😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,843 in Holmestrand versus $1,265 in Phuket.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,373 in Holmestrand versus $2,089 in Phuket.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,903 in Holmestrand versus $2,913 in Phuket.
🌍Living in Holmestrand is roughly 125% more expensive than in Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Holmestrand is 106% above, Phuket is 8% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Holmestrand
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.68NOK 201
$4.66฿154
365.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$130NOK 1,203
$32.22฿1,065
302.42%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$16.34NOK 152
$8.68฿287
88.25%
Cappuccino
$5.91NOK 54.8
$2.90฿95.8
103.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.23NOK 39.27
$0.84฿27.89
403.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.36NOK 31.21
$0.49฿16.16
585.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$11.75NOK 109
$2.48฿82.0
373.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$13.11NOK 122
$3.73฿123
251.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Holmestrand
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.66NOK 24.69
$1.89฿62.3
40.74%
White Bread(500g)
$4.16NOK 38.60
$1.41฿46.54
195.04%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.66NOK 43.25
$1.62฿53.6
187.65%
Eggs
$6.17NOK 57.3
$2.24฿74.1
175.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.72NOK 137
$19.84฿656
-25.81%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.47NOK 144
$3.48฿115
344.54%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$30.67NOK 285
$11.37฿376
169.74%
Apples(1kg)
$3.31NOK 30.72
$2.90฿95.8
14.14%
Banana(1kg)
$2.68NOK 24.85
$1.72฿57.0
55.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.65NOK 33.84
$2.27฿75.1
60.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$6.18NOK 57.3
$2.13฿70.4
190.14%
Potato(1kg)
$2.62NOK 24.32
$1.47฿48.72
78.23%
Onion(1kg)
$2.85NOK 26.44
$1.42฿46.92
100.70%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.14NOK 29.13
$1.10฿36.25
185.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.51NOK 23.28
$0.60฿19.76
318.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$19.52NOK 181
$4.31฿142
352.90%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.62NOK 154
$18.60฿615
-10.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.49NOK 32.41
$1.80฿59.5
93.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.38NOK 40.60
$2.97฿98.0
47.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Holmestrand
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.84NOK 44.94
$2.25฿74.2
115.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$85.3NOK 791
$23.49฿776
263.01%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$12.18NOK 113
$3.10฿102
292.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.93NOK 17.87
$1.08฿35.56
78.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$72.4NOK 671
$3.87฿128
1769.77%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.24NOK 20.79
$1.43฿47.16
56.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$49.1KNOK 455.6K
$27.8K฿918.0K
76.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$45.0KNOK 417.5K
$27.0K฿891.5K
66.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Holmestrand
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$423NOK 3,920
$105฿3,462
303.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.30NOK 300
$11.39฿376
183.58%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.9NOK 528
$17.54฿580
224.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Holmestrand
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$50.7NOK 470
$54.3฿1,795
-6.72%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$38.04NOK 353
$11.44฿378
232.52%
Cinema Ticket
$19.34NOK 179
$7.78฿257
148.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Holmestrand
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$247NOK 2,288
$576฿19.0K
-57.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.1KNOK 149.4K
$11.6K฿382.7K
39.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Holmestrand
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102NOK 950
$63.6฿2,103
60.98%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$62.7NOK 582
$29.10฿961
115.40%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$135NOK 1,256
$96.2฿3,179
40.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$160NOK 1,480
$90.0฿2,974
77.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Holmestrand
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,229NOK 11.4K
$733฿24.2K
67.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,053NOK 9,764
$501฿16.5K
110.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,062NOK 19.1K
$2,126฿70.2K
-2.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,724NOK 16.0K
$1,252฿41.4K
37.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,541NOK 60.7K
$3,534฿116.8K
85.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,202NOK 39.0K
$2,622฿86.6K
60.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Holmestrand
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$508฿16.8K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.96
5.57
-10.95%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Holmestrand: September 7, 2026
Last update for Phuket: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,229 in Holmestrand and $733 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $130 in Holmestrand vs $32.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $519 vs $275 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
Holmestrand vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Holmestrand or Phuket?
Phuket wins on cost – living expenses run 125% lower than in Holmestrand. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Phuket the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Holmestrand and in Phuket?
You'd need roughly $4,265 in Holmestrand and $1,898 in Phuket to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Holmestrand compared to Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,229 in Holmestrand versus $733 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Holmestrand and in Phuket?
Childcare runs $247 in Holmestrand versus $576 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Holmestrand or in Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 89% higher in Holmestrand. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Holmestrand or in Phuket?
At $1,265 in Phuket versus $2,843 in Holmestrand, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Holmestrand. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Holmestrand or Phuket?
Both work as nomad bases, but Phuket delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,265 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Phuket hard to pass up.
How safe is Holmestrand compared to Phuket?
Safety-wise, Holmestrand 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 125% less than in Holmestrand. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Holmestrand vs other spots: cost of living compared