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