Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Haparanda Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Haparanda

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $1,817 in Haparanda, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,089 per month in Phuket vs $2,841 in Haparanda, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,913 per month in Phuket vs $3,865 in Haparanda, rent included.

Phuket is about 30% cheaper than Haparanda, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Phuket sits 8% below the global median, while Haparanda is 32% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Haparanda
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.66 ฿154
$12.69 SEK 123
-63.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.22 ฿1,065
$86.4 SEK 838
-62.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.68 ฿287
$9.44 SEK 91.5
-8.05%
Cappuccino
$2.90 ฿95.8
$4.91 SEK 47.63
-40.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 ฿27.89
$2.63 SEK 25.48
-68.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.16
$2.28 SEK 22.14
-78.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.48 ฿82.0
$8.35 SEK 81.0
-70.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿123
$6.67 SEK 64.7
-44.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Haparanda
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.89 ฿62.3
$1.51 SEK 14.61
25.17%
White Bread (500g)
$1.41 ฿46.54
$2.96 SEK 28.69
-52.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.62 ฿53.6
$3.83 SEK 37.12
-57.70%
Eggs
$2.24 ฿74.1
$3.92 SEK 38.01
-42.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.84 ฿656
$11.16 SEK 108
77.78%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.48 ฿115
$14.05 SEK 136
-75.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.37 ฿376
$20.23 SEK 196
-43.80%
Apples (1kg)
$2.90 ฿95.8
$3.15 SEK 30.53
-7.94%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 ฿57.0
$2.67 SEK 25.93
-35.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.27 ฿75.1
$3.54 SEK 34.30
-35.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.13 ฿70.4
$4.69 SEK 45.50
-54.58%
Potato (1kg)
$1.47 ฿48.72
$1.60 SEK 15.46
-8.13%
Onion (1kg)
$1.42 ฿46.92
$1.47 SEK 14.25
-3.40%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.10 ฿36.25
$2.12 SEK 20.54
-48.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60 ฿19.76
$1.66 SEK 16.10
-63.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.31 ฿142
$7.36 SEK 71.4
-41.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.60 ฿615
$9.42 SEK 91.3
97.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 ฿59.5
$1.81 SEK 17.56
-0.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 ฿98.0
$2.22 SEK 21.55
33.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Haparanda
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.25 ฿74.2
$3.60 SEK 34.95
-37.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$23.49 ฿776
$73.5 SEK 712
-68.02%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.10 ฿102
$6.88 SEK 66.7
-54.94%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.08 ฿35.56
$1.70 SEK 16.44
-36.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.87 ฿128
$58.6 SEK 568
-93.40%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.43 ฿47.16
$1.79 SEK 17.32
-20.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K ฿918.0K
$30.3K SEK 294.0K
-8.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K ฿891.5K
$38.7K SEK 375.1K
-30.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Haparanda
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$105 ฿3,462
$97.3 SEK 943
7.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.39 ฿376
$26.46 SEK 256
-56.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.54 ฿580
$34.65 SEK 336
-49.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Haparanda
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.3 ฿1,795
$44.83 SEK 435
21.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.44 ฿378
$24.96 SEK 242
-54.17%
Cinema Ticket
$7.78 ฿257
$14.77 SEK 143
-47.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Haparanda
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$576 ฿19.0K
$177 SEK 1,713
226.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K ฿382.7K
$5,740 SEK 55.6K
101.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Haparanda
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.6 ฿2,103
$103 SEK 1,000
-38.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.10 ฿961
$37.33 SEK 362
-22.05%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.2 ฿3,179
$87.8 SEK 851
9.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.0 ฿2,974
$144 SEK 1,393
-37.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Haparanda
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$733 ฿24.2K
$888 SEK 8,610
-17.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$501 ฿16.5K
$588 SEK 5,698
-14.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,126 ฿70.2K
$1,191 SEK 11.5K
78.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,252 ฿41.4K
$922 SEK 8,937
35.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,534 ฿116.8K
$3,755 SEK 36.4K
-5.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,622 ฿86.6K
$2,483 SEK 24.1K
5.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Haparanda
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$508 ฿16.8K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
3.42
62.87%

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

Last update for Phuket: September 6, 2026

Last update for Haparanda: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $733 in Phuket versus $888 in Haparanda. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Phuket versus $86.0 in Haparanda. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $275 vs $378 – 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 Haparanda: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Haparanda cheaper than Phuket?
Yes – Haparanda is pricier by about 44%, 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 $2,725 in Haparanda. 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.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and in Haparanda?
Groceries cost about 37% more in Haparanda, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or in Haparanda?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Phuket and $86.0 in Haparanda. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Haparanda?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,265, than in Haparanda at $1,817. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Haparanda it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Phuket or Haparanda 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 Haparanda?
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, Haparanda makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Phuket vs other spots: cost of living compared

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