Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Elverum Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Elverum

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,250 per month in Phuket vs $2,213 in Elverum, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,284 per month in Phuket vs $3,480 in Elverum, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,317 per month in Phuket vs $4,748 in Elverum, rent included.

Phuket is about 44% cheaper than Elverum, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Phuket sits 6% below the global median, while Elverum is 66% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Elverum
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.55 ฿153
$22.42 NOK 216
-79.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.18 ฿1,554
$102 NOK 983
-54.70%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.84 ฿298
$11.47 NOK 111
-22.93%
Cappuccino
$3.06 ฿103
$4.43 NOK 42.73
-30.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 ฿24.42
$3.61 NOK 34.80
-79.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40 ฿13.40
$2.90 NOK 27.99
-86.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.43 ฿81.8
$10.72 NOK 103
-77.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78 ฿127
$8.08 NOK 77.9
-53.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Elverum
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.26 ฿76.0
$1.14 NOK 10.99
98.25%
White Bread (500g)
$1.81 ฿60.9
$3.47 NOK 33.43
-47.84%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.25 ฿75.8
$3.93 NOK 37.89
-42.75%
Eggs
$2.25 ฿75.6
$1.84 NOK 17.73
22.28%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.51 ฿656
$7.04 NOK 67.8
177.13%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.65 ฿123
$12.22 NOK 118
-70.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.05 ฿439
$25.00 NOK 241
-47.80%
Apples (1kg)
$3.23 ฿109
$1.03 NOK 9.95
213.59%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 ฿54.4
$2.99 NOK 28.83
-45.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.38 ฿80.2
$1.49 NOK 14.36
59.73%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 ฿68.2
$1.49 NOK 14.42
36.24%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿51.6
$1.04 NOK 10.03
47.12%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.5
$0.98 NOK 9.49
53.06%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.98 ฿32.93
$2.50 NOK 24.10
-60.80%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.40
$2.43 NOK 23.41
-78.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.44 ฿149
$14.44 NOK 139
-69.25%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.32 ฿616
$17.70 NOK 171
3.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 ฿62.7
$3.82 NOK 36.86
-51.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 ฿90.2
$4.73 NOK 45.60
-43.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Elverum
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.41 ฿47.49
$4.22 NOK 40.72
-66.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.70 ฿394
$73.0 NOK 704
-83.98%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.11 ฿105
$15.01 NOK 145
-79.28%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.04 ฿35.08
$2.19 NOK 21.07
-52.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.11 ฿475
$90.2 NOK 869
-84.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 ฿44.13
$2.12 NOK 20.42
-38.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K ฿936.0K
$31.8K NOK 307.1K
-12.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K ฿1.1M
$35.9K NOK 346.5K
-7.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Elverum
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ฿4,120
$102 NOK 984
20.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.59 ฿457
$41.58 NOK 401
-67.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.70 ฿629
$65.6 NOK 632
-71.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Elverum
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.5 ฿2,035
$49.71 NOK 479
21.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.98 ฿572
$36.10 NOK 348
-52.96%
Cinema Ticket
$9.07 ฿305
$12.32 NOK 119
-26.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Elverum
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$706 ฿23.8K
$319 NOK 3,080
121.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.8K ฿531.8K
$8,468 NOK 81.7K
86.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Elverum
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6 ฿1,970
$109 NOK 1,054
-46.44%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.36 ฿1,190
$49.19 NOK 474
-28.12%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,885
$125 NOK 1,209
-7.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.7 ฿2,818
$129 NOK 1,249
-35.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Elverum
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$626 ฿21.1K
$1,226 NOK 11.8K
-48.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$445 ฿15.0K
$884 NOK 8,526
-49.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,040 ฿68.7K
$1,832 NOK 17.7K
11.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,492 ฿50.2K
$1,509 NOK 14.5K
-1.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,483 ฿117.2K
$5,711 NOK 55.1K
-39.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,577 ฿86.7K
$3,995 NOK 38.5K
-35.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Elverum
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$500 ฿16.8K
$4,076 NOK 39.3K
-87.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
4.32
23.38%

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

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Last update for Elverum: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $626 in Phuket versus $1,226 in Elverum. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 715% higher in Elverum, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Phuket versus $102 in Elverum. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $289 vs $371 – making Phuket the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Elverum: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Elverum cheaper than Phuket?
Yes – Elverum is pricier by about 77%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,875 per month in Phuket and $3,319 in Elverum. 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. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $706 per month in Phuket and $319 in Elverum. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and in Elverum?
Groceries cost about 28% more in Elverum, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Elverum?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,250, than in Elverum at $2,213. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Elverum it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Phuket or Elverum more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Phuket – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Elverum?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Elverum makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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