😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,472 in Lillestrom versus $1,261 in Phuket.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,909 in Lillestrom versus $2,286 in Phuket.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,345 in Lillestrom versus $3,310 in Phuket.
😐Living in Lillestrom is roughly 96% more expensive than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lillestrom is 84% above, Phuket is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lillestrom
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.49NOK 194
$4.56฿149
349.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$102NOK 971
$46.63฿1,519
119.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.08NOK 105
$8.47฿276
30.81%
Cappuccino
$4.82NOK 45.72
$3.03฿98.6
59.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52NOK 23.94
$0.69฿22.45
265.22%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22NOK 21.03
$0.37฿11.92
500.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.96NOK 85.0
$2.49฿81.0
259.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.18NOK 96.6
$3.66฿119
178.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lillestrom
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.18NOK 20.71
$2.18฿71.0
-
White Bread(500g)
$3.43NOK 32.55
$1.90฿62.0
80.53%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.20NOK 30.36
$2.20฿71.6
45.45%
Eggs
$4.14NOK 39.28
$2.22฿72.4
86.49%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.46NOK 109
$19.99฿651
-42.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.90NOK 132
$3.66฿119
279.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$24.59NOK 233
$13.25฿432
85.58%
Apples(1kg)
$3.15NOK 29.89
$3.23฿105
-2.48%
Banana(1kg)
$2.24NOK 21.23
$1.70฿55.3
31.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.41NOK 32.37
$2.39฿78.0
42.68%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.99NOK 37.86
$2.08฿67.7
91.83%
Potato(1kg)
$2.30NOK 21.85
$1.59฿51.8
44.65%
Onion(1kg)
$2.13NOK 20.24
$1.48฿48.31
43.92%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.98NOK 18.81
$1.03฿33.54
92.23%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.82NOK 17.28
$0.52฿16.83
250.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.08NOK 134
$4.25฿138
231.29%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.03NOK 162
$18.79฿612
-9.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.21NOK 30.47
$1.76฿57.2
82.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.87NOK 36.77
$2.76฿89.8
40.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Lillestrom
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.24NOK 40.20
$1.36฿44.32
211.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$72.4NOK 687
$11.36฿370
537.41%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.00NOK 47.44
$3.14฿102
59.24%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.45NOK 13.75
$1.04฿33.74
39.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$61.0NOK 579
$13.77฿448
342.70%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09NOK 19.85
$1.34฿43.79
55.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4KNOK 326.6K
$27.7K฿901.4K
24.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.9KNOK 293.8K
$33.9K฿1.1M
-8.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lillestrom
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$60.9NOK 578
$124฿4,025
-50.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$43.99NOK 418
$13.52฿440
225.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.96NOK 360
$18.69฿609
103.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lillestrom
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$70.2NOK 666
$61.8฿2,013
13.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.53NOK 166
$17.25฿562
1.62%
Cinema Ticket
$14.60NOK 139
$9.14฿298
59.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lillestrom
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$234NOK 2,221
$703฿22.9K
-66.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,195NOK 39.8K
$15.9K฿517.0K
-73.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lillestrom
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$95.0NOK 902
$59.5฿1,937
59.77%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.87NOK 454
$35.07฿1,142
36.50%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101NOK 961
$115฿3,754
-12.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$175NOK 1,662
$84.1฿2,737
108.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lillestrom
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,233NOK 11.7K
$619฿20.1K
99.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,233NOK 11.7K
$433฿14.1K
185.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,486NOK 23.6K
$2,062฿67.2K
20.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,234NOK 21.2K
$1,511฿49.2K
47.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,932NOK 65.8K
$3,646฿118.7K
90.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,024NOK 38.2K
$2,626฿85.5K
53.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lillestrom
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,793NOK 36.0K
$507฿16.5K
648.17%
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 Lillestrom: June 7, 2026
Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,233 in Lillestrom and $619 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lillestrom pays 648% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $102 in Lillestrom vs $47.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $425 vs $293 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
Lillestrom vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lillestrom or Phuket?
Phuket wins on cost – living expenses run 96% lower than in Lillestrom. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Phuket the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Lillestrom or Phuket?
Lillestrom pays 648% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Lillestrom vs Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,233 in Lillestrom versus $619 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Lillestrom and Phuket?
Childcare runs $234 in Lillestrom versus $703 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Lillestrom or Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 45% higher in Lillestrom. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Lillestrom or Phuket?
At $1,261 in Phuket versus $2,472 in Lillestrom, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Lillestrom. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lillestrom or Phuket?
Both work as nomad bases, but Phuket delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,261 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Phuket hard to pass up.
How safe is Lillestrom compared to Phuket?
Safety-wise, Lillestrom 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 96% less than in Lillestrom. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Lillestrom vs other spots: cost of living compared