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