🙂A single person spends $1,264 per month in Phuket vs $2,029 in Lillehammer, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,256 per month in Phuket vs $2,938 in Lillehammer, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,248 per month in Phuket vs $3,847 in Lillehammer, rent included.
🙂Phuket is about 38% cheaper than Lillehammer, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Phuket sits 5% below the global median, while Lillehammer is 52% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Lillehammer
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.48฿150
$16.41NOK 156
-72.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.59฿1,521
$80.0NOK 759
-43.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.76฿292
$14.09NOK 134
-37.83%
Cappuccino
$2.97฿99.0
$4.65NOK 44.13
-36.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.90
$2.66NOK 25.22
-74.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39฿13.04
$2.22NOK 21.02
-82.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.53฿84.4
$9.13NOK 86.6
-72.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75฿125
$6.50NOK 61.6
-42.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Lillehammer
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.15฿71.6
$2.03NOK 19.28
5.91%
White Bread(500g)
$1.82฿60.6
$2.00NOK 18.99
-9.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.18฿72.9
$2.04NOK 19.37
6.86%
Eggs
$2.25฿75.0
$3.11NOK 29.49
-27.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$20.00฿667
$12.00NOK 114
66.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63฿121
$10.05NOK 95.3
-63.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.56฿452
$27.85NOK 264
-51.31%
Apples(1kg)
$3.24฿108
$3.64NOK 34.49
-10.99%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64฿54.6
$2.04NOK 19.38
-19.61%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.33฿77.8
$2.68NOK 25.46
-13.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.07฿69.1
$2.50NOK 23.74
-17.20%
Potato(1kg)
$1.55฿51.6
$1.49NOK 14.15
4.03%
Onion(1kg)
$1.46฿48.54
$1.97NOK 18.69
-25.89%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98฿32.86
$1.33NOK 12.62
-26.32%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.09
$2.41NOK 22.81
-80.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35฿145
$14.42NOK 137
-69.83%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.57฿620
$15.71NOK 149
18.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿61.9
$3.62NOK 34.37
-48.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65฿88.6
$4.79NOK 45.45
-44.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Lillehammer
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.42฿47.28
$2.51NOK 23.79
-43.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.57฿386
$52.8NOK 500
-78.08%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.17฿106
$5.91NOK 56.0
-46.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.03฿34.41
$1.00NOK 9.53
3.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.89฿463
$51.1NOK 484
-72.79%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34฿44.84
$2.14NOK 20.32
-37.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿927.1K
$31.7KNOK 300.2K
-12.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4K฿1.1M
$34.8KNOK 330.3K
-4.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Lillehammer
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123฿4,105
$317NOK 3,003
-61.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77฿459
$43.14NOK 409
-68.08%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.33฿611
$35.62NOK 338
-48.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Lillehammer
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.7฿2,025
$50.9NOK 482
19.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.16฿573
$34.73NOK 329
-50.59%
Cinema Ticket
$8.87฿296
$12.33NOK 117
-28.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Lillehammer
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$688฿22.9K
$301NOK 2,854
128.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8K฿526.4K
$8,599NOK 81.5K
83.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Lillehammer
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3฿1,978
$92.0NOK 873
-35.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.69฿1,157
$30.08NOK 285
15.33%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,843
$71.5NOK 678
61.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.8฿2,794
$133NOK 1,263
-37.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Lillehammer
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$621฿20.7K
$1,026NOK 9,732
-39.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446฿14.9K
$618NOK 5,857
-27.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,034฿67.8K
$1,854NOK 17.6K
9.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,496฿49.9K
$908NOK 8,608
64.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,455฿115.3K
$5,715NOK 54.2K
-39.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,531฿84.4K
$2,602NOK 24.7K
-2.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Lillehammer
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494฿16.5K
$2,062NOK 19.6K
-76.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
4.32
23.38%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026
Last update for Lillehammer: July 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $621 in Phuket versus $1,026 in Lillehammer. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 318% higher in Lillehammer, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Phuket versus $80.0 in Lillehammer. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $291 vs $386 – making Phuket the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Lillehammer: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Lillehammer?
Lillehammer costs about 61% more than Phuket, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Phuket and in Lillehammer?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,896 per month in Phuket and $3,044 in Lillehammer. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Phuket or Lillehammer?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Phuket or in Lillehammer?
Groceries cost about 33% more in Lillehammer, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Phuket and in Lillehammer?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Phuket and $80.0 in Lillehammer. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Phuket or in Lillehammer?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,264, than in Lillehammer at $2,029. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lillehammer it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Lillehammer?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,264 versus $2,029 in Lillehammer. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Phuket compared to Lillehammer?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Phuket or to Lillehammer?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lillehammer makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.