😐A single person spends $2,316 per month in Kongsberg vs $1,250 in Phuket, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,511 per month in Kongsberg vs $2,284 in Phuket, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,705 per month in Kongsberg vs $3,317 in Phuket, rent included.
😐Kongsberg costs about 85% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Kongsberg sits 73% above the global median, while Phuket is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kongsberg
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.56NOK 217
$4.55฿153
395.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.6NOK 680
$46.18฿1,550
52.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.14NOK 127
$8.84฿297
48.64%
Cappuccino
$4.82NOK 46.38
$3.06฿103
57.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47NOK 23.79
$0.73฿24.36
238.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12NOK 20.39
$0.40฿13.37
430.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.99NOK 86.6
$2.43฿81.6
269.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.07NOK 97.0
$3.78฿127
166.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kongsberg
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.11NOK 20.37
$2.26฿75.8
-6.64%
White Bread(500g)
$3.05NOK 29.36
$1.81฿60.8
68.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.18NOK 30.65
$2.25฿75.7
41.33%
Eggs
$4.69NOK 45.18
$2.25฿75.4
108.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.32NOK 99.4
$19.51฿655
-47.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.68NOK 113
$3.65฿122
220.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.66NOK 170
$13.05฿438
35.33%
Apples(1kg)
$3.17NOK 30.52
$3.23฿109
-1.86%
Banana(1kg)
$2.35NOK 22.65
$1.62฿54.3
45.06%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.24NOK 31.24
$2.38฿80.0
36.13%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.12NOK 39.70
$2.03฿68.0
102.96%
Potato(1kg)
$2.20NOK 21.20
$1.53฿51.5
43.79%
Onion(1kg)
$2.24NOK 21.55
$1.50฿50.4
49.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.02NOK 29.05
$0.98฿32.85
208.16%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.83NOK 17.62
$0.52฿17.36
251.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$17.19NOK 166
$4.44฿149
287.16%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.05NOK 145
$18.32฿615
-17.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.21NOK 30.89
$1.86฿62.6
72.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.84NOK 36.96
$2.68฿90.0
43.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Kongsberg
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.46NOK 23.66
$1.41฿47.37
74.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$89.4NOK 861
$11.70฿393
663.85%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$10.28NOK 99.0
$3.11฿104
230.55%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.39NOK 13.34
$1.04฿35.00
33.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$30.31NOK 292
$14.11฿474
114.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.15NOK 20.71
$1.31฿44.02
64.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.8KNOK 363.9K
$27.8K฿933.8K
35.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.6KNOK 390.8K
$33.2K฿1.1M
22.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kongsberg
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$215NOK 2,068
$122฿4,110
75.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.07NOK 261
$13.59฿456
99.19%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.56NOK 371
$18.70฿628
106.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kongsberg
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.95NOK 433
$60.5฿2,031
-25.69%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$53.3NOK 513
$16.98฿570
213.60%
Cinema Ticket
$20.47NOK 197
$9.07฿305
125.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kongsberg
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$302NOK 2,908
$706฿23.7K
-57.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,636NOK 35.0K
$15.8K฿530.5K
-76.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kongsberg
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.8NOK 846
$58.6฿1,965
49.94%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.3NOK 494
$35.36฿1,187
45.16%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$156NOK 1,503
$115฿3,876
35.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$159NOK 1,530
$83.7฿2,811
89.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kongsberg
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$993NOK 9,567
$626฿21.0K
58.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$884NOK 8,516
$445฿14.9K
98.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,765NOK 17.0K
$2,040฿68.5K
-13.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,583NOK 15.2K
$1,492฿50.1K
6.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,007NOK 57.9K
$3,483฿116.9K
72.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,030NOK 38.8K
$2,577฿86.5K
56.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kongsberg
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,474NOK 33.5K
$500฿16.8K
595.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.38
5.33
-17.82%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kongsberg: July 14, 2026
Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $993 in Kongsberg versus $626 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 595% higher in Kongsberg, 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 $71.0 in Kongsberg versus $46.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $388 vs $289 – 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
Kongsberg vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Kongsberg?
Yes – Kongsberg is pricier by about 85%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,474 per month in Kongsberg and $1,875 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
What are total monthly expenses in Kongsberg and in Phuket?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,316 in Kongsberg and $1,250 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 664% less in Phuket. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Kongsberg or in Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,250, than in Kongsberg at $2,316. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kongsberg it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Kongsberg or Phuket more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Phuket – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Kongsberg or 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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kongsberg makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.