Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Jonkoping

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,278 a month against $1,771 in Jonkoping, rent and utilities included – about $5,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Phuket, Thailand
Jonkoping, Sweden
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,278
/mo nomad
Jonkoping
🇸🇪 Sweden
$1,771
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Jonkoping

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Phuket and in Jonkoping actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,278 in Phuket versus $1,771 in Jonkoping.

  • Phuket $1,278
  • Jonkoping $1,771

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,216 in Phuket versus $2,725 in Jonkoping.

  • Phuket $2,216
  • Jonkoping $2,725

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,154 in Phuket versus $3,679 in Jonkoping.

  • Phuket $3,154
  • Jonkoping $3,679

Living in Phuket costs roughly 28% less than in Jonkoping, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 6% below, Jonkoping is 30% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Jonkoping
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.47 ฿151
$13.20 SEK 130
-66.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.41 ฿1,093
$91.8 SEK 901
-64.71%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.81 ฿297
$11.93 SEK 117
-26.15%
Cappuccino
$2.83 ฿95.4
$4.50 SEK 44.21
-37.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 ฿29.41
$2.11 SEK 20.69
-58.77%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.65
$2.14 SEK 20.97
-77.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.56 ฿86.3
$8.27 SEK 81.2
-69.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 ฿124
$6.98 SEK 68.5
-47.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Jonkoping
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 ฿55.9
$1.54 SEK 15.06
7.79%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 ฿49.31
$2.13 SEK 20.93
-31.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.5
$3.23 SEK 31.69
-53.56%
Eggs
$2.09 ฿70.5
$3.57 SEK 35.05
-41.46%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.07 ฿643
$12.31 SEK 121
54.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.30 ฿111
$11.61 SEK 114
-71.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.91 ฿368
$15.69 SEK 154
-30.47%
Apples (1kg)
$2.93 ฿98.9
$2.94 SEK 28.83
-0.34%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 ฿57.0
$2.37 SEK 23.27
-28.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 ฿75.8
$2.75 SEK 27.01
-18.18%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿70.0
$4.20 SEK 41.26
-50.48%
Potato (1kg)
$1.51 ฿51.0
$1.56 SEK 15.28
-3.21%
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.52
$1.39 SEK 13.60
-0.72%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ฿35.96
$1.75 SEK 17.17
-38.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.51
$0.97 SEK 9.47
-46.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20 ฿142
$7.83 SEK 76.8
-46.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.79 ฿634
$10.92 SEK 107
72.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 ฿61.5
$1.84 SEK 18.02
-1.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 ฿95.8
$2.23 SEK 21.84
27.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Jonkoping
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.45 ฿48.98
$3.96 SEK 38.84
-63.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$56.7 ฿1,912
$41.55 SEK 408
36.37%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿102
$5.14 SEK 50.5
-41.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ฿34.33
$1.07 SEK 10.51
-4.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.69 ฿125
$41.49 SEK 407
-91.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ฿49.76
$1.76 SEK 17.31
-16.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K ฿903.4K
$33.1K SEK 324.7K
-19.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿900.5K
$34.0K SEK 333.3K
-21.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Jonkoping
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.4 ฿3,251
$77.4 SEK 760
24.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.26 ฿380
$27.57 SEK 271
-59.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.85 ฿568
$42.04 SEK 413
-59.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Jonkoping
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.2 ฿2,268
$36.77 SEK 361
82.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.73 ฿362
$30.53 SEK 300
-64.85%
Cinema Ticket
$7.50 ฿253
$14.00 SEK 137
-46.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Jonkoping
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$476 ฿16.1K
$156 SEK 1,536
204.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.3K ฿380.0K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Jonkoping
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.4 ฿2,104
$80.3 SEK 788
-22.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.41 ฿958
$25.03 SEK 246
13.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.3 ฿3,181
$102 SEK 998
-7.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.8 ฿2,895
$121 SEK 1,185
-28.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Jonkoping
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$716 ฿24.2K
$942 SEK 9,242
-23.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$491 ฿16.6K
$747 SEK 7,334
-34.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,927 ฿65.0K
$1,510 SEK 14.8K
27.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,431 ฿48.3K
$1,126 SEK 11.0K
27.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,175 ฿140.9K
$3,984 SEK 39.1K
4.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,045 ฿102.7K
$2,763 SEK 27.1K
10.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Jonkoping
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$502 ฿16.9K
$2,798 SEK 27.5K
-82.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
3.27
70.34%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Last update for Jonkoping: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$491
Jonkoping
$747 52.2% $256
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$266
Jonkoping
$328 23.3% $62
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$124
Jonkoping
$147 18.1% $23
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$122
Jonkoping
$147 21% $26
Eating Out
Phuket
$122
Jonkoping
$268 120% $146
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$82
Jonkoping
$65 21.2% $17
Getting Around
Phuket
$71
Jonkoping
$68 3.8% $2.7

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $716 in Phuket and $942 in Jonkoping. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Jonkoping pays about 5.6 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $32 in Phuket vs $92 in Jonkoping for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $266 vs $328 per month, with Phuket cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇸🇪 Jonkoping
🕒 Local time
06:08 6:08 AM
00:08 12:08 AM
6 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
84,423
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

SEK, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 33.74 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.67 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

Swedish Krona exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 9.81 SEK (1 SEK = 0.102 USD). 1 EUR = 10.96 SEK (100 SEK = 9.13 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Jonkoping 8,920 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Jonkoping

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Jonkoping: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Jonkoping?
Phuket is about 28% cheaper overall, especially in eating out, groceries, and utilities. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Jonkoping?
On paper, salaries run 82% lower in Phuket. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Jonkoping?
Rent for a central apartment: $716 in Phuket versus $942 in Jonkoping. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $476 in Phuket versus $156 in Jonkoping. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and in Jonkoping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 23% higher in Jonkoping. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Jonkoping?
At $1,278 in Phuket versus $1,771 in Jonkoping, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Jonkoping. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Phuket or in Jonkoping?
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.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Jonkoping?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Jonkoping are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
It comes down to priorities – Phuket wins on affordability, Jonkoping on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

Phuket vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?