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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,261 per month in Phuket vs $1,619 in Hella, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,286 per month in Phuket vs $2,788 in Hella, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,310 per month in Phuket vs $3,958 in Hella, rent included.

Phuket is about 22% cheaper than Hella, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Phuket sits 6% below the global median, while Hella is 20% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.56 ฿149

$27.32 ISK 3,401

-83.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.63 ฿1,519

$144 ISK 18.0K

-67.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.47 ฿276

$22.68 ISK 2,823

-62.65%

Cappuccino

$3.03 ฿98.6

$6.15 ISK 765

-50.73%

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

$0.69 ฿22.45

$3.35 ISK 417

-79.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.92

$2.54 ISK 316

-85.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.49 ฿81.0

$12.72 ISK 1,583

-80.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$11.15 ISK 1,388

-67.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.18 ฿71.0

$1.93 ISK 241

12.95%

White Bread (500g)

$1.90 ฿62.0

$4.19 ISK 522

-54.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.20 ฿71.6

$3.67 ISK 457

-40.05%

Eggs

$2.22 ฿72.4

$6.31 ISK 786

-64.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.99 ฿651

$18.19 ISK 2,265

9.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.66 ฿119

$24.53 ISK 3,053

-85.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.25 ฿432

$41.71 ISK 5,193

-68.23%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ฿105

$3.36 ISK 418

-3.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.3

$2.51 ISK 312

-32.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 ฿78.0

$3.04 ISK 378

-21.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿67.7

$4.91 ISK 611

-57.64%

Potato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$3.69 ISK 459

-56.91%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.31

$2.42 ISK 301

-38.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 ฿33.54

$3.19 ISK 397

-67.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿16.83

$1.99 ISK 247

-73.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.25 ฿138

$13.60 ISK 1,693

-68.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.79 ฿612

$23.47 ISK 2,922

-19.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 ฿57.2

$3.72 ISK 463

-52.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 ฿89.8

$3.34 ISK 415

-17.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 ฿44.32

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.36 ฿370

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 ฿102

$6.24 ISK 777

-49.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿33.74

$2.66 ISK 331

-60.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.77 ฿448

$85.8 ISK 10.7K

-83.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ฿43.79

$2.43 ISK 302

-44.86%

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

$27.7K ฿901.4K

$47.5K ISK 5.9M

-41.73%

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

$33.9K ฿1.1M

$51.3K ISK 6.4M

-34.01%

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

$124 ฿4,025

$89.4 ISK 11.1K

38.32%

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

$13.52 ฿440

$27.68 ISK 3,446

-51.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.69 ฿609

$85.5 ISK 10.6K

-78.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 ฿2,013

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.25 ฿562

Cinema Ticket

$9.14 ฿298

$17.43 ISK 2,170

-47.56%

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

$703 ฿22.9K

$316 ISK 39.4K

122.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K ฿517.0K

$29.9K ISK 3.7M

-46.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,937

$141 ISK 17.5K

-57.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.07 ฿1,142

$61.1 ISK 7,609

-42.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,754

$186 ISK 23.1K

-37.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.1 ฿2,737

$271 ISK 33.8K

-69.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$619 ฿20.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$433 ฿14.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,062 ฿67.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,511 ฿49.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,646 ฿118.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,626 ฿85.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$507 ฿16.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

9.63

-44.65%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026

Last update for Hella: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket versus $144 in Hella. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $597 – 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: $1,261 in Phuket, $1,619 in Hella – roughly 28% apart. Hella costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,892 per month in Phuket and $2,428 in Hella. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,261 in Phuket and $1,619 in Hella. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $703 per month in Phuket and $316 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 $1,261, than in Hella at $1,619. 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 $1,261 in Phuket to $1,619 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.