Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ostersund and Phuket

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,294 a month against $1,761 in Ostersund, rent and utilities included – about $5,600 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Ostersund, Sweden
Phuket, Thailand
Ostersund
🇸🇪 Sweden
$1,761
/mo nomad
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,294
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ostersund 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 Ostersund and in Phuket actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,761 in Ostersund versus $1,294 in Phuket.

  • Ostersund $1,761
  • Phuket $1,294

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,732 in Ostersund versus $2,204 in Phuket.

  • Ostersund $2,732
  • Phuket $2,204

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,703 in Ostersund versus $3,115 in Phuket.

  • Ostersund $3,703
  • Phuket $3,115

Living in Ostersund is roughly 36% more expensive than in Phuket, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ostersund is 30% above, Phuket is 4% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ostersund
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.51 SEK 142
$4.39 ฿147
230.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.6 SEK 670
$32.31 ฿1,078
112.26%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.03 SEK 88.2
$8.70 ฿290
3.79%
Cappuccino
$4.35 SEK 42.54
$2.72 ฿90.9
59.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57 SEK 25.11
$0.93 ฿31.06
176.34%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 SEK 19.81
$0.50 ฿16.67
306.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.80 SEK 76.3
$2.53 ฿84.5
208.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.36 SEK 72.0
$3.63 ฿121
102.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ostersund
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 SEK 14.08
$1.74 ฿58.1
-17.24%
White Bread (500g)
$3.03 SEK 29.62
$1.45 ฿48.42
108.97%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.78 SEK 46.71
$1.50 ฿50.1
218.67%
Eggs
$3.34 SEK 32.59
$2.17 ฿72.5
53.92%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.80 SEK 135
$19.09 ฿637
-27.71%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.78 SEK 115
$3.40 ฿113
246.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.72 SEK 154
$10.90 ฿364
44.22%
Apples (1kg)
$4.30 SEK 42.05
$2.94 ฿98.2
46.26%
Banana (1kg)
$2.92 SEK 28.55
$1.69 ฿56.5
72.78%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.53 SEK 34.50
$2.19 ฿73.2
61.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.21 SEK 41.11
$2.12 ฿70.9
98.58%
Potato (1kg)
$1.61 SEK 15.72
$1.46 ฿48.68
10.27%
Onion (1kg)
$1.61 SEK 15.78
$1.37 ฿45.66
17.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.33 SEK 22.77
$1.08 ฿35.91
115.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.56 SEK 15.25
$0.55 ฿18.21
183.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.70 SEK 75.3
$4.43 ฿148
73.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.05 SEK 98.2
$18.25 ฿609
-44.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.15 SEK 20.99
$1.77 ฿59.2
21.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 SEK 22.23
$2.88 ฿96.2
-21.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Ostersund
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.26 SEK 31.88
$1.45 ฿48.32
124.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$76.3 SEK 746
$54.9 ฿1,832
38.99%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.12 SEK 59.8
$1.51 ฿50.5
305.30%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.69 SEK 16.51
$0.78 ฿25.90
116.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$60.8 SEK 594
$3.84 ฿128
1482.03%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.78 SEK 17.40
$1.49 ฿49.65
19.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.7K SEK 299.8K
$26.9K ฿897.3K
14.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.5K SEK 356.6K
$26.3K ฿879.4K
38.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ostersund
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$118 SEK 1,150
$97.8 ฿3,265
20.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.84 SEK 233
$11.29 ฿377
111.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.29 SEK 384
$17.19 ฿574
128.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ostersund
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.62 SEK 368
$68.3 ฿2,281
-44.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.52 SEK 259
$10.92 ฿365
142.86%
Cinema Ticket
$15.13 SEK 148
$7.43 ฿248
103.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ostersund
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$127 SEK 1,238
$530 ฿17.7K
-76.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,587 SEK 54.6K
$18.8K ฿626.9K
-70.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ostersund
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$93.2 SEK 911
$61.7 ฿2,059
51.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.48 SEK 415
$28.25 ฿943
50.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.4 SEK 776
$96.0 ฿3,204
-17.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$142 SEK 1,389
$86.8 ฿2,898
63.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ostersund
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$812 SEK 7,939
$721 ฿24.1K
12.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$610 SEK 5,963
$509 ฿17.0K
19.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,394 SEK 13.6K
$1,950 ฿65.1K
-28.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,038 SEK 10.1K
$1,397 ฿46.6K
-25.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,784 SEK 37.0K
$4,192 ฿139.9K
-9.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,495 SEK 24.4K
$3,298 ฿110.1K
-24.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ostersund
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$492 ฿16.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.38
5.57
-39.32%

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

Last update for Ostersund: November 1, 2026

Last update for Phuket: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ostersund
$610
Phuket
$509 16.6% $101
Groceries & Markets
Ostersund
$370
Phuket
$267 27.9% $103
Eating Out
Ostersund
$268
Phuket
$120 55.3% $148
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ostersund
$181
Phuket
$126 30.1% $54
Clothing & Footwear
Ostersund
$161
Phuket
$123 23.7% $38
Getting Around
Ostersund
$104
Phuket
$66 36.4% $38
Sport & Entertainment
Ostersund
$68
Phuket
$83 22.5% $15

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $812 in Ostersund and $721 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $69 in Ostersund vs $32 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $370 vs $267 per month, with Phuket cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇸🇪 Ostersund
🇹🇭 Phuket
🕒 Local time
23:26 11:26 PM
05:26 5:26 AM
6 h ahead of Ostersund
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
44,000
79,308
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to SEK – Swedish Krona Converter

Swedish Krona exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 9.77 SEK (1 SEK = 0.102 USD). 1 EUR = 10.97 SEK (100 SEK = 9.12 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 33.38 THB (100 THB = 3 USD). 1 EUR = 37.47 THB (100 THB = 2.67 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ostersund Phuket 8,910 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ostersund
  • 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
Ostersund vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Ostersund?
Phuket is about 27% cheaper overall, especially in eating out, groceries, and clothing. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You’d need roughly $2,642 in Ostersund and $1,940 in Phuket to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Ostersund and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $812 in Ostersund versus $721 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Ostersund and in Phuket?
All in, you’ll spend $1,761 per month in Ostersund versus $1,294 in Phuket – Phuket is about 27% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Phuket runs roughly 28% less than in Ostersund. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Ostersund or in Phuket?
At $1,294 in Phuket versus $1,761 in Ostersund, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Ostersund. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Ostersund 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, Ostersund or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Ostersund 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 27% less than in Ostersund. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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