Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Moss Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Moss

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $2,600 in Moss, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,054 per month in Phuket vs $3,857 in Moss, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,876 per month in Phuket vs $5,114 in Moss, rent included.

Phuket is about 53% cheaper than Moss, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Phuket sits 10% below the global median, while Moss is 90% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Moss
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.41 ฿147
$21.47 NOK 202
-79.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26 ฿1,077
$79.0 NOK 744
-59.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.93 ฿298
$14.28 NOK 135
-37.46%
Cappuccino
$2.90 ฿96.6
$5.12 NOK 48.29
-43.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 ฿29.38
$3.21 NOK 30.25
-72.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 ฿16.06
$2.72 NOK 25.64
-82.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.35 ฿78.5
$6.95 NOK 65.5
-66.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 ฿124
$8.37 NOK 78.9
-55.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Moss
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.87 ฿62.3
$2.55 NOK 24.07
-26.67%
White Bread (500g)
$1.47 ฿48.94
$3.69 NOK 34.78
-60.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.55 ฿51.8
$3.64 NOK 34.30
-57.42%
Eggs
$2.10 ฿70.1
$3.48 NOK 32.81
-39.66%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.59 ฿654
$13.77 NOK 130
42.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.42 ฿114
$13.28 NOK 125
-74.25%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.38 ฿380
$28.70 NOK 270
-60.35%
Apples (1kg)
$2.98 ฿99.6
$3.34 NOK 31.49
-10.78%
Banana (1kg)
$1.68 ฿56.2
$2.53 NOK 23.86
-33.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.21 ฿73.7
$2.87 NOK 27.02
-23.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.16 ฿72.1
$5.99 NOK 56.5
-63.94%
Potato (1kg)
$1.52 ฿50.9
$2.35 NOK 22.11
-35.32%
Onion (1kg)
$1.34 ฿44.67
$2.67 NOK 25.15
-49.81%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 ฿37.67
$2.69 NOK 25.38
-57.99%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿18.24
$2.45 NOK 23.10
-77.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26 ฿142
$15.72 NOK 148
-72.90%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.09 ฿637
$16.06 NOK 151
18.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿59.4
$2.75 NOK 25.91
-35.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ฿92.9
$3.88 NOK 36.60
-28.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Moss
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.23 ฿74.4
$4.69 NOK 44.22
-52.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.74 ฿759
$90.3 NOK 851
-74.81%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.03 ฿101
$10.71 NOK 101
-71.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ฿34.15
$1.90 NOK 17.87
-46.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.89 ฿130
$46.40 NOK 437
-91.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 ฿49.77
$2.26 NOK 21.34
-34.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K ฿887.3K
$44.4K NOK 418.5K
-40.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K ฿902.2K
$42.3K NOK 398.2K
-36.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Moss
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$102 ฿3,420
$302 NOK 2,843
-66.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.33 ฿378
$33.30 NOK 314
-65.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.40 ฿581
$56.9 NOK 536
-69.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Moss
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.1 ฿1,738
$40.66 NOK 383
28.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07 ฿370
$35.20 NOK 332
-68.55%
Cinema Ticket
$7.69 ฿257
$18.82 NOK 177
-59.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Moss
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$561 ฿18.7K
$248 NOK 2,336
126.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.5K ฿384.1K
$3,838 NOK 36.2K
199.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Moss
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.0 ฿2,104
$103 NOK 972
-38.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.52 ฿986
$62.6 NOK 590
-52.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.0 ฿3,272
$108 NOK 1,020
-9.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5 ฿2,954
$144 NOK 1,361
-38.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Moss
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$738 ฿24.6K
$1,252 NOK 11.8K
-41.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$482 ฿16.1K
$932 NOK 8,779
-48.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,107 ฿70.3K
$2,126 NOK 20.0K
-0.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,226 ฿40.9K
$1,627 NOK 15.3K
-24.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,617 ฿120.7K
$5,389 NOK 50.8K
-32.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,603 ฿86.9K
$4,204 NOK 39.6K
-38.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Moss
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$494 ฿16.5K
$4,450 NOK 41.9K
-88.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
4.96
12.30%

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

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Last update for Moss: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $738 in Phuket versus $1,252 in Moss. 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 801% higher in Moss, 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 $32.00 in Phuket versus $79.0 in Moss. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $274 vs $464 – 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 Moss: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Moss?
Moss costs about 111% 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 Moss?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $3,899 in Moss. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Phuket or Moss?
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.
How much does it cost to live in Phuket compared to Moss?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,232 in Phuket and $2,600 in Moss. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Phuket compared to Moss?
Public transport costs about 297% less in Phuket. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Phuket or in Moss?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,232, than in Moss at $2,600. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Moss it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Moss?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,232 versus $2,600 in Moss. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Phuket compared to Moss?
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 Moss?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Moss makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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