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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,261 per month in Phuket vs $2,360 in Moss, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,286 per month in Phuket vs $3,539 in Moss, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,310 per month in Phuket vs $4,717 in Moss, rent included.

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

Phuket sits 6% below the global median, while Moss is 76% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Moss
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56 ฿149
$18.65 NOK 177
-75.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.63 ฿1,519
$99.5 NOK 945
-53.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.47 ฿276
$13.33 NOK 127
-36.46%
Cappuccino
$3.03 ฿98.6
$3.77 NOK 35.83
-19.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ฿22.45
$3.19 NOK 30.27
-78.37%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿11.92
$2.59 NOK 24.57
-85.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.49 ฿81.0
$6.69 NOK 63.5
-62.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿119
$8.12 NOK 77.1
-54.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Moss
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 ฿71.0
$2.11 NOK 20.02
3.32%
White Bread (500g)
$1.90 ฿62.0
$3.45 NOK 32.70
-44.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.20 ฿71.6
$3.67 NOK 34.81
-40.05%
Eggs
$2.22 ฿72.4
$3.43 NOK 32.58
-35.28%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.99 ฿651
$13.52 NOK 128
47.86%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.66 ฿119
$12.67 NOK 120
-71.11%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.25 ฿432
$26.31 NOK 250
-49.64%
Apples (1kg)
$3.23 ฿105
$3.50 NOK 33.21
-7.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 ฿55.3
$2.45 NOK 23.21
-30.61%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.39 ฿78.0
$3.48 NOK 33.03
-31.32%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿67.7
$5.14 NOK 48.78
-59.53%
Potato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿51.8
$2.42 NOK 23.01
-34.30%
Onion (1kg)
$1.48 ฿48.31
$2.49 NOK 23.62
-40.56%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 ฿33.54
$2.46 NOK 23.33
-58.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿16.83
$2.41 NOK 22.88
-78.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.25 ฿138
$15.44 NOK 147
-72.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.79 ฿612
$16.05 NOK 152
17.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 ฿57.2
$2.55 NOK 24.21
-30.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 ฿89.8
$3.62 NOK 34.38
-23.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Moss
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.36 ฿44.32
$4.20 NOK 39.90
-67.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.36 ฿370
$84.1 NOK 798
-86.49%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 ฿102
$10.24 NOK 97.2
-69.34%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.04 ฿33.74
$1.44 NOK 13.67
-27.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.77 ฿448
$43.07 NOK 409
-68.03%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 ฿43.79
$2.17 NOK 20.64
-38.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K ฿901.4K
$35.7K NOK 339.2K
-22.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9K ฿1.1M
$37.0K NOK 351.5K
-8.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Moss
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$124 ฿4,025
$287 NOK 2,724
-56.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.52 ฿440
$20.51 NOK 195
-34.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.69 ฿609
$47.54 NOK 451
-60.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Moss
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.8 ฿2,013
$40.17 NOK 381
53.90%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.25 ฿562
$32.31 NOK 307
-46.61%
Cinema Ticket
$9.14 ฿298
$16.32 NOK 155
-44.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Moss
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$703 ฿22.9K
$271 NOK 2,574
159.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.9K ฿517.0K
$3,561 NOK 33.8K
345.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Moss
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5 ฿1,937
$96.3 NOK 914
-38.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.07 ฿1,142
$66.6 NOK 632
-47.35%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,754
$101 NOK 956
14.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.1 ฿2,737
$142 NOK 1,351
-40.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Moss
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$619 ฿20.1K
$1,239 NOK 11.8K
-50.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$433 ฿14.1K
$871 NOK 8,269
-50.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,062 ฿67.2K
$1,851 NOK 17.6K
11.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,511 ฿49.2K
$1,419 NOK 13.5K
6.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,646 ฿118.7K
$5,214 NOK 49.5K
-30.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,626 ฿85.5K
$4,042 NOK 38.4K
-35.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Moss
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$507 ฿16.5K
$4,328 NOK 41.1K
-88.29%
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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Moss: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $619 in Phuket versus $1,239 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 754% 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 $47.00 in Phuket versus $100 in Moss. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $442 – 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 vs Moss?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,892 per month in Phuket and $3,540 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 $1,261 in Phuket and $2,360 in Moss. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Phuket vs Moss?
Public transport costs about 640% 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 Moss?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,261, than in Moss at $2,360. 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 $1,261 versus $2,360 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 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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