Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Boden

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,278 a month against $1,770 in Boden, rent and utilities included – about $5,900 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Phuket, Thailand
Boden, Sweden
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,278
/mo nomad
Boden
🇸🇪 Sweden
$1,770
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Boden

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 Boden actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,278 per month in Phuket vs $1,770 in Boden, rent included.

  • Phuket $1,278
  • Boden $1,770

A couple spends around $2,216 per month in Phuket vs $2,754 in Boden, rent included.

  • Phuket $2,216
  • Boden $2,754

A family of three spends $3,154 per month in Phuket vs $3,739 in Boden, rent included.

  • Phuket $3,154
  • Boden $3,739

Phuket is about 28% cheaper than Boden, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Phuket sits 6% below the global median, while Boden is 30% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Boden
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.47 ฿151
$18.64 SEK 183
-76.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.41 ฿1,093
$74.7 SEK 733
-56.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.81 ฿297
$10.01 SEK 98.2
-11.99%
Cappuccino
$2.83 ฿95.4
$4.35 SEK 42.67
-34.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 ฿29.41
$1.59 SEK 15.65
-45.28%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.65
$2.22 SEK 21.74
-77.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.56 ฿86.3
$7.22 SEK 70.9
-64.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 ฿124
$6.50 SEK 63.8
-43.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Boden
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 ฿55.9
$1.52 SEK 14.92
9.21%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 ฿49.31
$2.77 SEK 27.17
-47.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.5
$3.39 SEK 33.28
-55.75%
Eggs
$2.09 ฿70.5
$4.04 SEK 39.68
-48.27%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.07 ฿643
$12.16 SEK 119
56.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.30 ฿111
$12.15 SEK 119
-72.84%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.91 ฿368
$17.39 SEK 171
-37.26%
Apples (1kg)
$2.93 ฿98.9
$2.99 SEK 29.35
-2.01%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 ฿57.0
$2.56 SEK 25.16
-33.98%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 ฿75.8
$3.04 SEK 29.81
-25.99%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿70.0
$4.21 SEK 41.36
-50.59%
Potato (1kg)
$1.51 ฿51.0
$1.60 SEK 15.67
-5.63%
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.52
$1.63 SEK 16.01
-15.34%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ฿35.96
$2.23 SEK 21.89
-52.02%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.51
$1.44 SEK 14.09
-63.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20 ฿142
$10.29 SEK 101
-59.18%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.79 ฿634
$10.30 SEK 101
82.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 ฿61.5
$1.98 SEK 19.48
-8.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 ฿95.8
$2.21 SEK 21.64
28.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Boden
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.45 ฿48.98
$3.36 SEK 32.98
-56.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$56.7 ฿1,912
$71.3 SEK 700
-20.57%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿102
$5.83 SEK 57.2
-48.20%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ฿34.33
$1.51 SEK 14.78
-32.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.69 ฿125
$53.9 SEK 528
-93.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ฿49.76
$1.93 SEK 18.96
-23.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K ฿903.4K
$25.4K SEK 249.1K
5.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿900.5K
$32.6K SEK 319.6K
-18.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Boden
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.4 ฿3,251
$103 SEK 1,010
-6.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.26 ฿380
$25.25 SEK 248
-55.41%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.85 ฿568
$39.16 SEK 384
-56.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Boden
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.2 ฿2,268
$57.8 SEK 567
16.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.73 ฿362
$20.12 SEK 197
-46.67%
Cinema Ticket
$7.50 ฿253
$12.48 SEK 122
-39.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Boden
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$476 ฿16.1K
$158 SEK 1,553
200.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.3K ฿380.0K
$5,245 SEK 51.5K
114.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Boden
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.4 ฿2,104
$98.7 SEK 969
-36.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.41 ฿958
$40.77 SEK 400
-30.32%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.3 ฿3,181
$91.3 SEK 896
3.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.8 ฿2,895
$140 SEK 1,373
-38.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Boden
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$716 ฿24.2K
$894 SEK 8,773
-19.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$491 ฿16.6K
$604 SEK 5,931
-18.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,927 ฿65.0K
$1,367 SEK 13.4K
41.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,431 ฿48.3K
$994 SEK 9,751
43.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,175 ฿140.9K
$4,214 SEK 41.4K
-0.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,045 ฿102.7K
$2,804 SEK 27.5K
8.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Boden
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$502 ฿16.9K
$3,822 SEK 37.5K
-86.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
3.4
63.82%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Last update for Boden: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$491
Boden
$604 23.1% $113
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$266
Boden
$355 33.2% $89
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$124
Boden
$167 34.4% $43
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$122
Boden
$167 36.9% $45
Eating Out
Phuket
$122
Boden
$296 143% $174
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$82
Boden
$83 0.6% $0.5
Getting Around
Phuket
$71
Boden
$98 39% $28

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $716 in Phuket versus $894 in Boden. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Boden are about 7.6 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32 in Phuket versus $75 in Boden. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $266 vs $355 – making Phuket the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇸🇪 Boden
🕒 Local time
03:29 3:29 AM
21:29 9:29 PM
6 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
18,680
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

SEK, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 33.74 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.67 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

Swedish Krona exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 9.81 SEK (1 SEK = 0.102 USD). 1 EUR = 10.96 SEK (100 SEK = 9.13 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Boden 8,600 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Boden

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 Boden: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Boden?
Yes – Boden is pricier by about 38%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,917 per month in Phuket and $2,655 in Boden. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $716 there versus $894 in Boden.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket and in Boden?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,278 in Phuket and $1,770 in Boden. That makes Phuket about 28% cheaper.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 21% less in Phuket. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Boden?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,278, than in Boden at $1,770. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Boden it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is it better to live in Phuket or in Boden?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,278 in Phuket to $1,770 in Boden. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Boden?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Boden makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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