Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Kristiansund Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Kristiansund

Monthly Cost of Living

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
$25.66 NOK 247
-82.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.18 ฿1,554
$102 NOK 985
-54.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.84 ฿298
$13.47 NOK 130
-34.37%
Cappuccino
$3.06 ฿103
$5.05 NOK 48.66
-39.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 ฿24.42
$3.21 NOK 30.94
-77.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40 ฿13.40
$2.90 NOK 28.01
-86.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.43 ฿81.8
$10.25 NOK 98.8
-76.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78 ฿127
$9.57 NOK 92.3
-60.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Kristiansund
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.26 ฿76.0
$2.38 NOK 22.92
-5.04%
White Bread (500g)
$1.81 ฿60.9
$3.40 NOK 32.81
-46.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.25 ฿75.8
$3.20 NOK 30.85
-29.69%
Eggs
$2.25 ฿75.6
$4.45 NOK 42.88
-49.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.51 ฿656
$11.99 NOK 116
62.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.65 ฿123
$14.50 NOK 140
-74.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.05 ฿439
$28.13 NOK 271
-53.61%
Apples (1kg)
$3.23 ฿109
$3.43 NOK 33.10
-5.83%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 ฿54.4
$2.46 NOK 23.68
-34.15%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.38 ฿80.2
$3.42 NOK 32.99
-30.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 ฿68.2
$4.54 NOK 43.78
-55.29%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿51.6
$2.48 NOK 23.87
-38.31%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.5
$2.59 NOK 24.98
-42.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.98 ฿32.93
$2.82 NOK 27.21
-65.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.40
$1.92 NOK 18.52
-72.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.44 ฿149
$15.15 NOK 146
-70.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.32 ฿616
$17.14 NOK 165
6.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 ฿62.7
$3.27 NOK 31.49
-43.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 ฿90.2
$3.99 NOK 38.50
-32.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Kristiansund
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.41 ฿47.49
$4.14 NOK 39.88
-65.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.70 ฿394
$74.2 NOK 716
-84.24%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.11 ฿105
$10.29 NOK 99.2
-69.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.04 ฿35.08
$1.38 NOK 13.29
-24.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.11 ฿475
$47.54 NOK 458
-70.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 ฿44.13
$2.07 NOK 19.93
-36.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K ฿936.0K
$36.1K NOK 347.9K
-22.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K ฿1.1M
$39.2K NOK 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
$242 NOK 2,335
-49.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.59 ฿457
$38.08 NOK 367
-64.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.70 ฿629
$56.2 NOK 542
-66.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Kristiansund
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.5 ฿2,035
$49.02 NOK 473
23.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.98 ฿572
$35.32 NOK 341
-51.93%
Cinema Ticket
$9.07 ฿305
$16.48 NOK 159
-44.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Kristiansund
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$706 ฿23.8K
$288 NOK 2,781
144.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.8K ฿531.8K
$10.2K NOK 98.7K
54.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Kristiansund
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6 ฿1,970
$96.0 NOK 925
-38.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.36 ฿1,190
$52.0 NOK 502
-32.01%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,885
$107 NOK 1,030
8.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.7 ฿2,818
$150 NOK 1,451
-44.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Kristiansund
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$626 ฿21.1K
$762 NOK 7,344
-17.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$445 ฿15.0K
$665 NOK 6,409
-33.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,040 ฿68.7K
$1,211 NOK 11.7K
68.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,492 ฿50.2K
$1,029 NOK 9,923
45.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,483 ฿117.2K
$5,733 NOK 55.3K
-39.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,577 ฿86.7K
$3,969 NOK 38.3K
-35.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Kristiansund
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$500 ฿16.8K
$3,675 NOK 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.

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