugesund
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.14NOK 19.96
$2.26฿73.5
-5.31%
White Bread(500g)
$3.40NOK 31.68
$1.84฿59.8
84.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.92NOK 27.20
$2.24฿73.0
30.36%
Eggs
$4.63NOK 43.13
$2.32฿75.3
99.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.45NOK 107
$19.67฿639
-41.79%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.62NOK 136
$3.65฿119
300.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$28.26NOK 263
$13.10฿426
115.73%
Apples(1kg)
$3.09NOK 28.77
$3.39฿110
-8.85%
Banana(1kg)
$2.07NOK 19.33
$1.64฿53.4
26.22%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.73NOK 34.80
$2.41฿78.5
54.77%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.27NOK 39.76
$2.03฿66.0
110.34%
Potato(1kg)
$2.68NOK 24.98
$1.56฿50.6
71.79%
Onion(1kg)
$2.81NOK 26.18
$1.50฿48.66
87.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.89NOK 26.90
$1.02฿33.30
183.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.11NOK 19.68
$0.49฿15.91
330.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$16.36NOK 152
$4.45฿145
267.64%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.81NOK 138
$18.88฿614
-21.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.44NOK 32.06
$1.78฿57.7
93.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.26NOK 39.71
$2.75฿89.5
54.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Haugesund
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.64NOK 33.88
$1.40฿45.54
160.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$65.9NOK 614
$11.48฿373
474.22%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$13.89NOK 130
$3.12฿101
345.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.52NOK 14.16
$1.00฿32.48
52.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$55.4NOK 516
$14.09฿458
293.26%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.24NOK 20.83
$1.35฿43.93
65.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.2KNOK 328.5K
$27.2K฿883.7K
29.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.3KNOK 375.9K
$32.9K฿1.1M
22.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Haugesund
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$239NOK 2,229
$125฿4,063
91.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.95NOK 354
$13.57฿441
179.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.7NOK 519
$18.52฿602
200.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Haugesund
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.63NOK 416
$61.5฿1,999
-27.41%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.42NOK 330
$16.84฿547
110.33%
Cinema Ticket
$16.32NOK 152
$9.19฿299
77.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Haugesund
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$289NOK 2,694
$698฿22.7K
-58.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,876NOK 26.8K
$15.6K฿506.9K
-81.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Haugesund
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$81.2NOK 757
$57.8฿1,878
40.65%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.7NOK 510
$35.24฿1,146
55.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.1NOK 868
$113฿3,677
-17.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$147NOK 1,371
$86.4฿2,808
70.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Haugesund
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,648NOK 15.4K
$616฿20.0K
167.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,043NOK 9,720
$446฿14.5K
133.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,061NOK 19.2K
$2,048฿66.6K
0.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,541NOK 14.4K
$1,492฿48.5K
3.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,555NOK 42.5K
$3,779฿122.8K
20.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,752NOK 44.3K
$2,649฿86.1K
79.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Haugesund
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,882NOK 36.2K
$524฿17.0K
641.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.98
5.33
-25.33%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Haugesund: April 27, 2026
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,648 in Haugesund versus $616 in Phuket. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 641% higher in Haugesund, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $102 in Haugesund versus $47.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $448 vs $292 – making Phuket the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Haugesund vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Haugesund or Phuket?
Haugesund costs about 102% more than Phuket, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Haugesund vs Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,740 per month in Haugesund and $1,847 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Haugesund or Phuket?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Haugesund or Phuket?
Groceries cost about 53% more in Haugesund, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Haugesund vs Phuket?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $102 in Haugesund and $47.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Haugesund or Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,232, than in Haugesund at $2,493. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Haugesund it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Haugesund or Phuket?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,232 versus $2,493 in Haugesund. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Haugesund compared to Phuket?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Haugesund or Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Haugesund makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.