Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Lillestrom Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Lillestrom

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Phuket versus $2,619 in Lillestrom.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,078 in Phuket versus $4,100 in Lillestrom.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,896 in Phuket versus $5,580 in Lillestrom.

Living in Phuket costs roughly 52% less than in Lillestrom, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 8% below, Lillestrom is 91% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Lillestrom
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.43 ฿145
$21.03 NOK 196
-78.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.07 ฿1,151
$121 NOK 1,126
-70.92%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.96 ฿294
$11.36 NOK 106
-21.13%
Cappuccino
$3.00 ฿98.4
$6.24 NOK 58.2
-51.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 ฿25.33
$4.11 NOK 38.42
-81.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 ฿15.44
$3.21 NOK 30.02
-85.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.40 ฿78.6
$12.40 NOK 116
-80.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75 ฿123
$10.44 NOK 97.5
-64.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Lillestrom
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.82 ฿59.8
$2.37 NOK 22.15
-23.21%
White Bread (500g)
$1.42 ฿46.65
$3.69 NOK 34.44
-61.52%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.55 ฿50.8
$4.16 NOK 38.81
-62.74%
Eggs
$2.13 ฿69.9
$6.00 NOK 56.0
-64.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.76 ฿648
$13.60 NOK 127
45.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.48 ฿114
$14.10 NOK 132
-75.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.09 ฿364
$28.70 NOK 268
-61.36%
Apples (1kg)
$2.91 ฿95.5
$3.48 NOK 32.53
-16.38%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 ฿54.6
$2.84 NOK 26.49
-41.55%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.27 ฿74.5
$4.33 NOK 40.46
-47.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.10 ฿68.8
$5.57 NOK 52.0
-62.30%
Potato (1kg)
$1.47 ฿48.24
$2.85 NOK 26.65
-48.42%
Onion (1kg)
$1.41 ฿46.29
$3.63 NOK 33.86
-61.16%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.09 ฿35.78
$1.81 NOK 16.90
-39.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 ฿17.58
$2.41 NOK 22.52
-77.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.48 ฿147
$17.59 NOK 164
-74.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.72 ฿614
$16.90 NOK 158
10.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84 ฿60.4
$5.79 NOK 54.1
-68.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 ฿96.7
$5.71 NOK 53.3
-48.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Lillestrom
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.26 ฿74.1
$4.59 NOK 42.82
-50.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$23.07 ฿757
$84.4 NOK 788
-72.65%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.04 ฿99.9
$11.77 NOK 110
-74.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.09 ฿35.82
$1.74 NOK 16.27
-37.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.82 ฿125
$61.1 NOK 570
-93.75%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 ฿48.79
$2.24 NOK 20.92
-33.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.4K ฿900.3K
$48.9K NOK 457.0K
-43.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5K ฿902.7K
$49.0K NOK 457.9K
-43.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Lillestrom
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$102 ฿3,340
$260 NOK 2,432
-60.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.28 ฿370
$36.14 NOK 337
-68.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.75 ฿582
$53.2 NOK 497
-66.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Lillestrom
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.2 ฿1,777
$51.0 NOK 477
6.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.96 ฿360
$36.79 NOK 344
-70.21%
Cinema Ticket
$7.85 ฿258
$17.56 NOK 164
-55.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Lillestrom
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$577 ฿18.9K
$320 NOK 2,990
80.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K ฿381.6K
$10.7K NOK 100.3K
8.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Lillestrom
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.4 ฿2,144
$103 NOK 960
-36.44%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.89 ฿948
$53.8 NOK 503
-46.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.1 ฿3,250
$120 NOK 1,120
-17.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.3 ฿2,961
$160 NOK 1,495
-43.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Lillestrom
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$756 ฿24.8K
$1,292 NOK 12.1K
-41.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$487 ฿16.0K
$987 NOK 9,214
-50.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,085 ฿68.4K
$1,902 NOK 17.8K
9.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,207 ฿39.6K
$1,690 NOK 15.8K
-28.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,591 ฿117.8K
$6,735 NOK 62.9K
-46.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,610 ฿85.6K
$3,632 NOK 33.9K
-28.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Lillestrom
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$502 ฿16.5K
$3,826 NOK 35.7K
-86.88%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
4.98
11.85%

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

Last update for Phuket: August 18, 2026

Last update for Lillestrom: August 18, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $756 in Phuket and $1,292 in Lillestrom. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lillestrom pays 662% 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: $35.00 in Phuket vs $121 in Lillestrom for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $272 vs $504 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 Lillestrom: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Lillestrom?
Phuket wins on cost – living expenses run 108% lower than in Lillestrom. 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 Lillestrom?
On paper, salaries run 662% lower in Lillestrom. 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 Lillestrom?
Rent for a central apartment: $756 in Phuket versus $1,292 in Lillestrom. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Phuket and in Lillestrom?
Childcare runs $577 in Phuket versus $320 in Lillestrom. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Phuket or in Lillestrom?
Supermarket bills run roughly 86% higher in Lillestrom. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Phuket or in Lillestrom?
At $1,261 in Phuket versus $2,619 in Lillestrom, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Lillestrom. 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 Lillestrom?
Both work as nomad bases, but Phuket delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,261 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 Lillestrom?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Lillestrom 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 108% less than in Lillestrom. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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