Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and NoordCost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Noord
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂A single person spends $1,223 per month in Phuket vs $1,241 in Noord, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,237 per month in Phuket vs $2,120 in Noord, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,251 per month in Phuket vs $3,000 in Noord, rent included.
🙂Phuket is about 1% cheaper than Noord, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Phuket and Noord are more affordable than the global median – Phuket8% lower, Noord7% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Noord
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.51฿147
$13.71AWG 24.54
-67.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.62฿1,515
$65.2AWG 117
-28.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.49฿276
$10.17AWG 18.20
-16.52%
Cappuccino
$3.08฿100
$5.06AWG 9.06
-39.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68฿22.07
$1.03AWG 1.84
-33.98%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36฿11.75
$1.46AWG 2.61
-75.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.43฿78.8
$5.10AWG 9.13
-52.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63฿118
$6.73AWG 12.04
-46.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Noord
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.19฿71.1
-
-
White Bread(500g)
$1.81฿59.0
-
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.23฿72.5
-
-
Eggs
$2.24฿72.7
-
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.60฿637
-
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.72฿121
-
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.47฿438
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$3.36฿109
-
-
Banana(1kg)
$1.62฿52.5
-
-
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿78.3
-
-
Tomato(1kg)
$1.99฿64.6
-
-
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿49.76
-
-
Onion(1kg)
$1.45฿47.19
-
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01฿32.96
-
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48฿15.73
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27฿139
-
-
Wine(Bottle)
$19.12฿621
$9.83AWG 17.59
94.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84฿59.7
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74฿89.1
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Noord
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.42฿46.06
$2.98AWG 5.34
-52.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.72฿381
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.00฿97.6
$6.02AWG 10.78
-50.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.05฿34.00
$6.15AWG 11.00
-82.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.90฿452
$50.2AWG 89.9
-72.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.29฿41.94
$1.48AWG 2.64
-12.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K฿911.1K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.5K฿1.1M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Noord
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿3,964
$150AWG 269
-18.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.93฿453
-
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.87฿613
$101AWG 180
-81.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Noord
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.3฿1,992
$49.52AWG 88.6
23.75%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84฿547
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.89฿289
$7.92AWG 14.17
12.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Noord
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$691฿22.5K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.2K฿525.2K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Noord
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8฿1,878
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.39฿1,150
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113฿3,685
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.0฿2,698
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Noord
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$607฿19.7K
$790AWG 1,414
-23.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$448฿14.6K
$589AWG 1,055
-23.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,029฿66.0K
$1,723AWG 3,083
17.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,493฿48.5K
$1,601AWG 2,866
-6.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,585฿116.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,585฿84.0K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Noord
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$505฿16.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
6
-11.17%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 13, 2026
Last update for Noord: June 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $607 in Phuket versus $790 in Noord. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket versus $65.0 in Noord. Groceries tell a different story – $292 in Phuket vs $20.00 in Noord – so Noord wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Noord: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Noord?
Noord costs about 1% more than Phuket, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 Noord?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,835 per month in Phuket and $1,861 in Noord. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Phuket or Noord?
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 Noord?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,223 in Phuket and $1,241 in Noord. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Are groceries more expensive in Phuket or Noord?
Interestingly, groceries are about 1385% cheaper in Noord – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Phuket or Noord?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,223, than in Noord at $1,241. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Noord it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Noord?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,223 versus $1,241 in Noord. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Phuket compared to Noord?
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 Noord?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Noord makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.