Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Isafjordur Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Isafjordur

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Phuket versus $256 in Isafjordur.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,078 in Phuket versus $399 in Isafjordur.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,896 in Phuket versus $542 in Isafjordur.

Living in Phuket is roughly 393% more expensive than in Isafjordur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 8% lower, Isafjordur 81% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.43 ฿145

$15.98 ISK 1,942

-72.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.07 ฿1,151

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.96 ฿294

Cappuccino

$3.00 ฿98.4

$4.78 ISK 580

-37.24%

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

$0.77 ฿25.33

$1.58 ISK 192

-51.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 ฿15.44

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.40 ฿78.6

$8.09 ISK 983

-70.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 ฿123

$12.24 ISK 1,487

-69.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 ฿59.8

White Bread (500g)

$1.42 ฿46.65

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 ฿50.8

Eggs

$2.13 ฿69.9

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.76 ฿648

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.48 ฿114

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.09 ฿364

Apples (1kg)

$2.91 ฿95.5

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 ฿54.6

Oranges (1kg)

$2.27 ฿74.5

Tomato (1kg)

$2.10 ฿68.8

Potato (1kg)

$1.47 ฿48.24

Onion (1kg)

$1.41 ฿46.29

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 ฿35.78

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 ฿17.58

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.48 ฿147

Wine (Bottle)

$18.72 ฿614

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 ฿60.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 ฿96.7

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.26 ฿74.1

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.07 ฿757

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.04 ฿99.9

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.09 ฿35.82

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.82 ฿125

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿48.79

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

$27.4K ฿900.3K

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

$27.5K ฿902.7K

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

$102 ฿3,340

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

$11.28 ฿370

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.75 ฿582

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.2 ฿1,777

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.96 ฿360

Cinema Ticket

$7.85 ฿258

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

$577 ฿18.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ฿381.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.4 ฿2,144

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.89 ฿948

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.1 ฿3,250

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.3 ฿2,961

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$756 ฿24.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$487 ฿16.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,085 ฿68.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,207 ฿39.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,591 ฿117.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,610 ฿85.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$502 ฿16.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Phuket: August 18, 2026

Last update for Isafjordur: August 15, 2026

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 Isafjordur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Phuket and Isafjordur differ by about 393% in total monthly costs ($1,261 vs $256 including rent). Isafjordur is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,891 in Phuket and $384 in Isafjordur to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

At $256 in Isafjordur versus $1,261 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Isafjordur but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Isafjordur the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Phuket and Isafjordur are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Isafjordur gentler on the wallet – expenses run 393% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.