🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,264 in Phuket versus $1,670 in Jakobstad.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,256 in Phuket versus $2,538 in Jakobstad.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,248 in Phuket versus $3,406 in Jakobstad.
🌍Living in Phuket costs roughly 24% less than in Jakobstad, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 5% below, Jakobstad is 25% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Jakobstad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.48฿150
$13.77€11.96
-67.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.59฿1,523
$84.8€73.7
-46.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.76฿292
$11.17€9.70
-21.58%
Cappuccino
$2.97฿99.1
$4.20€3.65
-29.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.93
$2.72€2.37
-74.63%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39฿13.05
$1.73€1.50
-77.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.53฿84.5
$7.31€6.36
-65.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75฿125
$8.18€7.10
-54.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Jakobstad
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.15฿71.7
$1.39€1.21
54.68%
White Bread(500g)
$1.82฿60.6
$3.05€2.65
-40.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.18฿73.0
$2.38€2.07
-8.40%
Eggs
$2.25฿75.1
$3.37€2.93
-33.23%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$20.00฿668
$8.73€7.58
129.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63฿121
$14.74€12.80
-75.37%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.56฿453
$22.84€19.85
-40.63%
Apples(1kg)
$3.24฿108
$2.60€2.26
24.62%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64฿54.6
$2.13€1.85
-23.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.33฿77.9
$2.67€2.32
-12.73%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.07฿69.2
$3.70€3.21
-44.05%
Potato(1kg)
$1.55฿51.7
$1.44€1.25
7.64%
Onion(1kg)
$1.46฿48.60
$1.93€1.68
-24.35%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98฿32.89
$3.11€2.70
-68.49%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.11
$2.05€1.78
-76.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35฿145
$11.79€10.24
-63.10%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.57฿620
$16.26€14.13
14.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿62.0
$3.21€2.78
-42.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65฿88.7
$3.49€3.04
-24.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Jakobstad
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.42฿47.33
$3.57€3.10
-60.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.57฿387
$67.5€58.7
-82.87%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.17฿106
$6.99€6.07
-54.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.03฿34.46
$1.20€1.05
-14.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.89฿464
$55.3€48.07
-74.89%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34฿44.89
$2.08€1.81
-35.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿928.2K
$35.5K€30.8K
-21.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4K฿1.1M
$39.9K€34.7K
-16.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Jakobstad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123฿4,110
$83.8€72.8
46.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77฿460
$29.65€25.76
-53.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.33฿612
$24.36€21.17
-24.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Jakobstad
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.7฿2,027
$43.16€37.49
40.62%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.16฿573
$23.89€20.76
-28.17%
Cinema Ticket
$8.87฿296
$18.23€15.84
-51.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Jakobstad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$688฿23.0K
$326€283
111.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8K฿527.0K
$7,922€6,882
99.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Jakobstad
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3฿1,981
$87.0€75.6
-31.85%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.69฿1,159
$42.73€37.13
-18.82%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,847
$111€96.7
3.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.8฿2,798
$156€135
-46.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Jakobstad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$621฿20.8K
$478€415
29.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446฿14.9K
$524€455
-14.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,034฿67.9K
$896€778
127.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,496฿50.0K
$665€578
125.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,455฿115.4K
$4,193€3,643
-17.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,531฿84.5K
$2,174€1,889
16.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Jakobstad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494฿16.5K
$2,251€1,956
-78.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
1.4
280.71%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026
Last update for Jakobstad: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $621 in Phuket and $478 in Jakobstad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Jakobstad pays 356% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $46.00 in Phuket vs $85.0 in Jakobstad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $291 vs $391 per month, with Phuket cheaper across the board.
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 Jakobstad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Phuket and in Jakobstad?
Phuket and Jakobstad differ by about 32% in total monthly costs ($1,264 vs $1,670 including rent). Phuket is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 356% lower in Jakobstad. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Phuket and in Jakobstad?
Rent for a central apartment: $621 in Phuket versus $478 in Jakobstad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Phuket and in Jakobstad?
A monthly transit pass in Phuket runs roughly 484% less than in Jakobstad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Phuket and Jakobstad?
Childcare runs $688 in Phuket versus $326 in Jakobstad. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,264 in Phuket versus $1,670 in Jakobstad, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Jakobstad. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Jakobstad?
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.
Is Phuket or Jakobstad safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Jakobstad are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Phuket or Jakobstad?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 32% less than in Jakobstad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.