🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,250 in Phuket versus $2,260 in Kristiansund.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,284 in Phuket versus $3,403 in Kristiansund.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,317 in Phuket versus $4,547 in Kristiansund.
🌍Living in Phuket costs roughly 45% less than in Kristiansund, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 6% below, Kristiansund is 69% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Kristiansund
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.55฿153
$25.66NOK 247
-82.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.18฿1,554
$102NOK 985
-54.79%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84฿298
$13.47NOK 130
-34.37%
Cappuccino
$3.06฿103
$5.05NOK 48.66
-39.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73฿24.42
$3.21NOK 30.94
-77.26%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40฿13.40
$2.90NOK 28.01
-86.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.43฿81.8
$10.25NOK 98.8
-76.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78฿127
$9.57NOK 92.3
-60.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Kristiansund
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26฿76.0
$2.38NOK 22.92
-5.04%
White Bread(500g)
$1.81฿60.9
$3.40NOK 32.81
-46.76%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.25฿75.8
$3.20NOK 30.85
-29.69%
Eggs
$2.25฿75.6
$4.45NOK 42.88
-49.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.51฿656
$11.99NOK 116
62.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65฿123
$14.50NOK 140
-74.83%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.05฿439
$28.13NOK 271
-53.61%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23฿109
$3.43NOK 33.10
-5.83%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62฿54.4
$2.46NOK 23.68
-34.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.38฿80.2
$3.42NOK 32.99
-30.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03฿68.2
$4.54NOK 43.78
-55.29%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿51.6
$2.48NOK 23.87
-38.31%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50฿50.5
$2.59NOK 24.98
-42.08%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98฿32.93
$2.82NOK 27.21
-65.25%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿17.40
$1.92NOK 18.52
-72.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.44฿149
$15.15NOK 146
-70.69%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.32฿616
$17.14NOK 165
6.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿62.7
$3.27NOK 31.49
-43.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68฿90.2
$3.99NOK 38.50
-32.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Kristiansund
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.41฿47.49
$4.14NOK 39.88
-65.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.70฿394
$74.2NOK 716
-84.24%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.11฿105
$10.29NOK 99.2
-69.78%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04฿35.08
$1.38NOK 13.29
-24.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.11฿475
$47.54NOK 458
-70.32%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31฿44.13
$2.07NOK 19.93
-36.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿936.0K
$36.1KNOK 347.9K
-22.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K฿1.1M
$39.2KNOK 377.8K
-15.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Kristiansund
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿4,120
$242NOK 2,335
-49.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.59฿457
$38.08NOK 367
-64.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.70฿629
$56.2NOK 542
-66.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Kristiansund
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.5฿2,035
$49.02NOK 473
23.40%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.98฿572
$35.32NOK 341
-51.93%
Cinema Ticket
$9.07฿305
$16.48NOK 159
-44.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Kristiansund
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$706฿23.8K
$288NOK 2,781
144.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8K฿531.8K
$10.2KNOK 98.7K
54.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Kristiansund
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6฿1,970
$96.0NOK 925
-38.98%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.36฿1,190
$52.0NOK 502
-32.01%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,885
$107NOK 1,030
8.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.7฿2,818
$150NOK 1,451
-44.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Kristiansund
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$626฿21.1K
$762NOK 7,344
-17.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$445฿15.0K
$665NOK 6,409
-33.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,040฿68.7K
$1,211NOK 11.7K
68.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492฿50.2K
$1,029NOK 9,923
45.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,483฿117.2K
$5,733NOK 55.3K
-39.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,577฿86.7K
$3,969NOK 38.3K
-35.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Kristiansund
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$500฿16.8K
$3,675NOK 35.4K
-86.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
4.38
21.69%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026
Last update for Kristiansund: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $626 in Phuket and $762 in Kristiansund. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kristiansund pays 635% 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 $102 in Kristiansund for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $289 vs $455 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 Kristiansund: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Phuket and in Kristiansund?
Phuket and Kristiansund differ by about 81% in total monthly costs ($1,250 vs $2,260 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 635% lower in Kristiansund. 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 Kristiansund?
Rent for a central apartment: $626 in Phuket versus $762 in Kristiansund. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 57% higher in Kristiansund. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket – a meal for two runs $46.00 versus $102 in Kristiansund. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,250 in Phuket versus $2,260 in Kristiansund, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Kristiansund. 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 Kristiansund?
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 Kristiansund safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Kristiansund 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 Kristiansund?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 81% less than in Kristiansund. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.