Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Ludvika Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Ludvika

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $1,597 in Ludvika, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,297 per month in Phuket vs $2,659 in Ludvika, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,329 per month in Phuket vs $3,721 in Ludvika, rent included.

Phuket is about 21% cheaper than Ludvika, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Phuket sits 6% below the global median, while Ludvika is 19% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.70 ฿154

$13.30 SEK 125

-64.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.37 ฿1,483

$67.2 SEK 632

-32.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.43 ฿276

$10.35 SEK 97.2

-18.55%

Cappuccino

$2.93 ฿95.7

$4.70 SEK 44.10

-37.66%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 ฿22.42

$2.69 SEK 25.28

-74.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿12.00

$2.49 SEK 23.42

-85.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿78.7

$7.32 SEK 68.8

-67.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿122

$7.46 SEK 70.1

-50.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 ฿73.0

$1.78 SEK 16.73

25.28%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 ฿59.9

$2.81 SEK 26.41

-34.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ฿70.9

$4.02 SEK 37.80

-46.02%

Eggs

$2.21 ฿72.4

$4.03 SEK 37.86

-45.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.74 ฿645

$14.00 SEK 132

41.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿119

$14.79 SEK 139

-75.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.53 ฿442

$15.67 SEK 147

-13.66%

Apples (1kg)

$3.28 ฿107

$3.56 SEK 33.41

-7.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ฿52.7

$2.60 SEK 24.46

-38.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.7

$3.80 SEK 35.68

-36.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.1

$4.39 SEK 41.25

-52.62%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.97

$1.49 SEK 13.97

2.68%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.41

$2.12 SEK 19.96

-30.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ฿32.32

$2.70 SEK 25.38

-63.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.68

$1.59 SEK 14.90

-67.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 ฿144

$7.23 SEK 67.9

-39.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.38 ฿634

$10.82 SEK 102

79.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

$1.80 SEK 16.87

-1.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ฿88.7

$1.89 SEK 17.78

43.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.37 ฿44.83

$3.20 SEK 30.06

-57.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.39 ฿372

$54.6 SEK 513

-79.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿98.7

$14.73 SEK 138

-79.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 ฿32.51

$1.58 SEK 14.86

-37.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.10 ฿461

$21.02 SEK 197

-32.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 ฿44.55

$1.88 SEK 17.66

-27.66%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$28.2K ฿921.9K

$33.1K SEK 311.1K

-14.84%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.9K ฿1.1M

$34.2K SEK 321.7K

-3.92%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$122 ฿3,978

$89.1 SEK 837

36.57%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.57 ฿444

$21.23 SEK 199

-36.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.31 ฿599

$36.07 SEK 339

-49.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.2 ฿1,969

$31.44 SEK 295

91.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 ฿560

$52.7 SEK 495

-67.45%

Cinema Ticket

$8.69 ฿284

$15.80 SEK 148

-45.00%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$693 ฿22.7K

$142 SEK 1,334

388.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K ฿512.8K

$741 SEK 6,958

2017.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,946

$105 SEK 989

-43.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.77 ฿1,137

$43.97 SEK 413

-20.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,746

$116 SEK 1,087

-1.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.3 ฿2,723

$155 SEK 1,451

-46.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$613 ฿20.0K

$483 SEK 4,540

26.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$437 ฿14.3K

$458 SEK 4,306

-4.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,094 ฿68.5K

$997 SEK 9,365

110.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,509 ฿49.3K

$986 SEK 9,266

53.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,749 ฿122.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,616 ฿85.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.6K

$4,079 SEK 38.3K

-87.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

33.25%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Ludvika: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $613 in Phuket versus $483 in Ludvika. 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 703% higher in Ludvika, 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 $45.00 in Phuket versus $67.0 in Ludvika. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $385 – 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 Ludvika: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ludvika costs about 26% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,898 per month in Phuket and $2,395 in Ludvika. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Kindergarten costs $693 per month in Phuket and $142 in Ludvika. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 31% more in Ludvika, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,265, than in Ludvika at $1,597. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ludvika it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,265 versus $1,597 in Ludvika. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ludvika makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.