😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,843 in Ostersund versus $1,264 in Phuket.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,834 in Ostersund versus $2,256 in Phuket.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,825 in Ostersund versus $3,248 in Phuket.
🌍Living in Ostersund is roughly 46% more expensive than in Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ostersund is 38% above, Phuket is 5% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ostersund
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.50SEK 128
$4.48฿150
201.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$72.5SEK 689
$45.59฿1,521
59.03%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.73SEK 102
$8.76฿292
22.49%
Cappuccino
$4.74SEK 45.03
$2.97฿99.0
59.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75SEK 26.12
$0.69฿22.90
298.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51SEK 23.81
$0.39฿13.04
543.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.97SEK 75.8
$2.53฿84.4
215.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.73SEK 73.4
$3.75฿125
106.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ostersund
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.49SEK 14.17
$2.15฿71.6
-30.70%
White Bread(500g)
$3.01SEK 28.60
$1.82฿60.6
65.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.89SEK 46.48
$2.18฿72.9
124.31%
Eggs
$3.42SEK 32.53
$2.25฿75.0
52.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.43SEK 137
$20.00฿667
-27.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.85SEK 113
$3.63฿121
226.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.20SEK 154
$13.56฿452
19.47%
Apples(1kg)
$4.37SEK 41.47
$3.24฿108
34.88%
Banana(1kg)
$2.95SEK 28.00
$1.64฿54.6
79.88%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.77SEK 35.78
$2.33฿77.8
61.80%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.32SEK 41.02
$2.07฿69.1
108.70%
Potato(1kg)
$3.76SEK 35.69
$1.55฿51.6
142.58%
Onion(1kg)
$1.77SEK 16.85
$1.46฿48.54
21.23%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.51SEK 23.88
$0.98฿32.86
156.12%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.56SEK 14.86
$0.48฿16.09
225.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.18SEK 77.7
$4.35฿145
88.05%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.11SEK 96.0
$18.57฿620
-45.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.97SEK 18.71
$1.86฿61.9
5.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98SEK 18.84
$2.65฿88.6
-25.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Ostersund
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.45SEK 32.73
$1.42฿47.28
142.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$73.2SEK 695
$11.57฿386
532.32%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.45SEK 61.3
$3.17฿106
103.47%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.65SEK 15.68
$1.03฿34.41
60.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$62.8SEK 596
$13.89฿463
351.84%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.07SEK 19.64
$1.34฿44.84
54.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.9KSEK 313.0K
$27.8K฿927.1K
18.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.2KSEK 325.3K
$33.4K฿1.1M
2.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ostersund
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$116SEK 1,101
$123฿4,105
-5.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.20SEK 277
$13.77฿459
112.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.09SEK 352
$18.33฿611
102.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ostersund
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.91SEK 389
$60.7฿2,025
-32.59%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.43SEK 242
$17.16฿573
48.19%
Cinema Ticket
$15.24SEK 145
$8.87฿296
71.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ostersund
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$129SEK 1,227
$688฿22.9K
-81.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,066SEK 38.6K
$15.8K฿526.4K
-74.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ostersund
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$96.5SEK 916
$59.3฿1,978
62.66%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.03SEK 380
$34.69฿1,157
15.39%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.8SEK 929
$115฿3,843
-15.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$148SEK 1,411
$83.8฿2,794
77.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ostersund
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$831SEK 7,895
$621฿20.7K
33.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$667SEK 6,336
$446฿14.9K
49.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,404SEK 13.3K
$2,034฿67.8K
-30.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,079SEK 10.3K
$1,496฿49.9K
-27.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,798SEK 36.1K
$3,455฿115.3K
9.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,909SEK 27.6K
$2,531฿84.4K
14.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ostersund
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$494฿16.5K
-
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 Ostersund: July 27, 2026
Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $831 in Ostersund and $621 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $72.0 in Ostersund vs $46.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $383 vs $291 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
Ostersund vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Ostersund?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 46% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,764 in Ostersund and $1,896 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: $831 in Ostersund versus $621 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 $1,843 per month in Ostersund versus $1,264 in Phuket – a 46% 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 532% less than in Ostersund. 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 Ostersund or in Phuket?
At $1,264 in Phuket versus $1,843 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 Ostersund or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ostersund, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Ostersund or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Ostersund 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 46% less than in Ostersund. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.