Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Haugesund Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Haugesund

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,264 per month in Phuket vs $2,476 in Haugesund, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,256 per month in Phuket vs $3,729 in Haugesund, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,248 per month in Phuket vs $4,982 in Haugesund, rent included.

Phuket is about 49% cheaper than Haugesund, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Phuket sits 5% below the global median, while Haugesund is 86% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Haugesund
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.48 ฿150
$21.54 NOK 207
-79.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.59 ฿1,525
$102 NOK 983
-55.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.76 ฿293
$13.46 NOK 129
-34.92%
Cappuccino
$2.97 ฿99.3
$4.68 NOK 44.93
-36.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ฿22.96
$3.09 NOK 29.62
-77.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39 ฿13.07
$2.95 NOK 28.29
-86.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.53 ฿84.7
$10.67 NOK 102
-76.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75 ฿125
$9.37 NOK 89.9
-59.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Haugesund
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.15 ฿71.8
$2.10 NOK 20.15
2.38%
White Bread (500g)
$1.82 ฿60.7
$3.32 NOK 31.80
-45.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.18 ฿73.1
$2.84 NOK 27.23
-23.24%
Eggs
$2.25 ฿75.2
$4.51 NOK 43.30
-50.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$20.00 ฿669
$11.33 NOK 109
76.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.63 ฿121
$14.51 NOK 139
-74.98%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.56 ฿453
$28.07 NOK 269
-51.69%
Apples (1kg)
$3.24 ฿109
$3.06 NOK 29.33
5.88%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 ฿54.7
$2.15 NOK 20.64
-23.72%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.33 ฿78.0
$3.60 NOK 34.55
-35.28%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.07 ฿69.3
$4.11 NOK 39.42
-49.64%
Potato (1kg)
$1.55 ฿51.8
$2.74 NOK 26.28
-43.43%
Onion (1kg)
$1.46 ฿48.67
$2.81 NOK 26.94
-48.04%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.98 ฿32.94
$2.91 NOK 27.93
-66.32%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48 ฿16.13
$2.14 NOK 20.55
-77.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35 ฿146
$16.29 NOK 156
-73.30%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.57 ฿621
$14.27 NOK 137
30.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 ฿62.1
$3.30 NOK 31.68
-43.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65 ฿88.8
$4.29 NOK 41.19
-38.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Haugesund
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.42 ฿47.40
$3.61 NOK 34.62
-60.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.57 ฿387
$65.4 NOK 627
-82.30%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.17 ฿106
$14.39 NOK 138
-77.97%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.03 ฿34.51
$1.51 NOK 14.50
-31.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.89 ฿465
$54.8 NOK 526
-74.66%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 ฿44.96
$2.15 NOK 20.64
-37.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K ฿929.6K
$35.3K NOK 339.1K
-21.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4K ฿1.1M
$40.0K NOK 383.6K
-16.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Haugesund
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$123 ฿4,116
$243 NOK 2,328
-49.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77 ฿461
$38.85 NOK 373
-64.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.33 ฿613
$55.6 NOK 533
-67.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Haugesund
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.7 ฿2,030
$44.68 NOK 429
35.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.16 ฿574
$35.94 NOK 345
-52.25%
Cinema Ticket
$8.87 ฿297
$16.34 NOK 157
-45.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Haugesund
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$688 ฿23.0K
$280 NOK 2,685
145.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.8K ฿527.8K
$2,941 NOK 28.2K
436.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Haugesund
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3 ฿1,984
$83.2 NOK 798
-28.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.69 ฿1,160
$55.5 NOK 533
-37.54%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,853
$94.7 NOK 908
21.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.8 ฿2,802
$147 NOK 1,410
-43.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Haugesund
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$621 ฿20.8K
$1,640 NOK 15.7K
-62.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$446 ฿14.9K
$1,022 NOK 9,799
-56.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,034 ฿68.0K
$2,061 NOK 19.8K
-1.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,496 ฿50.0K
$1,549 NOK 14.9K
-3.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,455 ฿115.6K
$4,218 NOK 40.5K
-18.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,531 ฿84.7K
$4,596 NOK 44.1K
-44.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Haugesund
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$494 ฿16.5K
$3,941 NOK 37.8K
-87.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
3.98
33.92%

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

Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026

Last update for Haugesund: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $621 in Phuket versus $1,640 in Haugesund. 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 698% higher in Haugesund, 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 $46.00 in Phuket versus $102 in Haugesund. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $291 vs $442 – 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 Haugesund: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Haugesund?
Haugesund costs about 96% more than Phuket, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Phuket and in Haugesund?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,896 per month in Phuket and $3,715 in Haugesund. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Phuket or Haugesund?
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.
Are groceries more expensive in Phuket or in Haugesund?
Groceries cost about 52% more in Haugesund, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Phuket and in Haugesund?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Phuket and $102 in Haugesund. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Phuket or in Haugesund?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,264, than in Haugesund at $2,476. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Haugesund it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Haugesund?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,264 versus $2,476 in Haugesund. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Phuket compared to Haugesund?
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.
Should I move to Phuket or to Haugesund?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Haugesund makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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