Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Åndalsnes

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,278 a month against $2,744 in Åndalsnes, rent and utilities included – about $17,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Phuket, Thailand
Åndalsnes, Norway
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,278
/mo nomad
Åndalsnes
🇳🇴 Norway
$2,744
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Åndalsnes

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,278 in Phuket versus $2,744 in Åndalsnes.

  • Phuket $1,278
  • Åndalsnes $2,744

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,216 in Phuket versus $4,307 in Åndalsnes.

  • Phuket $2,216
  • Åndalsnes $4,307

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,154 in Phuket versus $5,870 in Åndalsnes.

  • Phuket $3,154
  • Åndalsnes $5,870

Living in Phuket costs roughly 53% less than in Åndalsnes, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 6% below, Åndalsnes is 102% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Åndalsnes
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.47 ฿151
$21.43 NOK 198
-79.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.41 ฿1,092
$111 NOK 1,023
-70.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.81 ฿297
$16.29 NOK 151
-45.92%
Cappuccino
$2.83 ฿95.3
$5.73 NOK 53.0
-50.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 ฿29.37
$5.66 NOK 52.4
-84.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.64
$4.39 NOK 40.66
-88.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.56 ฿86.2
$13.46 NOK 124
-80.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 ฿124
$12.88 NOK 119
-71.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Åndalsnes
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 ฿55.9
$2.60 NOK 24.04
-36.15%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 ฿49.25
$3.53 NOK 32.67
-58.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.4
$3.70 NOK 34.21
-59.46%
Eggs
$2.09 ฿70.4
$4.90 NOK 45.37
-57.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.07 ฿642
$13.62 NOK 126
40.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.30 ฿111
$16.83 NOK 156
-80.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.91 ฿368
$32.22 NOK 298
-66.14%
Apples (1kg)
$2.93 ฿98.7
$4.01 NOK 37.12
-26.93%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 ฿56.9
$3.03 NOK 28.06
-44.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 ฿75.7
$4.00 NOK 37.02
-43.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿70.0
$5.84 NOK 54.0
-64.38%
Potato (1kg)
$1.51 ฿50.9
$3.01 NOK 27.84
-49.83%
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.47
$3.14 NOK 29.09
-56.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ฿35.91
$2.99 NOK 27.67
-64.21%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.49
$2.35 NOK 21.69
-77.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20 ฿142
$18.20 NOK 168
-76.92%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.79 ฿633
$18.78 NOK 174
0.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 ฿61.4
$3.69 NOK 34.11
-50.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 ฿95.7
$4.69 NOK 43.42
-39.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Åndalsnes
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.45 ฿48.93
$4.08 NOK 37.74
-64.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$56.7 ฿1,909
$88.6 NOK 820
-36.06%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿102
$9.37 NOK 86.7
-67.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ฿34.29
$1.60 NOK 14.83
-36.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.69 ฿124
$62.3 NOK 577
-94.08%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ฿49.70
$2.46 NOK 22.73
-40.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K ฿902.4K
$46.7K NOK 431.6K
-42.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿899.5K
$46.9K NOK 434.1K
-43.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Åndalsnes
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.4 ฿3,247
$277 NOK 2,563
-65.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.26 ฿380
$21.70 NOK 201
-48.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.85 ฿568
$82.5 NOK 763
-79.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Åndalsnes
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.2 ฿2,266
$55.2 NOK 511
21.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.73 ฿361
$32.35 NOK 299
-66.83%
Cinema Ticket
$7.50 ฿253
$19.60 NOK 181
-61.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Åndalsnes
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$476 ฿16.0K
$309 NOK 2,858
54.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.3K ฿379.6K
$4,504 NOK 41.7K
150.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Åndalsnes
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.4 ฿2,102
$109 NOK 1,009
-42.84%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.41 ฿957
$51.6 NOK 478
-44.96%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.3 ฿3,178
$121 NOK 1,118
-21.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.8 ฿2,892
$158 NOK 1,459
-45.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Åndalsnes
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$716 ฿24.1K
$1,067 NOK 9,870
-32.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$491 ฿16.5K
$1,004 NOK 9,289
-51.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,927 ฿64.9K
$2,146 NOK 19.9K
-10.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,431 ฿48.2K
$1,971 NOK 18.2K
-27.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,175 ฿140.7K
$7,344 NOK 67.9K
-43.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,045 ฿102.6K
$4,204 NOK 38.9K
-27.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Åndalsnes
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$502 ฿16.9K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
5.32
4.70%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Last update for Åndalsnes: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$491
Åndalsnes
$1K 105% $513
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$266
Åndalsnes
$522 95.9% $255
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$124
Åndalsnes
$381 206% $257
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$122
Åndalsnes
$198 62.2% $76
Eating Out
Phuket
$122
Åndalsnes
$422 247% $301
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$82
Åndalsnes
$94 14.8% $12
Getting Around
Phuket
$71
Åndalsnes
$122 73.3% $52

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $716 in Phuket and $1,067 in Åndalsnes. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $32 in Phuket vs $111 in Åndalsnes for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $266 vs $522 per month, with Phuket cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇳🇴 Åndalsnes
🕒 Local time
07:12 7:12 AM
01:12 1:12 AM
6 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
2,400
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

NOK, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 33.7 THB (100 THB = 2.97 USD). 1 EUR = 37.52 THB (100 THB = 2.67 EUR).

Norwegian Krone exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 9.25 NOK (1 NOK = 0.108 USD). 1 EUR = 10.3 NOK (100 NOK = 9.71 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Åndalsnes 9,270 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Åndalsnes

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
Phuket vs Åndalsnes: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Åndalsnes?
Phuket wins on cost – living expenses run 53% lower than in Åndalsnes. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Phuket the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Phuket and in Åndalsnes?
You’d need roughly $1,917 in Phuket and $4,116 in Åndalsnes 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Phuket compared to Åndalsnes?
Rent for a central apartment: $716 in Phuket versus $1,067 in Åndalsnes. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Phuket compared to Åndalsnes?
All in, you’ll spend $1,278 per month in Phuket versus $2,744 in Åndalsnes – Phuket is about 53% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
How expensive is transport in Phuket compared to Åndalsnes?
A monthly transit pass in Phuket runs roughly 36% less than in Åndalsnes. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Phuket or in Åndalsnes?
At $1,278 in Phuket versus $2,744 in Åndalsnes, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Åndalsnes. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Phuket or Åndalsnes?
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.
How safe is Phuket compared to Åndalsnes?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Åndalsnes are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 53% less than in Åndalsnes. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Phuket vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?