🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,250 in Phuket versus $2,682 in Fredrikstad.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,284 in Phuket versus $4,010 in Fredrikstad.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,317 in Phuket versus $5,338 in Fredrikstad.
🌍Living in Phuket costs roughly 53% less than in Fredrikstad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 6% below, Fredrikstad is 101% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Fredrikstad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.55฿153
$17.97NOK 173
-74.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.18฿1,554
$114NOK 1,094
-59.31%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84฿298
$11.91NOK 115
-25.78%
Cappuccino
$3.06฿103
$5.34NOK 51.5
-42.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73฿24.42
$3.97NOK 38.25
-81.61%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40฿13.40
$2.74NOK 26.47
-85.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.43฿81.8
$11.01NOK 106
-77.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78฿127
$10.29NOK 99.3
-63.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Fredrikstad
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26฿76.0
$2.19NOK 21.09
3.20%
White Bread(500g)
$1.81฿60.9
$4.25NOK 41.02
-57.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.25฿75.8
$3.27NOK 31.54
-31.19%
Eggs
$2.25฿75.6
$5.22NOK 50.4
-56.90%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.51฿656
$11.78NOK 114
65.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65฿123
$16.02NOK 155
-77.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.05฿439
$34.17NOK 330
-61.81%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23฿109
$4.51NOK 43.50
-28.38%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62฿54.4
$3.52NOK 33.95
-53.98%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.38฿80.2
$4.50NOK 43.39
-47.11%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03฿68.2
$5.04NOK 48.63
-59.72%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿51.6
$2.75NOK 26.52
-44.36%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50฿50.5
$2.66NOK 25.64
-43.61%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98฿32.93
$2.64NOK 25.50
-62.88%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿17.40
$1.85NOK 17.81
-71.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.44฿149
$14.87NOK 143
-70.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.32฿616
$21.86NOK 211
-16.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿62.7
$3.43NOK 33.04
-45.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68฿90.2
$6.11NOK 59.0
-56.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Fredrikstad
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.41฿47.49
$3.87NOK 37.35
-63.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.70฿394
$63.7NOK 614
-81.62%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.11฿105
$6.22NOK 60.0
-50.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04฿35.08
$1.46NOK 14.04
-28.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.11฿475
$52.3NOK 504
-73.01%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31฿44.13
$2.27NOK 21.93
-42.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿936.0K
$35.1KNOK 338.3K
-20.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K฿1.1M
$39.1KNOK 377.0K
-15.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Fredrikstad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿4,120
$339NOK 3,272
-63.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.59฿457
$37.93NOK 366
-64.17%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.70฿629
$57.0NOK 550
-67.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Fredrikstad
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.5฿2,035
$48.85NOK 471
23.83%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.98฿572
$39.15NOK 377
-56.63%
Cinema Ticket
$9.07฿305
$22.16NOK 214
-59.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Fredrikstad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$706฿23.8K
$284NOK 2,737
148.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8K฿531.8K
$10.2KNOK 98.3K
55.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Fredrikstad
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6฿1,970
$154NOK 1,484
-61.96%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.36฿1,190
$60.2NOK 581
-41.29%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,885
$166NOK 1,605
-30.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.7฿2,818
$133NOK 1,279
-36.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Fredrikstad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$626฿21.1K
$1,266NOK 12.2K
-50.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$445฿15.0K
$943NOK 9,096
-52.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,040฿68.7K
$2,100NOK 20.3K
-2.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492฿50.2K
$1,541NOK 14.9K
-3.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,483฿117.2K
$5,874NOK 56.6K
-40.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,577฿86.7K
$3,915NOK 37.8K
-34.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Fredrikstad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$500฿16.8K
$3,227NOK 31.1K
-84.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
4.25
25.41%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026
Last update for Fredrikstad: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $626 in Phuket and $1,266 in Fredrikstad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Fredrikstad pays 546% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $46.00 in Phuket vs $114 in Fredrikstad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $289 vs $523 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 Fredrikstad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fredrikstad cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 115% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Fredrikstad?
On paper, salaries run 546% lower in Fredrikstad. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Fredrikstad?
Rent for a central apartment: $626 in Phuket versus $1,266 in Fredrikstad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $706 in Phuket versus $284 in Fredrikstad. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and in Fredrikstad?
Supermarket bills run roughly 81% higher in Fredrikstad. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Fredrikstad?
At $1,250 in Phuket versus $2,682 in Fredrikstad, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Fredrikstad. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Fredrikstad more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Fredrikstad, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Fredrikstad?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Fredrikstad 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 115% less than in Fredrikstad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.