Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Norsup Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Norsup

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Phuket versus $3,393 in Norsup.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,286 in Phuket versus $2,210 in Norsup.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,310 in Phuket versus $1,027 in Norsup.

Living in Phuket costs roughly 63% less than in Norsup, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 6% below, Norsup is 152% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.56 ฿149

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.63 ฿1,519

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.47 ฿276

Cappuccino

$3.03 ฿98.6

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

$0.69 ฿22.45

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.92

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.49 ฿81.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

Milk (1 liter)

$2.18 ฿71.0

$4.25 VUV 493

-48.71%

White Bread (500g)

$1.90 ฿62.0

$4.18 VUV 485

-54.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.20 ฿71.6

$4.26 VUV 494

-48.36%

Eggs

$2.22 ฿72.4

$5.09 VUV 591

-56.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.99 ฿651

$12.45 VUV 1,444

60.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.66 ฿119

$8.40 VUV 975

-56.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.25 ฿432

$15.31 VUV 1,776

-13.46%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ฿105

$4.30 VUV 499

-24.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.3

$4.24 VUV 492

-59.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 ฿78.0

$4.11 VUV 477

-41.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿67.7

$4.25 VUV 493

-51.06%

Potato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$4.24 VUV 492

-62.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.31

$4.20 VUV 487

-64.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 ฿33.54

$4.26 VUV 494

-75.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿16.83

$2.27 VUV 263

-77.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.25 ฿138

$16.98 VUV 1,971

-74.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.79 ฿612

$16.71 VUV 1,939

12.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 ฿57.2

$4.29 VUV 498

-58.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 ฿89.8

$4.17 VUV 484

-33.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 ฿44.32

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.36 ฿370

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 ฿102

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿33.74

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.77 ฿448

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ฿43.79

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

$27.7K ฿901.4K

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

$33.9K ฿1.1M

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

$124 ฿4,025

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

$13.52 ฿440

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.69 ฿609

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 ฿2,013

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.25 ฿562

Cinema Ticket

$9.14 ฿298

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

$703 ฿22.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K ฿517.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,937

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.07 ฿1,142

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,754

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.1 ฿2,737

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$619 ฿20.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$433 ฿14.1K

$2,952 VUV 342.6K

-85.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,062 ฿67.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,511 ฿49.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,646 ฿118.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,626 ฿85.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$507 ฿16.5K

$292 VUV 33.9K

73.49%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Norsup: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Phuket pays 73% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

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 Norsup: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Phuket wins on cost – living expenses run 169% lower than in Norsup. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Phuket the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Phuket pays 73% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Supermarket bills run roughly 57% higher in Norsup. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,261 per month in Phuket versus $3,393 in Norsup – a 169% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,261 in Phuket versus $3,393 in Norsup, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Norsup. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Phuket delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,261 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Phuket hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Phuket and Norsup 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 Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 169% less than in Norsup. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.