Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Nordragota Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Nordragota

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $493 in Nordragota.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $1,207 in Nordragota.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $1,922 in Nordragota.

Living in Phuket is roughly 150% more expensive than Nordragota, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 8% lower, Nordragota 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.63 ฿151

$18.55 FOK 118

-75.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.84 ฿1,532

$173 FOK 1,102

-72.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.84 ฿289

$15.31 FOK 97.7

-42.26%

Cappuccino

$3.00 ฿98.0

$7.12 FOK 45.44

-57.87%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 ฿24.25

$3.99 FOK 25.47

-81.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.95

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 ฿79.8

$9.05 FOK 57.8

-73.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 ฿118

$9.51 FOK 60.7

-62.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ฿73.9

$2.12 FOK 13.53

6.60%

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 ฿60.1

$4.60 FOK 29.33

-60.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.24 ฿73.4

Eggs

$2.32 ฿75.7

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.67 ฿643

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.65 ฿119

$13.62 FOK 86.9

-73.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.10 ฿428

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 ฿111

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.7

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿79.0

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 ฿66.4

Potato (1kg)

$1.56 ฿50.9

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 ฿48.94

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 ฿33.50

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.00

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.45 ฿145

Wine (Bottle)

$18.88 ฿617

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.75 ฿90.1

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.40 ฿45.81

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.48 ฿376

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.12 ฿102

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.00 ฿32.67

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.09 ฿461

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 ฿44.19

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$27.2K ฿888.9K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.9K ฿1.1M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$125 ฿4,087

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.57 ฿444

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.52 ฿606

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.5 ฿2,010

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.84 ฿551

Cinema Ticket

$9.19 ฿300

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$698 ฿22.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.6K ฿509.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.8 ฿1,889

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.24 ฿1,152

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 ฿3,699

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.4 ฿2,825

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$616 ฿20.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$446 ฿14.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,048 ฿67.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,492 ฿48.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,779 ฿123.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,649 ฿86.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$524 ฿17.1K

$1,157 FOK 7,384

-54.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

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

Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026

Last update for Nordragota: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Nordragota pays 121% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $173 in Nordragota. Groceries flip the comparison at $292 vs $135, with Nordragota cheaper for home cooking.

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 Nordragota: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Phuket and Nordragota differ by about 150% in total monthly costs ($1,232 vs $493 including rent). Nordragota is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Nordragota earns 121% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Dining out is cheaper in Nordragota – a meal for two runs $173 versus $47.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,232 per month in Phuket versus $493 in Nordragota – a 150% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $493 in Nordragota versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Nordragota but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Nordragota the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Phuket and Nordragota are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Nordragota gentler on the wallet – expenses run 150% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.