😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,793 in Norrkoping versus $1,232 in Phuket.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,682 in Norrkoping versus $2,054 in Phuket.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,571 in Norrkoping versus $2,876 in Phuket.
🌍Living in Norrkoping is roughly 46% more expensive than in Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Norrkoping is 31% above, Phuket is 10% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Norrkoping
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.83SEK 126
$4.41฿147
190.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.3SEK 612
$32.26฿1,073
93.15%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.45SEK 103
$8.93฿297
17.02%
Cappuccino
$5.11SEK 50.2
$2.90฿96.3
76.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88SEK 28.25
$0.88฿29.27
227.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18SEK 21.45
$0.48฿16.00
354.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.03SEK 69.1
$2.35฿78.2
199.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.12SEK 79.8
$3.72฿124
118.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Norrkoping
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.78SEK 17.47
$1.87฿62.0
-4.81%
White Bread(500g)
$2.89SEK 28.37
$1.47฿48.75
96.60%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.13SEK 40.62
$1.55฿51.6
166.45%
Eggs
$4.10SEK 40.24
$2.10฿69.9
95.24%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.32SEK 101
$19.59฿651
-47.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.15SEK 149
$3.42฿114
342.98%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.58SEK 182
$11.38฿378
63.27%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23SEK 31.77
$2.98฿99.2
8.39%
Banana(1kg)
$2.84SEK 27.92
$1.68฿56.0
69.05%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.70SEK 36.31
$2.21฿73.5
67.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.36SEK 52.7
$2.16฿71.9
148.15%
Potato(1kg)
$1.41SEK 13.88
$1.52฿50.7
-7.24%
Onion(1kg)
$1.80SEK 17.73
$1.34฿44.49
34.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.00SEK 19.66
$1.13฿37.53
76.99%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31SEK 12.92
$0.55฿18.17
138.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.84SEK 77.1
$4.26฿142
84.04%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.05SEK 98.7
$19.09฿635
-47.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.98SEK 19.44
$1.78฿59.2
11.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07SEK 20.29
$2.78฿92.5
-25.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Norrkoping
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.47SEK 34.08
$2.23฿74.1
55.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$103SEK 1,016
$22.74฿756
354.75%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.45SEK 53.6
$3.03฿101
79.87%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.31SEK 12.89
$1.02฿34.02
28.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$62.9SEK 618
$3.89฿129
1517.22%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.71SEK 16.77
$1.49฿49.57
14.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.2KSEK 316.1K
$26.6K฿883.8K
21.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9KSEK 332.7K
$27.0K฿898.7K
25.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Norrkoping
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$99.7SEK 980
$102฿3,407
-2.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.35SEK 288
$11.33฿377
159.05%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.34SEK 436
$17.40฿578
154.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Norrkoping
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.95SEK 343
$52.1฿1,732
-32.89%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$11.07฿368
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.16SEK 149
$7.69฿256
97.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Norrkoping
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$130SEK 1,281
$561฿18.6K
-76.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$11.5K฿382.6K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Norrkoping
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.3SEK 690
$63.0฿2,096
11.47%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.23SEK 297
$29.52฿982
2.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.2SEK 955
$98.0฿3,259
-0.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$208SEK 2,039
$88.5฿2,943
134.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Norrkoping
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$677SEK 6,655
$738฿24.5K
-8.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$591SEK 5,802
$482฿16.0K
22.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,192SEK 11.7K
$2,107฿70.0K
-43.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$876SEK 8,608
$1,226฿40.8K
-28.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,600SEK 45.2K
$3,617฿120.3K
27.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,492SEK 34.3K
$2,603฿86.5K
34.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Norrkoping
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,182SEK 31.3K
$494฿16.4K
544.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.94
5.57
-29.26%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Norrkoping: September 15, 2026
Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $677 in Norrkoping and $738 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Norrkoping pays 545% 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: $62.0 in Norrkoping vs $32.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $383 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
Norrkoping vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Norrkoping and in Phuket?
Norrkoping and Phuket differ by about 46% in total monthly costs ($1,793 vs $1,232 including rent). Phuket is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Norrkoping or Phuket?
Average pay runs 545% higher in Norrkoping, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Norrkoping and in Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $677 in Norrkoping versus $738 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Norrkoping or Phuket?
All in, you'll spend $1,793 per month in Norrkoping versus $1,232 in Phuket – a 46% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Norrkoping and in Phuket?
A monthly transit pass in Phuket runs roughly 355% less than in Norrkoping. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,793 in Norrkoping, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Norrkoping. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Norrkoping and 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.
Is Norrkoping or Phuket safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Norrkoping 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.
Where should expats move: Norrkoping or Phuket?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 46% less than in Norrkoping. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Norrkoping vs other spots: cost of living compared