😐A single person spends $2,476 per month in Haugesund vs $1,264 in Phuket, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,729 per month in Haugesund vs $2,256 in Phuket, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,982 per month in Haugesund vs $3,248 in Phuket, rent included.
😐Haugesund costs about 96% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Haugesund sits 86% above the global median, while Phuket is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Haugesund
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.54NOK 207
$4.48฿150
380.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$102NOK 983
$45.59฿1,525
124.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.46NOK 129
$8.76฿293
53.65%
Cappuccino
$4.68NOK 44.93
$2.97฿99.3
57.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.09NOK 29.62
$0.69฿22.96
347.83%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95NOK 28.29
$0.39฿13.07
656.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$10.67NOK 102
$2.53฿84.7
321.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.37NOK 89.9
$3.75฿125
149.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Haugesund
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.10NOK 20.15
$2.15฿71.8
-2.33%
White Bread(500g)
$3.32NOK 31.80
$1.82฿60.7
82.42%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.84NOK 27.23
$2.18฿73.1
30.28%
Eggs
$4.51NOK 43.30
$2.25฿75.2
100.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.33NOK 109
$20.00฿669
-43.35%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.51NOK 139
$3.63฿121
299.72%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$28.07NOK 269
$13.56฿453
107.01%
Apples(1kg)
$3.06NOK 29.33
$3.24฿109
-5.56%
Banana(1kg)
$2.15NOK 20.64
$1.64฿54.7
31.10%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.60NOK 34.55
$2.33฿78.0
54.51%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.11NOK 39.42
$2.07฿69.3
98.55%
Potato(1kg)
$2.74NOK 26.28
$1.55฿51.8
76.77%
Onion(1kg)
$2.81NOK 26.94
$1.46฿48.67
92.47%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.91NOK 27.93
$0.98฿32.94
196.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.14NOK 20.55
$0.48฿16.13
345.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$16.29NOK 156
$4.35฿146
274.48%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.27NOK 137
$18.57฿621
-23.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.30NOK 31.68
$1.86฿62.1
77.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.29NOK 41.19
$2.65฿88.8
61.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Haugesund
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.61NOK 34.62
$1.42฿47.40
154.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$65.4NOK 627
$11.57฿387
465.08%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$14.39NOK 138
$3.17฿106
353.94%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.51NOK 14.50
$1.03฿34.51
46.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$54.8NOK 526
$13.89฿465
294.60%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.15NOK 20.64
$1.34฿44.96
60.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3KNOK 339.1K
$27.8K฿929.6K
27.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.0KNOK 383.6K
$33.4K฿1.1M
19.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Haugesund
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$243NOK 2,328
$123฿4,116
97.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.85NOK 373
$13.77฿461
182.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.6NOK 533
$18.33฿613
203.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Haugesund
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.68NOK 429
$60.7฿2,030
-26.38%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.94NOK 345
$17.16฿574
109.44%
Cinema Ticket
$16.34NOK 157
$8.87฿297
84.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Haugesund
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$280NOK 2,685
$688฿23.0K
-59.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,941NOK 28.2K
$15.8K฿527.8K
-81.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Haugesund
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83.2NOK 798
$59.3฿1,984
40.34%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.5NOK 533
$34.69฿1,160
60.10%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.7NOK 908
$115฿3,853
-17.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$147NOK 1,410
$83.8฿2,802
75.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Haugesund
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,640NOK 15.7K
$621฿20.8K
163.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,022NOK 9,799
$446฿14.9K
129.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,061NOK 19.8K
$2,034฿68.0K
1.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,549NOK 14.9K
$1,496฿50.0K
3.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,218NOK 40.5K
$3,455฿115.6K
22.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,596NOK 44.1K
$2,531฿84.7K
81.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Haugesund
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,941NOK 37.8K
$494฿16.5K
698.41%
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,640 in Haugesund versus $621 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 698% 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 $46.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $442 vs $291 – 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 96% 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 and in Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,715 per month in Haugesund and $1,896 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 in Phuket?
Groceries cost about 52% 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 and in Phuket?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $102 in Haugesund and $46.00 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 in Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,264, than in Haugesund at $2,476. 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 $1,264 versus $2,476 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 to 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.