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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $2,814 in Elverum, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,089 per month in Phuket vs $4,190 in Elverum, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,913 per month in Phuket vs $5,566 in Elverum, rent included.

Phuket is about 55% cheaper than Elverum, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Phuket sits 8% below the global median, while Elverum is 104% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Elverum
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.66 ฿154
$20.91 NOK 194
-77.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.22 ฿1,065
$110 NOK 1,020
-70.71%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.68 ฿287
$15.87 NOK 147
-45.31%
Cappuccino
$2.90 ฿95.8
$5.73 NOK 53.2
-49.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 ฿27.89
$5.67 NOK 52.6
-85.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.16
$4.36 NOK 40.41
-88.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.48 ฿82.0
$13.42 NOK 124
-81.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿123
$13.25 NOK 123
-71.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Elverum
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.89 ฿62.3
$2.50 NOK 23.23
-24.40%
White Bread (500g)
$1.41 ฿46.54
$3.48 NOK 32.24
-59.48%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.62 ฿53.6
$3.84 NOK 35.58
-57.81%
Eggs
$2.24 ฿74.1
$5.02 NOK 46.60
-55.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.84 ฿656
$13.17 NOK 122
50.65%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.48 ฿115
$16.51 NOK 153
-78.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.37 ฿376
$32.70 NOK 303
-65.23%
Apples (1kg)
$2.90 ฿95.8
$3.97 NOK 36.82
-26.95%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 ฿57.0
$3.00 NOK 27.81
-42.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.27 ฿75.1
$3.93 NOK 36.42
-42.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.13 ฿70.4
$5.85 NOK 54.2
-63.59%
Potato (1kg)
$1.47 ฿48.72
$2.84 NOK 26.37
-48.24%
Onion (1kg)
$1.42 ฿46.92
$3.17 NOK 29.37
-55.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.10 ฿36.25
$2.86 NOK 26.49
-61.54%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60 ฿19.76
$2.32 NOK 21.53
-74.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.31 ฿142
$17.63 NOK 164
-75.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.60 ฿615
$18.46 NOK 171
0.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 ฿59.5
$3.73 NOK 34.56
-51.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 ฿98.0
$4.67 NOK 43.30
-36.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Elverum
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.25 ฿74.2
$4.73 NOK 43.88
-52.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$23.49 ฿776
$86.9 NOK 806
-72.97%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.10 ฿102
$9.27 NOK 86.0
-66.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.08 ฿35.56
$1.67 NOK 15.49
-35.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.87 ฿128
$59.9 NOK 555
-93.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.43 ฿47.16
$2.29 NOK 21.28
-37.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K ฿918.0K
$46.8K NOK 434.4K
-40.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K ฿891.5K
$46.1K NOK 428.1K
-41.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Elverum
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$105 ฿3,462
$273 NOK 2,532
-61.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.39 ฿376
$36.44 NOK 338
-68.74%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.54 ฿580
$85.2 NOK 790
-79.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Elverum
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.3 ฿1,795
$50.0 NOK 464
8.68%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.44 ฿378
$37.71 NOK 350
-69.66%
Cinema Ticket
$7.78 ฿257
$21.19 NOK 197
-63.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Elverum
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$576 ฿19.0K
$302 NOK 2,798
91.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K ฿382.7K
$4,497 NOK 41.7K
157.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Elverum
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.6 ฿2,103
$111 NOK 1,032
-42.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.10 ฿961
$51.3 NOK 476
-43.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.2 ฿3,179
$123 NOK 1,144
-21.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.0 ฿2,974
$161 NOK 1,493
-44.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Elverum
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$733 ฿24.2K
$1,242 NOK 11.5K
-40.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$501 ฿16.5K
$1,020 NOK 9,465
-50.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,126 ฿70.2K
$2,011 NOK 18.7K
5.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,252 ฿41.4K
$1,721 NOK 16.0K
-27.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,534 ฿116.8K
$6,340 NOK 58.8K
-44.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,622 ฿86.6K
$4,262 NOK 39.5K
-38.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Elverum
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$508 ฿16.8K
$4,351 NOK 40.4K
-88.34%
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 Elverum: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $733 in Phuket versus $1,242 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 757% 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 $32.00 in Phuket versus $110 in Elverum. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $275 vs $517 – 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 122%, 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 $1,898 per month in Phuket and $4,221 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 $576 per month in Phuket and $302 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 88% 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 $1,265, than in Elverum at $2,814. 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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