Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Narvik and Phuket

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,278 a month against $2,530 in Narvik, rent and utilities included – about $15,000 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Narvik, Norway
Phuket, Thailand
Narvik
🇳🇴 Norway
$2,530
/mo nomad
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,278
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Narvik and in Phuket

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Narvik and in Phuket actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,530 in Narvik versus $1,278 in Phuket.

  • Narvik $2,530
  • Phuket $1,278

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,868 in Narvik versus $2,216 in Phuket.

  • Narvik $3,868
  • Phuket $2,216

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,205 in Narvik versus $3,154 in Phuket.

  • Narvik $5,205
  • Phuket $3,154

Living in Narvik is roughly 98% more expensive than in Phuket, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Narvik is 86% above, Phuket is 6% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Narvik
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$32.33 NOK 297
$4.47 ฿151
623.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$96.1 NOK 883
$32.41 ฿1,093
196.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$16.33 NOK 150
$8.81 ฿297
85.36%
Cappuccino
$4.91 NOK 45.08
$2.83 ฿95.4
73.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 NOK 27.53
$0.87 ฿29.41
244.83%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 NOK 26.36
$0.49 ฿16.65
485.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$11.76 NOK 108
$2.56 ฿86.3
359.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$12.36 NOK 114
$3.68 ฿124
235.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Narvik
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.59 NOK 23.83
$1.66 ฿55.9
56.02%
White Bread (500g)
$3.34 NOK 30.65
$1.46 ฿49.31
128.77%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.71 NOK 24.89
$1.50 ฿50.5
80.67%
Eggs
$5.24 NOK 48.17
$2.09 ฿70.5
150.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.24 NOK 113
$19.07 ฿643
-35.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.93 NOK 137
$3.30 ฿111
352.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$23.20 NOK 213
$10.91 ฿368
112.65%
Apples (1kg)
$4.01 NOK 36.89
$2.93 ฿98.9
36.86%
Banana (1kg)
$2.20 NOK 20.19
$1.69 ฿57.0
30.18%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.86 NOK 44.62
$2.25 ฿75.8
116.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.49 NOK 41.21
$2.08 ฿70.0
115.87%
Potato (1kg)
$2.65 NOK 24.38
$1.51 ฿51.0
75.50%
Onion (1kg)
$5.00 NOK 45.92
$1.38 ฿46.52
262.32%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.97 NOK 27.31
$1.07 ฿35.96
177.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.13 NOK 19.57
$0.52 ฿17.51
309.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$16.63 NOK 153
$4.20 ฿142
295.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.47 NOK 160
$18.79 ฿634
-7.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.52 NOK 32.30
$1.82 ฿61.5
93.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.84 NOK 35.27
$2.84 ฿95.8
35.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Narvik
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.66 NOK 42.84
$1.45 ฿48.98
221.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$92.8 NOK 852
$56.7 ฿1,912
63.75%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$16.25 NOK 149
$3.02 ฿102
438.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.19 NOK 20.10
$1.02 ฿34.33
114.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$54.6 NOK 501
$3.69 ฿125
1378.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.43 NOK 22.35
$1.47 ฿49.76
65.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.5K NOK 381.2K
$26.8K ฿903.4K
54.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.0K NOK 348.9K
$26.7K ฿900.5K
42.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Narvik
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$267 NOK 2,451
$96.4 ฿3,251
176.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$50.6 NOK 465
$11.26 ฿380
349.29%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$86.3 NOK 793
$16.85 ฿568
412.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Narvik
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.6 NOK 520
$67.2 ฿2,268
-15.81%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.50 NOK 243
$10.73 ฿362
146.97%
Cinema Ticket
$18.00 NOK 165
$7.50 ฿253
140.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Narvik
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$317 NOK 2,908
$476 ฿16.1K
-33.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,842 NOK 72.0K
$11.3K ฿380.0K
-30.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Narvik
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$128 NOK 1,173
$62.4 ฿2,104
104.79%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.69 NOK 328
$28.41 ฿958
25.62%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$143 NOK 1,315
$94.3 ฿3,181
51.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$170 NOK 1,565
$85.8 ฿2,895
98.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Narvik
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$942 NOK 8,659
$716 ฿24.2K
31.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$745 NOK 6,841
$491 ฿16.6K
51.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,668 NOK 15.3K
$1,927 ฿65.0K
-13.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,264 NOK 11.6K
$1,431 ฿48.3K
-11.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,411 NOK 49.7K
$4,175 ฿140.9K
29.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,898 NOK 45.0K
$3,045 ฿102.7K
60.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Narvik
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,630 NOK 33.4K
$502 ฿16.9K
622.78%
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: October 24, 2026

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Narvik
$745
Phuket
$491 34.1% $254
Eating Out
Narvik
$474
Phuket
$122 74.3% $352
Groceries & Markets
Narvik
$463
Phuket
$266 42.5% $197
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Narvik
$404
Phuket
$124 69.2% $279
Clothing & Footwear
Narvik
$215
Phuket
$122 43.2% $93
Getting Around
Narvik
$139
Phuket
$71 49.1% $68
Sport & Entertainment
Narvik
$93
Phuket
$82 11.2% $10

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $942 in Narvik and $716 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Narvik pays about 7.2 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $96 in Narvik vs $32 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $463 vs $266 per month, with Phuket cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇳🇴 Narvik
🇹🇭 Phuket
🕒 Local time
00:08 12:08 AM
06:08 6:08 AM
6 h ahead of Narvik
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
14,183
79,308
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to NOK – Norwegian Krone Converter

Norwegian Krone exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 9.19 NOK (1 NOK = 0.109 USD). 1 EUR = 10.26 NOK (100 NOK = 9.75 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 33.74 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.67 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Narvik Phuket 8,820 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Narvik
  • Phuket

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 about 49% cheaper overall, especially in eating out, groceries, and utilities. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Narvik or Phuket?
Average pay in Narvik is about 7.2 times higher, 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: $942 in Narvik versus $716 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 $2,530 per month in Narvik versus $1,278 in Phuket – Phuket is about 49% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Phuket runs roughly 39% less than in Narvik. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Narvik or in Phuket?
At $1,278 in Phuket versus $2,530 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 it better to live in Narvik or in Phuket?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is safer, Narvik or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Narvik and Phuket are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 49% less than in Narvik. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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