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 $1,637 in Hella, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,255 per month in Phuket vs $2,843 in Hella, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,279 per month in Phuket vs $4,048 in Hella, rent included.

Phuket is about 25% cheaper than Hella, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Phuket sits 8% below the global median, while Hella is 22% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.63 ฿151

$27.19 ISK 3,329

-82.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.84 ฿1,532

$147 ISK 17.9K

-68.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.84 ฿289

$22.26 ISK 2,726

-60.29%

Cappuccino

$3.00 ฿98.0

$6.27 ISK 768

-52.15%

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

$0.74 ฿24.25

$3.29 ISK 402

-77.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.95

$2.50 ISK 306

-85.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 ฿79.8

$12.92 ISK 1,582

-81.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 ฿118

$11.32 ISK 1,386

-68.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ฿73.9

$1.93 ISK 237

17.10%

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 ฿60.1

$4.36 ISK 534

-57.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.24 ฿73.4

$3.61 ISK 442

-37.95%

Eggs

$2.32 ฿75.7

$6.31 ISK 773

-63.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.67 ฿643

$17.91 ISK 2,193

9.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.65 ฿119

$23.63 ISK 2,893

-84.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.10 ฿428

$42.77 ISK 5,237

-69.37%

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 ฿111

$3.24 ISK 396

4.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.7

$2.42 ISK 296

-32.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿79.0

$3.11 ISK 381

-22.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 ฿66.4

$4.87 ISK 596

-58.32%

Potato (1kg)

$1.56 ฿50.9

$3.64 ISK 446

-57.14%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 ฿48.94

$2.39 ISK 293

-37.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 ฿33.50

$3.07 ISK 376

-66.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.00

$1.93 ISK 236

-74.61%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.45 ฿145

$13.41 ISK 1,642

-66.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.88 ฿617

$23.12 ISK 2,831

-18.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

$3.64 ISK 445

-51.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$3.34 ISK 409

-17.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.40 ฿45.81

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.48 ฿376

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.12 ฿102

$6.51 ISK 798

-52.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.00 ฿32.67

$2.52 ISK 308

-60.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.09 ฿461

$86.3 ISK 10.6K

-83.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 ฿44.19

$2.57 ISK 314

-47.47%

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

$27.2K ฿888.9K

$48.2K ISK 5.9M

-43.58%

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

$32.9K ฿1.1M

$52.7K ISK 6.5M

-37.58%

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

$125 ฿4,087

$89.3 ISK 10.9K

39.94%

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

$13.57 ฿444

$27.34 ISK 3,347

-50.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.52 ฿606

$87.0 ISK 10.6K

-78.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.5 ฿2,010

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.84 ฿551

Cinema Ticket

$9.19 ฿300

$17.63 ISK 2,159

-47.87%

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

$698 ฿22.8K

$318 ISK 38.9K

119.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.6K ฿509.9K

$30.6K ISK 3.7M

-49.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.8 ฿1,889

$141 ISK 17.3K

-59.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.24 ฿1,152

$60.6 ISK 7,420

-41.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 ฿3,699

$182 ISK 22.3K

-38.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.4 ฿2,825

$262 ISK 32.1K

-67.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$616 ฿20.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$446 ฿14.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,048 ฿67.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,492 ฿48.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,779 ฿123.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,649 ฿86.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$524 ฿17.1K

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Hella: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket versus $147 in Hella. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $593 – 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, $1,637 in Hella – roughly 33% 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 $2,456 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 $1,637 in Hella. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $698 per month in Phuket and $318 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 $1,637. 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 $1,637 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.