😐A single person spends $2,698 per month in Kongsberg vs $1,265 in Phuket, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,972 per month in Kongsberg vs $2,089 in Phuket, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,245 per month in Kongsberg vs $2,913 in Phuket, rent included.
😐Kongsberg costs about 113% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Kongsberg sits 96% above the global median, while Phuket is 8% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kongsberg
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.62NOK 201
$4.66฿154
363.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.6NOK 692
$32.22฿1,065
131.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$16.30NOK 151
$8.68฿287
87.79%
Cappuccino
$5.13NOK 47.59
$2.90฿95.8
76.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.24NOK 39.31
$0.84฿27.89
404.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.56NOK 33.04
$0.49฿16.16
626.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$11.74NOK 109
$2.48฿82.0
373.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.64NOK 98.7
$3.73฿123
185.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kongsberg
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.55NOK 23.61
$1.89฿62.3
34.92%
White Bread(500g)
$3.19NOK 29.60
$1.41฿46.54
126.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.52NOK 41.95
$1.62฿53.6
179.01%
Eggs
$4.93NOK 45.76
$2.24฿74.1
120.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.07NOK 103
$19.84฿656
-44.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.49NOK 116
$3.48฿115
258.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.83NOK 175
$11.37฿376
65.61%
Apples(1kg)
$3.31NOK 30.71
$2.90฿95.8
14.14%
Banana(1kg)
$2.68NOK 24.85
$1.72฿57.0
55.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.46NOK 32.07
$2.27฿75.1
52.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.03NOK 46.65
$2.13฿70.4
136.15%
Potato(1kg)
$2.65NOK 24.55
$1.47฿48.72
80.27%
Onion(1kg)
$2.63NOK 24.38
$1.42฿46.92
85.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.20NOK 29.66
$1.10฿36.25
190.91%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.50NOK 23.20
$0.60฿19.76
316.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$18.66NOK 173
$4.31฿142
332.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.21NOK 150
$18.60฿615
-12.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.68NOK 34.10
$1.80฿59.5
104.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.08NOK 37.86
$2.97฿98.0
37.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Kongsberg
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.16NOK 29.28
$2.25฿74.2
40.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$95.3NOK 884
$23.49฿776
305.62%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$12.19NOK 113
$3.10฿102
293.23%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.93NOK 17.89
$1.08฿35.56
78.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$32.43NOK 301
$3.87฿128
737.98%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.37NOK 21.99
$1.43฿47.16
65.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$49.9KNOK 463.3K
$27.8K฿918.0K
79.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$46.0KNOK 427.2K
$27.0K฿891.5K
70.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kongsberg
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$328NOK 3,041
$105฿3,462
212.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.06NOK 270
$11.39฿376
155.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.7NOK 535
$17.54฿580
228.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kongsberg
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.80NOK 443
$54.3฿1,795
-12.04%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$58.2NOK 539
$11.44฿378
408.30%
Cinema Ticket
$19.15NOK 178
$7.78฿257
146.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kongsberg
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$254NOK 2,355
$576฿19.0K
-55.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,929NOK 36.4K
$11.6K฿382.7K
-66.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kongsberg
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.3NOK 856
$63.6฿2,103
45.03%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.1NOK 520
$29.10฿961
92.75%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138NOK 1,280
$96.2฿3,179
43.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$163NOK 1,509
$90.0฿2,974
80.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kongsberg
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,112NOK 10.3K
$733฿24.2K
51.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,068NOK 9,905
$501฿16.5K
113.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,993NOK 18.5K
$2,126฿70.2K
-6.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,710NOK 15.9K
$1,252฿41.4K
36.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,249NOK 58.0K
$3,534฿116.8K
76.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,287NOK 39.8K
$2,622฿86.6K
63.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kongsberg
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,726NOK 34.6K
$508฿16.8K
634.14%
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 Kongsberg: September 6, 2026
Last update for Phuket: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,112 in Kongsberg versus $733 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 634% 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 $75.0 in Kongsberg versus $32.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $434 vs $275 – 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 113%, 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 $4,048 per month in Kongsberg and $1,898 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 $2,698 in Kongsberg and $1,265 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 306% 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 $1,265, than in Kongsberg at $2,698. 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.