🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,253 in Phuket versus $2,389 in Kristiansund.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,043 in Phuket versus $3,659 in Kristiansund.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,833 in Phuket versus $4,928 in Kristiansund.
🌍Living in Phuket costs roughly 48% less than in Kristiansund, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 9% below, Kristiansund is 74% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Kristiansund
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56฿150
$18.31NOK 170
-75.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.62฿1,073
$111NOK 1,030
-70.61%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.90฿293
$16.44NOK 153
-45.86%
Cappuccino
$2.80฿92.2
$5.50NOK 51.0
-49.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88฿28.94
$3.76NOK 34.95
-76.60%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49฿16.08
$3.05NOK 28.33
-83.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.39฿78.5
$13.39NOK 124
-82.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.71฿122
$10.09NOK 93.7
-63.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Kristiansund
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.79฿58.8
$2.58NOK 23.96
-30.62%
White Bread(500g)
$1.44฿47.40
$3.63NOK 33.68
-60.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.58฿52.1
$3.95NOK 36.69
-60.00%
Eggs
$2.13฿69.9
$4.95NOK 45.99
-56.97%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.92฿655
$13.23NOK 123
50.57%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.43฿113
$15.46NOK 144
-77.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.33฿372
$29.91NOK 278
-62.12%
Apples(1kg)
$2.95฿97.0
$3.49NOK 32.36
-15.47%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72฿56.6
$2.67NOK 24.79
-35.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.32฿76.5
$3.45NOK 32.05
-32.75%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿68.4
$5.29NOK 49.07
-60.68%
Potato(1kg)
$1.47฿48.34
$2.66NOK 24.68
-44.74%
Onion(1kg)
$1.36฿44.65
$2.86NOK 26.57
-52.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.10฿36.13
$3.05NOK 28.34
-63.93%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57฿18.89
$2.34NOK 21.73
-75.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27฿140
$17.93NOK 166
-76.19%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.42฿606
$16.93NOK 157
8.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.87฿61.5
$3.44NOK 31.98
-45.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92฿96.1
$4.46NOK 41.39
-34.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Kristiansund
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.22฿73.0
$4.77NOK 44.25
-53.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.90฿753
$87.1NOK 809
-73.71%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.03฿99.6
$12.33NOK 114
-75.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.07฿35.32
$1.72NOK 15.95
-37.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.93฿129
$77.2NOK 716
-94.91%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49฿49.06
$2.45NOK 22.72
-39.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.1K฿892.0K
$48.8KNOK 452.9K
-44.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5K฿902.6K
$44.5KNOK 413.4K
-38.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Kristiansund
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$103฿3,380
$277NOK 2,571
-62.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.99฿361
$34.16NOK 317
-67.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.51฿576
$58.0NOK 538
-69.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Kristiansund
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.5฿1,760
$40.44NOK 375
32.37%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.20฿368
$29.94NOK 278
-62.59%
Cinema Ticket
$7.48฿246
$26.95NOK 250
-72.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Kristiansund
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$557฿18.3K
$247NOK 2,291
125.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.9K฿389.7K
$12.2KNOK 113.2K
-2.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Kristiansund
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.1฿2,107
$103NOK 955
-37.71%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.07฿956
$55.2NOK 513
-47.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.0฿3,155
$128NOK 1,188
-24.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.3฿2,970
$162NOK 1,500
-44.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Kristiansund
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$730฿24.0K
$812NOK 7,536
-10.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$500฿16.4K
$716NOK 6,649
-30.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,090฿68.7K
$1,285NOK 11.9K
62.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209฿39.8K
$1,066NOK 9,896
13.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,596฿118.2K
$6,432NOK 59.7K
-44.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,512฿82.6K
$4,292NOK 39.9K
-41.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Kristiansund
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$503฿16.6K
$3,777NOK 35.1K
-86.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
4.96
12.30%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026
Last update for Kristiansund: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $730 in Phuket and $812 in Kristiansund. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kristiansund pays 650% 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: $33.00 in Phuket vs $111 in Kristiansund for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $273 vs $492 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 91% in total monthly costs ($1,253 vs $2,389 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 650% 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: $730 in Phuket versus $812 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 80% 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 $33.00 versus $111 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 $1,253 in Phuket versus $2,389 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 91% less than in Kristiansund. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.