Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Fredrikstad

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,207 a month against $2,983 in Fredrikstad, rent and utilities included – about $21,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,207
/mo nomad
Fredrikstad
🇳🇴 Norway
$2,983
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Fredrikstad

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,207 in Phuket versus $2,983 in Fredrikstad.

  • Phuket $1,207
  • Fredrikstad $2,983

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,037 in Phuket versus $4,345 in Fredrikstad.

  • Phuket $2,037
  • Fredrikstad $4,345

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,867 in Phuket versus $5,707 in Fredrikstad.

  • Phuket $2,867
  • Fredrikstad $5,707

Living in Phuket costs roughly 60% less than in Fredrikstad, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 11% below, Fredrikstad is 121% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Fredrikstad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.58 ฿153
$26.28 NOK 247
-82.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.48 ฿1,086
$124 NOK 1,170
-73.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.55 ฿286
$12.65 NOK 119
-32.41%
Cappuccino
$2.72 ฿91.0
$6.77 NOK 63.7
-59.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94 ฿31.25
$5.55 NOK 52.3
-83.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.39
$4.39 NOK 41.36
-88.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.59 ฿86.6
$11.55 NOK 109
-77.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.83 ฿128
$9.57 NOK 90.1
-59.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Fredrikstad
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 ฿58.1
$2.34 NOK 22.00
-25.64%
White Bread (500g)
$1.43 ฿47.82
$4.31 NOK 40.56
-66.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.53 ฿51.0
$3.43 NOK 32.31
-55.39%
Eggs
$2.17 ฿72.7
$5.82 NOK 54.8
-62.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.15 ฿640
$13.06 NOK 123
46.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.30 ฿110
$17.96 NOK 169
-81.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.14 ฿372
$34.38 NOK 324
-67.60%
Apples (1kg)
$2.95 ฿98.5
$3.37 NOK 31.71
-12.46%
Banana (1kg)
$1.68 ฿56.1
$3.64 NOK 34.24
-53.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.30 ฿76.8
$4.30 NOK 40.49
-46.51%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.13 ฿71.3
$5.00 NOK 47.06
-57.40%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿51.1
$2.63 NOK 24.74
-41.83%
Onion (1kg)
$1.36 ฿45.55
$2.71 NOK 25.53
-49.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.12 ฿37.44
$2.82 NOK 26.50
-60.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿18.24
$2.33 NOK 21.95
-76.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26 ฿142
$15.51 NOK 146
-72.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.19 ฿608
$22.16 NOK 209
-17.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 ฿58.2
$3.49 NOK 32.81
-50.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79 ฿93.3
$4.39 NOK 41.34
-36.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Fredrikstad
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.22 ฿74.1
$4.11 NOK 38.71
-45.99%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.06 ฿737
$64.5 NOK 607
-65.77%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.91 ฿97.3
$12.56 NOK 118
-76.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.01 ฿33.79
$2.00 NOK 18.79
-49.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.83 ฿128
$70.1 NOK 660
-94.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 ฿49.85
$2.30 NOK 21.64
-35.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.7K ฿891.6K
$49.8K NOK 468.4K
-46.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿892.7K
$46.9K NOK 441.1K
-42.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Fredrikstad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$99.4 ฿3,321
$331 NOK 3,118
-70.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.28 ฿377
$45.60 NOK 429
-75.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.36 ฿580
$66.9 NOK 630
-74.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Fredrikstad
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.3 ฿1,747
$58.3 NOK 549
-10.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.85 ฿362
$40.86 NOK 385
-73.45%
Cinema Ticket
$7.57 ฿253
$20.19 NOK 190
-62.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Fredrikstad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$558 ฿18.7K
$168 NOK 1,579
232.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.5K ฿383.9K
$12.5K NOK 117.8K
-8.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Fredrikstad
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.9 ฿2,102
$155 NOK 1,459
-59.44%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.58 ฿955
$78.7 NOK 741
-63.68%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.1 ฿3,213
$144 NOK 1,358
-33.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.1 ฿2,943
$112 NOK 1,051
-21.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Fredrikstad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$729 ฿24.4K
$1,329 NOK 12.5K
-45.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$460 ฿15.4K
$1,131 NOK 10.6K
-59.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,096 ฿70.0K
$1,822 NOK 17.1K
15.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,222 ฿40.8K
$1,516 NOK 14.3K
-19.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,459 ฿115.6K
$6,022 NOK 56.7K
-42.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,489 ฿83.2K
$4,131 NOK 38.9K
-39.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Fredrikstad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$493 ฿16.5K
$3,372 NOK 31.7K
-85.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
4.95
12.53%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 13, 2026

Last update for Fredrikstad: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$460
Fredrikstad
$1.1K 146% $671
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$268
Fredrikstad
$540 102% $272
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$128
Fredrikstad
$444 247% $316
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$124
Fredrikstad
$220 77.6% $96
Eating Out
Phuket
$121
Fredrikstad
$446 268% $325
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$67
Fredrikstad
$99 46.4% $31
Getting Around
Phuket
$39
Fredrikstad
$103 166% $65

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $729 in Phuket and $1,329 in Fredrikstad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Fredrikstad pays 584% 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: $32.00 in Phuket vs $124 in Fredrikstad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $268 vs $540 per month, with Phuket cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇳🇴 Fredrikstad
🕒 Local time
12:01 12:01 PM
07:01 7:01 AM
5 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
85,267
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

NOK, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Norwegian Krone exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 9.41 NOK (1 NOK = 0.106 USD). 1 EUR = 10.58 NOK (100 NOK = 9.45 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Fredrikstad 9,110 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Fredrikstad

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 Fredrikstad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fredrikstad cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. The 147% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Fredrikstad?
On paper, salaries run 584% 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: $729 in Phuket versus $1,329 in Fredrikstad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $558 in Phuket versus $168 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 102% 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 $1,207 in Phuket versus $2,983 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 147% less than in Fredrikstad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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