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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,790 per month in Marsta vs $1,264 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,746 per month in Marsta vs $2,256 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,703 per month in Marsta vs $3,248 in Phuket, rent included.

Marsta costs about 42% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Marsta sits 34% above the global median, while Phuket is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Marsta
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.37 SEK 127
$4.48 ฿150
198.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.6 SEK 662
$45.59 ฿1,521
52.75%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.39 SEK 98.7
$8.76 ฿292
18.61%
Cappuccino
$4.46 SEK 42.39
$2.97 ฿99.0
50.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10 SEK 19.93
$0.69 ฿22.90
204.35%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87 SEK 17.81
$0.39 ฿13.04
379.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.29 SEK 69.2
$2.53 ฿84.4
188.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.53 SEK 71.5
$3.75 ฿125
100.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Marsta
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.80 SEK 17.06
$2.15 ฿71.6
-16.28%
White Bread (500g)
$3.07 SEK 29.20
$1.82 ฿60.6
68.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.02 SEK 38.22
$2.18 ฿72.9
84.40%
Eggs
$3.69 SEK 35.06
$2.25 ฿75.0
64.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.91 SEK 132
$20.00 ฿667
-30.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.56 SEK 90.9
$3.63 ฿121
163.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.92 SEK 151
$13.56 ฿452
17.40%
Apples (1kg)
$3.61 SEK 34.25
$3.24 ฿108
11.42%
Banana (1kg)
$2.70 SEK 25.67
$1.64 ฿54.6
64.63%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.18 SEK 30.20
$2.33 ฿77.8
36.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.87 SEK 36.81
$2.07 ฿69.1
86.96%
Potato (1kg)
$1.51 SEK 14.32
$1.55 ฿51.6
-2.58%
Onion (1kg)
$1.60 SEK 15.20
$1.46 ฿48.54
9.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.75 SEK 26.13
$0.98 ฿32.86
180.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 SEK 16.56
$0.48 ฿16.09
262.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.48 SEK 71.0
$4.35 ฿145
71.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.31 SEK 98.0
$18.57 ฿620
-44.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 SEK 16.14
$1.86 ฿61.9
-8.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 SEK 18.77
$2.65 ฿88.6
-25.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Marsta
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.26 SEK 40.50
$1.42 ฿47.28
200.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$102 SEK 971
$11.57 ฿386
783.15%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$12.06 SEK 115
$3.17 ฿106
280.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.64 SEK 15.57
$1.03 ฿34.41
59.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$58.9 SEK 560
$13.89 ฿463
324.26%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.91 SEK 18.10
$1.34 ฿44.84
42.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.0K SEK 313.8K
$27.8K ฿927.1K
18.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4K SEK 327.2K
$33.4K ฿1.1M
3.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Marsta
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.4 SEK 839
$123 ฿4,105
-28.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.99 SEK 266
$13.77 ฿459
103.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.99 SEK 342
$18.33 ฿611
96.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Marsta
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$28.76 SEK 273
$60.7 ฿2,025
-52.61%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.60 SEK 243
$17.16 ฿573
49.18%
Cinema Ticket
$15.86 SEK 151
$8.87 ฿296
78.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Marsta
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$143 SEK 1,362
$688 ฿22.9K
-79.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$726 SEK 6,898
$15.8K ฿526.4K
-95.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Marsta
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$80.0 SEK 760
$59.3 ฿1,978
34.97%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.89 SEK 417
$34.69 ฿1,157
26.52%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.4 SEK 935
$115 ฿3,843
-14.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 SEK 1,017
$83.8 ฿2,794
27.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Marsta
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$843 SEK 8,012
$621 ฿20.7K
35.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$653 SEK 6,202
$446 ฿14.9K
46.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,398 SEK 13.3K
$2,034 ฿67.8K
-31.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,088 SEK 10.3K
$1,496 ฿49.9K
-27.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,464 SEK 42.4K
$3,455 ฿115.3K
29.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,186 SEK 30.3K
$2,531 ฿84.4K
25.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Marsta
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,806 SEK 45.7K
$494 ฿16.5K
873.68%
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: July 25, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $843 in Marsta versus $621 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 874% 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 $70.0 in Marsta versus $46.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $356 vs $291 – 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 42%, 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 $2,685 per month in Marsta and $1,896 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 $70.0 in Marsta and $46.00 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 $1,790 in Marsta and $1,264 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 $1,264, than in Marsta at $1,790. 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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