Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Hafnarfjordur

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,278 a month against $3,853 in Hafnarfjordur, rent and utilities included – about $30,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

62

Cost of Living Index in Phuket
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Phuket Living Index
184

Cost of Living Index in Hafnarfjordur
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Hafnarfjordur Living Index

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Phuket

🇹🇭 Thailand

$1,278

/mo nomad

Hafnarfjordur

🇮🇸 Iceland

$3,853

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Hafnarfjordur

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

A single person spends $1,278 per month in Phuket vs $3,853 in Hafnarfjordur, rent included.

Phuket $1,278
Hafnarfjordur $3,853

A couple spends around $2,216 per month in Phuket vs $5,410 in Hafnarfjordur, rent included.

Phuket $2,216
Hafnarfjordur $5,410

A family of three spends $3,154 per month in Phuket vs $6,967 in Hafnarfjordur, rent included.

Phuket $3,154
Hafnarfjordur $6,967

Phuket is about 67% cheaper than Hafnarfjordur, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Phuket sits 6% below the global median, while Hafnarfjordur is 183% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.47 ฿151

$31.04 ISK 3,768

-85.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.41 ฿1,094

$125 ISK 15.1K

-74.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.81 ฿297

$16.40 ISK 1,991

-46.28%

Cappuccino

$2.83 ฿95.4

$6.71 ISK 814

-57.82%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 ฿29.42

$3.33 ISK 405

-73.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.66

$3.14 ISK 382

-84.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.56 ฿86.3

$14.02 ISK 1,703

-81.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 ฿124

$12.11 ISK 1,470

-69.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ฿56.0

$1.67 ISK 203

-0.60%

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 ฿49.32

$4.21 ISK 511

-65.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.5

$3.71 ISK 450

-59.57%

Eggs

$2.09 ฿70.5

$7.26 ISK 881

-71.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.07 ฿643

$21.51 ISK 2,611

-11.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.30 ฿111

$24.40 ISK 2,962

-86.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.91 ฿368

$41.76 ISK 5,070

-73.87%

Apples (1kg)

$2.93 ฿98.9

$3.24 ISK 394

-9.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 ฿57.0

$2.48 ISK 301

-31.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 ฿75.8

$3.19 ISK 388

-29.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿70.1

$6.41 ISK 779

-67.55%

Potato (1kg)

$1.51 ฿51.0

$3.93 ISK 477

-61.58%

Onion (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$1.64 ISK 200

-15.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 ฿35.97

$3.69 ISK 448

-71.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.51

$1.82 ISK 221

-71.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.20 ฿142

$14.04 ISK 1,705

-70.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.79 ฿634

$24.05 ISK 2,920

-21.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 ฿61.5

$3.53 ISK 428

-48.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿95.9

$3.38 ISK 411

-15.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.45 ฿49.00

$5.10 ISK 620

-71.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$56.7 ฿1,912

$85.0 ISK 10.3K

-33.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿102

$6.92 ISK 840

-56.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ฿34.34

$2.84 ISK 345

-64.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.69 ฿125

$80.8 ISK 9,811

-95.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ฿49.78

$2.00 ISK 243

-26.50%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.8K ฿903.7K

$68.7K ISK 8.3M

-61.04%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.7K ฿900.8K

$55.8K ISK 6.8M

-52.13%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$96.4 ฿3,252

$69.4 ISK 8,419

38.93%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$11.26 ฿380

$32.65 ISK 3,964

-65.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.85 ฿569

$85.0 ISK 10.3K

-80.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.2 ฿2,269

$65.1 ISK 7,900

3.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.73 ฿362

Cinema Ticket

$7.50 ฿253

$17.08 ISK 2,073

-56.09%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$476 ฿16.1K

$1,172 ISK 142.3K

-59.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.3K ฿380.1K

$25.9K ISK 3.1M

-56.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.4 ฿2,105

$125 ISK 15.1K

-50.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.41 ฿959

$67.1 ISK 8,150

-57.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,182

$124 ISK 15.1K

-24.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.8 ฿2,896

$246 ISK 29.9K

-65.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$716 ฿24.2K

$2,496 ISK 303.1K

-71.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$491 ฿16.6K

$2,075 ISK 251.8K

-76.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,927 ฿65.0K

$3,232 ISK 392.3K

-40.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,431 ฿48.3K

$2,670 ISK 324.2K

-46.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,175 ฿140.9K

$7,011 ISK 851.1K

-40.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,045 ฿102.8K

$7,014 ISK 851.6K

-56.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$502 ฿17.0K

$4,674 ISK 567.4K

-89.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

8.81

-36.78%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Last update for Hafnarfjordur: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Phuket

$491 38.4%

Hafnarfjordur

$2.1K 53.8% 323% $1.6K

Groceries & Markets

Phuket

$266 20.8%

Hafnarfjordur

$615 16% 131% $348

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Phuket

$124 9.7%

Hafnarfjordur

$187 4.9% 50.2% $63

Clothing & Footwear

Phuket

$122 9.5%

Hafnarfjordur

$253 6.6% 108% $131

Eating Out

Phuket

$122 9.5%

Hafnarfjordur

$498 12.9% 309% $377

Sport & Entertainment

Phuket

$82 6.4%

Hafnarfjordur

$99 2.6% 20.7% $17

Getting Around

Phuket

$71 5.5%

Hafnarfjordur

$127 3.3% 79.3% $56

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $716 in Phuket versus $2,496 in Hafnarfjordur. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Hafnarfjordur are about 9.3 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32 in Phuket versus $125 in Hafnarfjordur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $266 vs $615 – making Phuket the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Phuket

🇮🇸 Hafnarfjordur

🕒 Local time

14:03 2:03 PM

07:03 7:03 AM

7 h behind Phuket

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

79,308

31,525

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Icelandic Króna ISK kr

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.65 EUR

1,000 ISK = 8.24 USD

1,000 ISK = 7.38 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

ISK, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.75 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.68 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

Icelandic Króna exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 121 ISK (1,000 ISK = 8.24 USD). 1 EUR = 136 ISK (1,000 ISK = 7.38 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Phuket Hafnarfjordur 10,620 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight

From you

Phuket
Hafnarfjordur

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 Hafnarfjordur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Hafnarfjordur costs about 202% more than Phuket, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,917 per month in Phuket and $5,780 in Hafnarfjordur. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $716 there versus $2,496 in Hafnarfjordur.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,278 in Phuket and $3,853 in Hafnarfjordur. That makes Phuket about 67% cheaper.

Public transport costs about 33% less in Phuket. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,278, than in Hafnarfjordur at $3,853. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hafnarfjordur it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hafnarfjordur makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.