Cost of Living Comparison Between Marsta and PhuketCost of Living Comparison Between Marsta and Phuket
Monthly Cost of Living
😐A single person spends $1,669 per month in Marsta vs $1,232 in Phuket, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,655 per month in Marsta vs $2,054 in Phuket, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,640 per month in Marsta vs $2,876 in Phuket, rent included.
😐Marsta costs about 36% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Marsta sits 22% above the global median, while Phuket is 10% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Marsta
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.49SEK 133
$4.41฿147
205.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.5SEK 675
$32.26฿1,077
112.37%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.34SEK 102
$8.93฿298
15.79%
Cappuccino
$4.59SEK 45.26
$2.90฿96.6
58.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07SEK 20.37
$0.88฿29.38
135.23%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93SEK 18.99
$0.48฿16.06
302.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.25SEK 71.4
$2.35฿78.5
208.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.40SEK 72.9
$3.72฿124
98.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Marsta
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.82SEK 17.90
$1.87฿62.3
-2.67%
White Bread(500g)
$3.22SEK 31.78
$1.47฿48.94
119.05%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.47SEK 53.9
$1.55฿51.8
252.90%
Eggs
$3.83SEK 37.70
$2.10฿70.1
82.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.13SEK 139
$19.59฿654
-27.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.14SEK 90.0
$3.42฿114
167.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.61SEK 173
$11.38฿380
54.75%
Apples(1kg)
$3.15SEK 31.06
$2.98฿99.6
5.70%
Banana(1kg)
$2.66SEK 26.23
$1.68฿56.2
58.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.04SEK 20.14
$2.21฿73.7
-7.69%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.94SEK 38.85
$2.16฿72.1
82.41%
Potato(1kg)
$1.49SEK 14.72
$1.52฿50.9
-1.97%
Onion(1kg)
$1.58SEK 15.56
$1.34฿44.67
17.91%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.04SEK 20.15
$1.13฿37.67
80.53%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.92SEK 18.89
$0.55฿18.24
249.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.15SEK 70.5
$4.26฿142
67.84%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.51SEK 104
$19.09฿637
-44.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.01SEK 19.79
$1.78฿59.4
12.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24SEK 22.10
$2.78฿92.9
-19.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Marsta
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.39SEK 33.41
$2.23฿74.4
52.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$79.2SEK 780
$22.74฿759
248.28%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$13.57SEK 134
$3.03฿101
347.85%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.03SEK 20.02
$1.02฿34.15
99.02%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$59.4SEK 586
$3.89฿130
1427.76%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.75SEK 17.28
$1.49฿49.77
17.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7KSEK 341.5K
$26.6K฿887.3K
30.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.0KSEK 334.9K
$27.0K฿902.2K
25.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Marsta
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$62.5SEK 616
$102฿3,420
-38.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.88SEK 265
$11.33฿378
137.25%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.99SEK 404
$17.40฿581
135.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Marsta
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.54SEK 380
$52.1฿1,738
-26.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.52SEK 251
$11.07฿370
130.53%
Cinema Ticket
$16.34SEK 161
$7.69฿257
112.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Marsta
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$224SEK 2,212
$561฿18.7K
-59.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,274SEK 52.0K
$11.5K฿384.1K
-54.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Marsta
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.9SEK 511
$63.0฿2,104
-17.66%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.99SEK 305
$29.52฿986
4.98%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.3SEK 910
$98.0฿3,272
-5.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106SEK 1,046
$88.5฿2,954
19.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Marsta
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$842SEK 8,300
$738฿24.6K
14.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$606SEK 5,974
$482฿16.1K
25.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,379SEK 13.6K
$2,107฿70.3K
-34.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,074SEK 10.6K
$1,226฿40.9K
-12.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,179SEK 41.2K
$3,617฿120.7K
15.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,874SEK 28.3K
$2,603฿86.9K
10.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Marsta
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,836SEK 47.7K
$494฿16.5K
879.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.2
5.57
-42.55%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Marsta: September 15, 2026
Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $842 in Marsta versus $738 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 880% 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 $69.0 in Marsta versus $32.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $362 vs $274 – 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 36%, 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 $2,504 per month in Marsta and $1,847 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 in Phuket?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Marsta and $32.00 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 and in Phuket?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,669 in Marsta and $1,232 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 living in Marsta or in Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,232, than in Marsta at $1,669. 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.