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