Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Åndalsnes Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Åndalsnes

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $2,801 in Åndalsnes.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,089 in Phuket versus $4,156 in Åndalsnes.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,913 in Phuket versus $5,511 in Åndalsnes.

Living in Phuket costs roughly 55% less than in Åndalsnes, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 8% below, Åndalsnes is 103% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Åndalsnes
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.66 ฿154
$20.94 NOK 194
-77.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.22 ฿1,065
$109 NOK 1,010
-70.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.68 ฿287
$16.37 NOK 152
-46.98%
Cappuccino
$2.90 ฿95.8
$5.61 NOK 52.0
-48.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 ฿27.89
$5.56 NOK 51.6
-84.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.16
$4.21 NOK 39.06
-88.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.48 ฿82.0
$13.30 NOK 123
-81.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿123
$12.92 NOK 120
-71.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Åndalsnes
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.89 ฿62.3
$2.50 NOK 23.19
-24.40%
White Bread (500g)
$1.41 ฿46.54
$3.55 NOK 32.93
-60.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.62 ฿53.6
$3.88 NOK 35.99
-58.25%
Eggs
$2.24 ฿74.1
$4.85 NOK 45.03
-53.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.84 ฿656
$13.52 NOK 125
46.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.48 ฿115
$16.59 NOK 154
-79.02%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.37 ฿376
$31.87 NOK 296
-64.32%
Apples (1kg)
$2.90 ฿95.8
$4.06 NOK 37.71
-28.57%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 ฿57.0
$3.04 NOK 28.19
-43.42%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.27 ฿75.1
$3.82 NOK 35.47
-40.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.13 ฿70.4
$5.82 NOK 54.0
-63.40%
Potato (1kg)
$1.47 ฿48.72
$3.00 NOK 27.83
-51.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.42 ฿46.92
$3.02 NOK 28.01
-52.98%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.10 ฿36.25
$2.96 NOK 27.49
-62.84%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60 ฿19.76
$2.29 NOK 21.21
-73.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.31 ฿142
$17.55 NOK 163
-75.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.60 ฿615
$18.97 NOK 176
-1.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 ฿59.5
$3.59 NOK 33.27
-49.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 ฿98.0
$4.58 NOK 42.53
-35.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Åndalsnes
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.25 ฿74.2
$4.84 NOK 44.93
-53.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$23.49 ฿776
$86.3 NOK 801
-72.79%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.10 ฿102
$9.71 NOK 90.1
-68.07%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.08 ฿35.56
$1.66 NOK 15.44
-34.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.87 ฿128
$61.2 NOK 567
-93.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.43 ฿47.16
$2.33 NOK 21.63
-38.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K ฿918.0K
$46.2K NOK 428.7K
-39.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K ฿891.5K
$45.6K NOK 423.3K
-40.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Åndalsnes
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$105 ฿3,462
$278 NOK 2,576
-62.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.39 ฿376
$21.61 NOK 200
-47.29%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.54 ฿580
$83.2 NOK 772
-78.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Åndalsnes
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.3 ฿1,795
$51.5 NOK 478
5.43%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.44 ฿378
$37.82 NOK 351
-69.75%
Cinema Ticket
$7.78 ฿257
$20.63 NOK 191
-62.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Åndalsnes
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$576 ฿19.0K
$305 NOK 2,832
88.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K ฿382.7K
$4,510 NOK 41.8K
156.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Åndalsnes
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.6 ฿2,103
$107 NOK 995
-40.67%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.10 ฿961
$51.7 NOK 479
-43.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.2 ฿3,179
$121 NOK 1,123
-20.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.0 ฿2,974
$161 NOK 1,498
-44.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Åndalsnes
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$733 ฿24.2K
$1,248 NOK 11.6K
-41.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$501 ฿16.5K
$1,033 NOK 9,582
-51.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,126 ฿70.2K
$2,045 NOK 19.0K
3.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,252 ฿41.4K
$1,734 NOK 16.1K
-27.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,534 ฿116.8K
$6,540 NOK 60.7K
-45.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,622 ฿86.6K
$4,226 NOK 39.2K
-37.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Åndalsnes
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$508 ฿16.8K
-
-
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: September 6, 2026

Last update for Åndalsnes: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $733 in Phuket and $1,248 in Åndalsnes. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $32.00 in Phuket vs $109 in Åndalsnes for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $275 vs $517 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
Phuket vs Åndalsnes: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Åndalsnes?
Phuket wins on cost – living expenses run 121% 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 $1,898 in Phuket and $4,202 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: $733 in Phuket versus $1,248 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 $1,265 per month in Phuket versus $2,801 in Åndalsnes – a 121% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Phuket compared to Åndalsnes?
A monthly transit pass in Phuket runs roughly 268% less than in Åndalsnes. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Phuket or in Åndalsnes?
At $1,265 in Phuket versus $2,801 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 is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Åndalsnes?
Both work as nomad bases, but Phuket delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,265 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Phuket hard to pass up.
How safe is Phuket compared to Åndalsnes?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Åndalsnes 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 121% less than in Åndalsnes. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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