Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Larvik Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Larvik

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $2,597 in Larvik.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,054 in Phuket versus $4,061 in Larvik.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,876 in Phuket versus $5,525 in Larvik.

Living in Phuket costs roughly 53% less than in Larvik, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 10% below, Larvik is 90% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Larvik
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.41 ฿147
$21.32 NOK 201
-79.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26 ฿1,073
$130 NOK 1,229
-75.27%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.93 ฿297
$16.33 NOK 154
-45.32%
Cappuccino
$2.90 ฿96.3
$6.09 NOK 57.4
-52.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 ฿29.27
$4.10 NOK 38.58
-78.54%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 ฿16.00
$3.47 NOK 32.65
-86.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.35 ฿78.2
$11.92 NOK 112
-80.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 ฿124
$12.91 NOK 122
-71.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Larvik
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.87 ฿62.0
$2.59 NOK 24.38
-27.80%
White Bread (500g)
$1.47 ฿48.75
$4.14 NOK 38.99
-64.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.55 ฿51.6
$1.60 NOK 15.05
-3.13%
Eggs
$2.10 ฿69.9
$3.81 NOK 35.86
-44.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.59 ฿651
$15.10 NOK 142
29.74%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.42 ฿114
$15.72 NOK 148
-78.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.38 ฿378
$30.37 NOK 286
-62.53%
Apples (1kg)
$2.98 ฿99.2
$3.31 NOK 31.22
-9.97%
Banana (1kg)
$1.68 ฿56.0
$2.76 NOK 25.99
-39.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.21 ฿73.5
$2.61 NOK 24.57
-15.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.16 ฿71.9
$4.51 NOK 42.48
-52.11%
Potato (1kg)
$1.52 ฿50.7
$2.72 NOK 25.67
-44.12%
Onion (1kg)
$1.34 ฿44.49
$2.87 NOK 27.00
-53.31%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 ฿37.53
$2.73 NOK 25.72
-58.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿18.17
$1.58 NOK 14.87
-65.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26 ฿142
$14.84 NOK 140
-71.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.09 ฿635
$16.79 NOK 158
13.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿59.2
$3.46 NOK 32.62
-48.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ฿92.5
$4.18 NOK 39.38
-33.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Larvik
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.23 ฿74.1
$4.76 NOK 44.81
-53.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.74 ฿756
$63.8 NOK 601
-64.34%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.03 ฿101
$9.53 NOK 89.8
-68.21%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ฿34.02
$1.63 NOK 15.36
-37.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.89 ฿129
$70.9 NOK 668
-94.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 ฿49.57
$2.35 NOK 22.11
-36.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K ฿883.8K
$42.6K NOK 401.2K
-37.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K ฿898.7K
$45.7K NOK 430.9K
-40.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Larvik
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$102 ฿3,407
$298 NOK 2,807
-65.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.33 ฿377
$21.40 NOK 202
-47.06%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.40 ฿578
$42.05 NOK 396
-58.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Larvik
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.1 ฿1,732
$51.8 NOK 488
0.48%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07 ฿368
$37.29 NOK 351
-70.31%
Cinema Ticket
$7.69 ฿256
$15.93 NOK 150
-51.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Larvik
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$561 ฿18.6K
$160 NOK 1,510
249.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.5K ฿382.6K
$15.7K NOK 147.5K
-26.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Larvik
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.0 ฿2,096
$73.8 NOK 695
-14.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.52 ฿982
$62.3 NOK 587
-52.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.0 ฿3,259
$109 NOK 1,029
-10.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5 ฿2,943
$129 NOK 1,215
-31.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Larvik
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$738 ฿24.5K
$1,256 NOK 11.8K
-41.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$482 ฿16.0K
$1,023 NOK 9,640
-52.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,107 ฿70.0K
$2,025 NOK 19.1K
4.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,226 ฿40.8K
$1,716 NOK 16.2K
-28.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,617 ฿120.3K
$6,320 NOK 59.5K
-42.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,603 ฿86.5K
$4,176 NOK 39.3K
-37.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Larvik
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$494 ฿16.4K
$3,269 NOK 30.8K
-84.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
4.75
17.26%

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

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Last update for Larvik: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $738 in Phuket and $1,256 in Larvik. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Larvik pays 562% 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: $32.00 in Phuket vs $130 in Larvik for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $274 vs $473 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 Larvik: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Larvik?
Phuket wins on cost – living expenses run 111% lower than in Larvik. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Phuket the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Phuket or in Larvik?
On paper, salaries run 562% lower in Larvik. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Phuket compared to Larvik?
Rent for a central apartment: $738 in Phuket versus $1,256 in Larvik. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Phuket compared to Larvik?
A monthly transit pass in Phuket runs roughly 180% less than in Larvik. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Phuket and in Larvik?
Childcare runs $561 in Phuket versus $160 in Larvik. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Phuket or in Larvik?
At $1,232 in Phuket versus $2,597 in Larvik, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Larvik. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Larvik?
Both work as nomad bases, but Phuket delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,232 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Phuket hard to pass up.
How safe is Phuket compared to Larvik?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Larvik are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 111% less than in Larvik. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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