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 $2,258 in Elverum, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,297 per month in Phuket vs $3,476 in Elverum, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,329 per month in Phuket vs $4,693 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 69% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Elverum
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70 ฿153
$22.46 NOK 209
-79.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37 ฿1,482
$102 NOK 952
-55.70%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.43 ฿275
$11.48 NOK 107
-26.57%
Cappuccino
$2.93 ฿95.6
$4.67 NOK 43.39
-37.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ฿22.40
$3.55 NOK 33.02
-80.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿11.99
$2.99 NOK 27.78
-87.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.41 ฿78.6
$10.79 NOK 100
-77.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 ฿122
$8.03 NOK 74.6
-53.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Elverum
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.23 ฿72.9
$1.08 NOK 10.06
106.48%
White Bread (500g)
$1.83 ฿59.8
$3.57 NOK 33.17
-48.74%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.17 ฿70.8
$3.92 NOK 36.39
-44.64%
Eggs
$2.21 ฿72.3
$1.80 NOK 16.76
22.78%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.74 ฿645
$7.27 NOK 67.5
171.53%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.63 ฿119
$11.95 NOK 111
-69.62%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.53 ฿442
$25.08 NOK 233
-46.05%
Apples (1kg)
$3.28 ฿107
$1.03 NOK 9.55
218.45%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ฿52.6
$2.89 NOK 26.82
-44.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 ฿78.6
$1.56 NOK 14.45
54.49%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿68.1
$1.49 NOK 13.88
39.60%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿49.93
$1.03 NOK 9.60
48.54%
Onion (1kg)
$1.48 ฿48.36
$0.99 NOK 9.21
49.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 ฿32.29
$2.49 NOK 23.15
-60.24%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.67
$2.53 NOK 23.53
-79.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41 ฿144
$14.48 NOK 135
-69.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.38 ฿633
$18.71 NOK 174
3.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿58.1
$3.80 NOK 35.34
-53.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 ฿88.6
$4.62 NOK 42.88
-41.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Elverum
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.37 ฿44.79
$4.35 NOK 40.45
-68.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.39 ฿372
$73.7 NOK 685
-84.55%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿98.6
$15.15 NOK 141
-80.07%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.99 ฿32.48
$2.15 NOK 20.01
-53.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.10 ฿461
$87.0 NOK 808
-83.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 ฿44.51
$2.19 NOK 20.35
-37.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K ฿921.1K
$32.4K NOK 301.1K
-12.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K ฿1.1M
$35.5K NOK 329.4K
-7.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Elverum
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ฿3,975
$101 NOK 935
20.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 ฿443
$41.61 NOK 387
-67.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31 ฿598
$64.7 NOK 601
-71.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Elverum
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.2 ฿1,967
$49.85 NOK 463
20.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14 ฿560
$35.05 NOK 326
-51.10%
Cinema Ticket
$8.69 ฿284
$11.97 NOK 111
-27.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Elverum
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$693 ฿22.6K
$319 NOK 2,961
117.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.7K ฿512.3K
$8,623 NOK 80.1K
81.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Elverum
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5 ฿1,944
$111 NOK 1,031
-46.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77 ฿1,136
$49.29 NOK 458
-29.46%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,743
$126 NOK 1,169
-8.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3 ฿2,720
$129 NOK 1,202
-35.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Elverum
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$613 ฿20.0K
$1,203 NOK 11.2K
-49.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$437 ฿14.3K
$910 NOK 8,453
-51.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,094 ฿68.4K
$1,802 NOK 16.7K
16.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,509 ฿49.3K
$1,513 NOK 14.1K
-0.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,749 ฿122.5K
$6,127 NOK 56.9K
-38.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,616 ฿85.4K
$4,578 NOK 42.5K
-42.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Elverum
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$508 ฿16.6K
$4,399 NOK 40.9K
-88.45%
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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Elverum: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $613 in Phuket versus $1,203 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 766% 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 $45.00 in Phuket versus $102 in Elverum. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $373 – 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 78%, 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 $3,387 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 $693 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 Elverum?
Groceries cost about 27% 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 Phuket or Elverum?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,265, than in Elverum at $2,258. 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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