Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Hella Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Hella

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $1,694 in Hella, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,054 per month in Phuket vs $2,923 in Hella, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,876 per month in Phuket vs $4,152 in Hella, rent included.

Phuket is about 27% cheaper than Hella, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Phuket sits 10% below the global median, while Hella is 24% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.41 ฿147

$29.93 ISK 3,645

-85.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.26 ฿1,077

$137 ISK 16.6K

-76.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.93 ฿298

$26.99 ISK 3,287

-66.91%

Cappuccino

$2.90 ฿96.6

$6.87 ISK 837

-57.79%

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

$0.88 ฿29.38

$3.25 ISK 396

-72.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.06

$3.21 ISK 392

-85.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ฿78.5

$13.88 ISK 1,690

-83.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿124

$12.29 ISK 1,497

-69.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ฿62.3

$2.12 ISK 259

-11.79%

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 ฿48.94

$4.32 ISK 526

-65.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.8

$3.69 ISK 450

-57.99%

Eggs

$2.10 ฿70.1

$7.01 ISK 854

-70.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.59 ฿654

$21.12 ISK 2,573

-7.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.42 ฿114

$24.72 ISK 3,011

-86.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.38 ฿380

$42.94 ISK 5,230

-73.50%

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 ฿99.6

$3.35 ISK 408

-11.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 ฿56.2

$2.92 ISK 356

-42.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 ฿73.7

$3.16 ISK 385

-30.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.16 ฿72.1

$6.25 ISK 762

-65.44%

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.9

$4.13 ISK 504

-63.20%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.67

$1.66 ISK 202

-19.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ฿37.67

$3.81 ISK 465

-70.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ฿18.24

$1.76 ISK 214

-68.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.26 ฿142

$13.87 ISK 1,690

-69.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.09 ฿637

$24.10 ISK 2,936

-20.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿59.4

$3.79 ISK 462

-53.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿92.9

$3.37 ISK 410

-17.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.23 ฿74.4

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.74 ฿759

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 ฿101

$6.79 ISK 827

-55.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ฿34.15

$2.83 ISK 345

-63.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.89 ฿130

$74.9 ISK 9,118

-94.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿49.77

$2.02 ISK 246

-26.24%

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

$26.6K ฿887.3K

$50.8K ISK 6.2M

-47.67%

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

$27.0K ฿902.2K

$54.3K ISK 6.6M

-50.24%

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

$102 ฿3,420

$88.2 ISK 10.7K

16.19%

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

$11.33 ฿378

$32.75 ISK 3,989

-65.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.40 ฿581

$83.8 ISK 10.2K

-79.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.1 ฿1,738

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.07 ฿370

Cinema Ticket

$7.69 ฿257

$19.68 ISK 2,396

-60.92%

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

$561 ฿18.7K

$1,190 ISK 144.9K

-52.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ฿384.1K

$30.6K ISK 3.7M

-62.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.0 ฿2,104

$161 ISK 19.6K

-60.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.52 ฿986

$67.1 ISK 8,170

-55.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.0 ฿3,272

$182 ISK 22.1K

-46.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.5 ฿2,954

$252 ISK 30.6K

-64.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$738 ฿24.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,107 ฿70.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,226 ฿40.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,617 ฿120.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,603 ฿86.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿16.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

8.88

-37.27%

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

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Last update for Hella: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Phuket versus $137 in Hella. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $274 vs $627 – 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 Hella: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,232 in Phuket, $1,694 in Hella – roughly 38% apart. Hella costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $2,541 in Hella. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,232 in Phuket and $1,694 in Hella. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $561 per month in Phuket and $1,190 in Hella. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,232, than in Hella at $1,694. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hella it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,232 in Phuket to $1,694 in Hella. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

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