Cost of Living Comparison Between Narvik and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Narvik and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,529 in Narvik versus $1,232 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,902 in Narvik versus $2,054 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,276 in Narvik versus $2,876 in Phuket.

Living in Narvik is roughly 105% more expensive than in Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Narvik is 85% above, Phuket is 10% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Narvik
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$32.77 NOK 309
$4.41 ฿147
643.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$94.8 NOK 893
$32.26 ฿1,077
193.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.78 NOK 149
$8.93 ฿298
76.71%
Cappuccino
$5.11 NOK 48.15
$2.90 ฿96.6
76.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 NOK 28.25
$0.88 ฿29.38
240.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89 NOK 27.21
$0.48 ฿16.06
502.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$11.84 NOK 112
$2.35 ฿78.5
403.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$12.26 NOK 116
$3.72 ฿124
229.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Narvik
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.52 NOK 23.75
$1.87 ฿62.3
34.76%
White Bread (500g)
$3.37 NOK 31.79
$1.47 ฿48.94
129.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.72 NOK 25.63
$1.55 ฿51.8
75.48%
Eggs
$5.38 NOK 50.7
$2.10 ฿70.1
156.19%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.98 NOK 113
$19.59 ฿654
-38.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.25 NOK 144
$3.42 ฿114
345.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$23.46 NOK 221
$11.38 ฿380
106.15%
Apples (1kg)
$3.82 NOK 36.00
$2.98 ฿99.6
28.19%
Banana (1kg)
$2.09 NOK 19.68
$1.68 ฿56.2
24.40%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.87 NOK 45.85
$2.21 ฿73.7
120.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.47 NOK 42.08
$2.16 ฿72.1
106.94%
Potato (1kg)
$2.66 NOK 25.05
$1.52 ฿50.9
75.00%
Onion (1kg)
$4.84 NOK 45.60
$1.34 ฿44.67
261.19%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.97 NOK 27.95
$1.13 ฿37.67
162.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.24 NOK 21.15
$0.55 ฿18.24
307.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$16.43 NOK 155
$4.26 ฿142
285.68%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.14 NOK 152
$19.09 ฿637
-15.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.47 NOK 32.71
$1.78 ฿59.4
94.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.83 NOK 36.13
$2.78 ฿92.9
37.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Narvik
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.62 NOK 43.57
$2.23 ฿74.4
107.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$92.7 NOK 873
$22.74 ฿759
307.43%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$15.91 NOK 150
$3.03 ฿101
425.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.08 NOK 19.59
$1.02 ฿34.15
103.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$54.6 NOK 514
$3.89 ฿130
1302.57%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.22 NOK 20.89
$1.49 ฿49.77
48.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.5K NOK 381.4K
$26.6K ฿887.3K
52.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.7K NOK 364.9K
$27.0K ฿902.2K
43.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Narvik
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$260 NOK 2,454
$102 ฿3,420
154.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.4 NOK 484
$11.33 ฿378
353.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$85.2 NOK 803
$17.40 ฿581
389.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Narvik
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.6 NOK 534
$52.1 ฿1,738
8.74%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.16 NOK 256
$11.07 ฿370
145.35%
Cinema Ticket
$17.37 NOK 164
$7.69 ฿257
125.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Narvik
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$320 NOK 3,017
$561 ฿18.7K
-42.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,707 NOK 72.6K
$11.5K ฿384.1K
-33.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Narvik
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$126 NOK 1,190
$63.0 ฿2,104
100.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.09 NOK 331
$29.52 ฿986
18.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$143 NOK 1,352
$98.0 ฿3,272
46.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$168 NOK 1,584
$88.5 ฿2,954
89.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Narvik
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$930 NOK 8,766
$738 ฿24.6K
26.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$745 NOK 7,019
$482 ฿16.1K
54.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,670 NOK 15.7K
$2,107 ฿70.3K
-20.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,229 NOK 11.6K
$1,226 ฿40.9K
0.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,415 NOK 51.0K
$3,617 ฿120.7K
49.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,789 NOK 45.1K
$2,603 ฿86.9K
83.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Narvik
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,580 NOK 33.7K
$494 ฿16.5K
625.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.01
5.57
-10.05%

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

Last update for Narvik: September 12, 2026

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $930 in Narvik and $738 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Narvik pays 625% 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: $95.0 in Narvik vs $32.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $461 vs $274 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
Narvik vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Narvik?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 105% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Narvik or Phuket?
Average pay runs 625% higher in Narvik, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Narvik and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $930 in Narvik versus $738 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Narvik and in Phuket?
All in, you'll spend $2,529 per month in Narvik versus $1,232 in Phuket – a 105% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Phuket runs roughly 307% less than in Narvik. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Narvik or in Phuket?
At $1,232 in Phuket versus $2,529 in Narvik, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Narvik. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Narvik or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Narvik, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Narvik or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Narvik 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 105% less than in Narvik. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Narvik vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities