Cost of Living Comparison Between Marsta and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Marsta and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,750 per month in Marsta vs $1,261 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,757 per month in Marsta vs $2,286 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,764 per month in Marsta vs $3,310 in Phuket, rent included.

Marsta costs about 39% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Marsta sits 30% above the global median, while Phuket is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Marsta
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.33 SEK 125
$4.56 ฿149
192.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.3 SEK 631
$46.63 ฿1,519
44.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.69 SEK 100
$8.47 ฿276
26.21%
Cappuccino
$4.70 SEK 44.09
$3.03 ฿98.6
55.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 SEK 20.07
$0.69 ฿22.45
210.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88 SEK 17.60
$0.37 ฿11.92
408.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.29 SEK 68.4
$2.49 ฿81.0
192.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.21 SEK 67.6
$3.66 ฿119
96.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Marsta
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.85 SEK 17.39
$2.18 ฿71.0
-15.14%
White Bread (500g)
$3.16 SEK 29.64
$1.90 ฿62.0
66.32%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.98 SEK 37.34
$2.20 ฿71.6
80.91%
Eggs
$3.76 SEK 35.25
$2.22 ฿72.4
69.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.19 SEK 133
$19.99 ฿651
-29.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.73 SEK 91.3
$3.66 ฿119
165.85%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.83 SEK 149
$13.25 ฿432
19.47%
Apples (1kg)
$3.52 SEK 32.99
$3.23 ฿105
8.98%
Banana (1kg)
$2.57 SEK 24.15
$1.70 ฿55.3
51.18%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.21 SEK 30.14
$2.39 ฿78.0
34.31%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.87 SEK 36.27
$2.08 ฿67.7
86.06%
Potato (1kg)
$1.55 SEK 14.52
$1.59 ฿51.8
-2.52%
Onion (1kg)
$1.62 SEK 15.19
$1.48 ฿48.31
9.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.68 SEK 25.16
$1.03 ฿33.54
160.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 SEK 16.33
$0.52 ฿16.83
234.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.30 SEK 68.5
$4.25 ฿138
71.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.65 SEK 99.9
$18.79 ฿612
-43.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 SEK 16.08
$1.76 ฿57.2
-2.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 SEK 17.90
$2.76 ฿89.8
-30.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Marsta
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.25 SEK 39.86
$1.36 ฿44.32
212.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$99.1 SEK 929
$11.36 ฿370
771.92%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$12.07 SEK 113
$3.14 ฿102
284.39%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.64 SEK 15.42
$1.04 ฿33.74
57.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$58.6 SEK 549
$13.77 ฿448
325.34%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.98 SEK 18.60
$1.34 ฿43.79
47.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.7K SEK 306.4K
$27.7K ฿901.4K
18.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4K SEK 323.2K
$33.9K ฿1.1M
1.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Marsta
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.8 SEK 833
$124 ฿4,025
-28.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.88 SEK 262
$13.52 ฿440
106.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.73 SEK 345
$18.69 ฿609
96.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Marsta
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$28.68 SEK 269
$61.8 ฿2,013
-53.61%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.49 SEK 239
$17.25 ฿562
47.77%
Cinema Ticket
$15.77 SEK 148
$9.14 ฿298
72.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Marsta
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$145 SEK 1,358
$703 ฿22.9K
-79.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$746 SEK 6,999
$15.9K ฿517.0K
-95.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Marsta
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$78.4 SEK 735
$59.5 ฿1,937
31.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.16 SEK 405
$35.07 ฿1,142
23.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.8 SEK 936
$115 ฿3,754
-13.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 SEK 1,001
$84.1 ฿2,737
27.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Marsta
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$831 SEK 7,800
$619 ฿20.1K
34.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$644 SEK 6,036
$433 ฿14.1K
48.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,414 SEK 13.3K
$2,062 ฿67.2K
-31.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,081 SEK 10.1K
$1,511 ฿49.2K
-28.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,574 SEK 42.9K
$3,646 ฿118.7K
25.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,555 SEK 24.0K
$2,626 ฿85.5K
-2.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Marsta
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,884 SEK 45.8K
$507 ฿16.5K
863.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.53
5.33
-15.01%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Marsta: June 6, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $831 in Marsta versus $619 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 863% higher in Marsta, 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 $67.0 in Marsta versus $47.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $358 vs $293 – 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
Marsta vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Marsta?
Yes – Marsta is pricier by about 39%, 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 $2,625 per month in Marsta and $1,892 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.
Is eating out cheaper in Marsta or Phuket?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $67.0 in Marsta and $47.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Marsta vs Phuket?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,750 in Marsta and $1,261 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Marsta or Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,261, than in Marsta at $1,750. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Marsta it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Marsta 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, Marsta 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, Marsta makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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