🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,264 in Phuket versus $1,774 in Norrkoping.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,256 in Phuket versus $2,715 in Norrkoping.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,248 in Phuket versus $3,655 in Norrkoping.
🌍Living in Phuket costs roughly 29% less than in Norrkoping, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 5% below, Norrkoping is 33% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Norrkoping
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.48฿150
$12.47SEK 118
-64.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.59฿1,521
$68.5SEK 650
-33.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.76฿292
$10.60SEK 101
-17.36%
Cappuccino
$2.97฿99.0
$4.97SEK 47.23
-40.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.90
$2.36SEK 22.40
-70.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39฿13.04
$1.81SEK 17.15
-78.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.53฿84.4
$7.27SEK 69.0
-65.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75฿125
$8.06SEK 76.6
-53.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Norrkoping
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.15฿71.6
$1.59SEK 15.10
35.22%
White Bread(500g)
$1.82฿60.6
$2.86SEK 27.18
-36.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.18฿72.9
$4.57SEK 43.40
-52.30%
Eggs
$2.25฿75.0
$4.24SEK 40.28
-46.93%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$20.00฿667
$12.36SEK 117
61.81%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63฿121
$14.29SEK 136
-74.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.56฿452
$16.25SEK 154
-16.55%
Apples(1kg)
$3.24฿108
$3.12SEK 29.68
3.85%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64฿54.6
$2.83SEK 26.93
-42.05%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.33฿77.8
$3.61SEK 34.26
-35.46%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.07฿69.1
$5.01SEK 47.62
-58.68%
Potato(1kg)
$1.55฿51.6
$1.45SEK 13.78
6.90%
Onion(1kg)
$1.46฿48.54
$1.86SEK 17.69
-21.51%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98฿32.86
$1.98SEK 18.84
-50.51%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.09
$1.31SEK 12.43
-63.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35฿145
$7.66SEK 72.8
-43.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.57฿620
$10.22SEK 97.1
81.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿61.9
$1.86SEK 17.64
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65฿88.6
$2.59SEK 24.64
2.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Norrkoping
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.42฿47.28
$3.55SEK 33.74
-60.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.57฿386
$118SEK 1,120
-90.18%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.17฿106
$5.74SEK 54.5
-44.77%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.03฿34.41
$1.66SEK 15.81
-37.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.89฿463
$64.8SEK 615
-78.56%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34฿44.84
$1.99SEK 18.87
-32.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿927.1K
$33.0KSEK 313.1K
-15.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4K฿1.1M
$34.8KSEK 330.5K
-4.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Norrkoping
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123฿4,105
$103SEK 977
19.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77฿459
$27.44SEK 261
-49.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.33฿611
$43.88SEK 417
-58.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Norrkoping
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.7฿2,025
$36.43SEK 346
66.59%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.16฿573
$42.01SEK 399
-59.15%
Cinema Ticket
$8.87฿296
$16.03SEK 152
-44.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Norrkoping
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$688฿22.9K
$146SEK 1,386
371.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8K฿526.4K
$1,415SEK 13.4K
1014.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Norrkoping
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3฿1,978
$78.9SEK 749
-24.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.69฿1,157
$36.57SEK 347
-5.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,843
$95.8SEK 910
20.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.8฿2,794
$115SEK 1,093
-27.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Norrkoping
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$621฿20.7K
$709SEK 6,734
-12.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446฿14.9K
$604SEK 5,734
-26.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,034฿67.8K
$1,222SEK 11.6K
66.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,496฿49.9K
$913SEK 8,677
63.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,455฿115.3K
$3,896SEK 37.0K
-11.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,531฿84.4K
$2,869SEK 27.3K
-11.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Norrkoping
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494฿16.5K
$3,077SEK 29.2K
-83.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
4.8
11.04%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026
Last update for Norrkoping: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $621 in Phuket and $709 in Norrkoping. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Norrkoping pays 523% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $46.00 in Phuket vs $68.0 in Norrkoping for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $291 vs $376 per month, with Phuket cheaper across the board.
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 Norrkoping: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Phuket and in Norrkoping?
Phuket and Norrkoping differ by about 40% in total monthly costs ($1,264 vs $1,774 including rent). Phuket is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 523% lower in Norrkoping. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Phuket and in Norrkoping?
Rent for a central apartment: $621 in Phuket versus $709 in Norrkoping. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Phuket or Norrkoping?
All in, you'll spend $1,264 per month in Phuket versus $1,774 in Norrkoping – a 40% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Phuket and in Norrkoping?
A monthly transit pass in Phuket runs roughly 919% less than in Norrkoping. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,264 in Phuket versus $1,774 in Norrkoping, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Norrkoping. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Norrkoping?
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.
Is Phuket or Norrkoping safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Norrkoping are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Phuket or Norrkoping?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 40% less than in Norrkoping. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.