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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,264 per month in Phuket vs $2,369 in Moss, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,256 per month in Phuket vs $3,549 in Moss, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,248 per month in Phuket vs $4,729 in Moss, rent included.

Phuket is about 47% cheaper than Moss, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Phuket sits 5% below the global median, while Moss is 78% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Moss
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.48 ฿150
$18.33 NOK 174
-75.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.59 ฿1,521
$97.8 NOK 927
-53.37%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.76 ฿292
$13.40 NOK 127
-34.63%
Cappuccino
$2.97 ฿99.0
$3.84 NOK 36.45
-22.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ฿22.90
$3.20 NOK 30.35
-78.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39 ฿13.04
$2.59 NOK 24.56
-84.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.53 ฿84.4
$6.68 NOK 63.3
-62.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75 ฿125
$8.06 NOK 76.4
-53.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Moss
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.15 ฿71.6
$2.02 NOK 19.14
6.44%
White Bread (500g)
$1.82 ฿60.6
$3.30 NOK 31.33
-44.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.18 ฿72.9
$3.66 NOK 34.71
-40.44%
Eggs
$2.25 ฿75.0
$3.26 NOK 30.88
-30.98%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$20.00 ฿667
$13.67 NOK 130
46.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.63 ฿121
$12.65 NOK 120
-71.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.56 ฿452
$26.77 NOK 254
-49.35%
Apples (1kg)
$3.24 ฿108
$3.59 NOK 34.04
-9.75%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 ฿54.6
$2.40 NOK 22.78
-31.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.33 ฿77.8
$3.32 NOK 31.46
-29.82%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.07 ฿69.1
$4.97 NOK 47.08
-58.35%
Potato (1kg)
$1.55 ฿51.6
$2.46 NOK 23.29
-36.99%
Onion (1kg)
$1.46 ฿48.54
$2.50 NOK 23.67
-41.60%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.98 ฿32.86
$2.49 NOK 23.60
-60.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48 ฿16.09
$2.34 NOK 22.19
-79.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35 ฿145
$15.95 NOK 151
-72.73%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.57 ฿620
$15.60 NOK 148
19.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 ฿61.9
$2.61 NOK 24.70
-28.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65 ฿88.6
$3.59 NOK 34.04
-26.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Moss
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.42 ฿47.28
$4.34 NOK 41.16
-67.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.57 ฿386
$84.8 NOK 804
-86.36%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.17 ฿106
$10.30 NOK 97.6
-69.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.03 ฿34.41
$1.40 NOK 13.28
-26.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.89 ฿463
$42.72 NOK 405
-67.49%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 ฿44.84
$2.25 NOK 21.35
-40.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K ฿927.1K
$36.8K NOK 348.5K
-24.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4K ฿1.1M
$37.3K NOK 353.7K
-10.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Moss
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$123 ฿4,105
$293 NOK 2,778
-58.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77 ฿459
$20.14 NOK 191
-31.63%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.33 ฿611
$46.98 NOK 445
-60.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Moss
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.7 ฿2,025
$39.87 NOK 378
52.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.16 ฿573
$32.29 NOK 306
-46.86%
Cinema Ticket
$8.87 ฿296
$16.18 NOK 153
-45.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Moss
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$688 ฿22.9K
$273 NOK 2,593
151.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.8K ฿526.4K
$3,594 NOK 34.1K
339.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Moss
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3 ฿1,978
$94.4 NOK 895
-37.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.69 ฿1,157
$65.9 NOK 624
-47.33%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,843
$102 NOK 964
13.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.8 ฿2,794
$139 NOK 1,318
-39.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Moss
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$621 ฿20.7K
$1,264 NOK 12.0K
-50.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$446 ฿14.9K
$857 NOK 8,127
-47.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,034 ฿67.8K
$1,849 NOK 17.5K
9.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,496 ฿49.9K
$1,403 NOK 13.3K
6.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,455 ฿115.3K
$5,172 NOK 49.0K
-33.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,531 ฿84.4K
$4,002 NOK 37.9K
-36.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Moss
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$494 ฿16.5K
$4,408 NOK 41.8K
-88.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
5.05
5.54%

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

Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026

Last update for Moss: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $621 in Phuket versus $1,264 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 793% 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 $46.00 in Phuket versus $98.0 in Moss. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $291 vs $438 – 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 87% 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 $1,896 per month in Phuket and $3,553 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 $1,264 in Phuket and $2,369 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 633% 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 $1,264, than in Moss at $2,369. 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 $1,264 versus $2,369 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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