Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Norwich

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,207 a month against $2,471 in Norwich, rent and utilities included – about $15,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,207
/mo nomad
Norwich
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
$2,471
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Norwich

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Phuket and in Norwich actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,207 per month in Phuket vs $2,471 in Norwich, rent included.

  • Phuket $1,207
  • Norwich $2,471

A couple spends around $2,037 per month in Phuket vs $3,733 in Norwich, rent included.

  • Phuket $2,037
  • Norwich $3,733

A family of three spends $2,867 per month in Phuket vs $4,996 in Norwich, rent included.

  • Phuket $2,867
  • Norwich $4,996

Phuket is about 51% cheaper than Norwich, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Phuket sits 11% below the global median, while Norwich is 83% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Norwich
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.58 ฿153
$22.99 £17.25
-80.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.48 ฿1,086
$103 £77.1
-68.39%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.55 ฿286
$11.24 £8.44
-23.93%
Cappuccino
$2.72 ฿91.0
$4.65 £3.49
-41.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94 ฿31.25
$2.93 £2.20
-67.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.39
$1.68 £1.26
-70.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.59 ฿86.6
$7.42 £5.57
-65.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.83 ฿128
$7.24 £5.43
-47.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Norwich
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 ฿58.1
$1.87 £1.41
-6.95%
White Bread (500g)
$1.43 ฿47.82
$2.32 £1.74
-38.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.53 ฿51.0
$2.90 £2.17
-47.24%
Eggs
$2.17 ฿72.7
$4.90 £3.67
-55.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.15 ฿640
$9.85 £7.39
94.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.30 ฿110
$11.26 £8.45
-70.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.14 ฿372
$18.20 £13.65
-38.79%
Apples (1kg)
$2.95 ฿98.5
$3.74 £2.81
-21.12%
Banana (1kg)
$1.68 ฿56.1
$2.07 £1.55
-18.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.30 ฿76.8
$2.95 £2.21
-22.03%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.13 ฿71.3
$4.49 £3.37
-52.56%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿51.1
$2.11 £1.58
-27.49%
Onion (1kg)
$1.36 ฿45.55
$2.47 £1.85
-44.94%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.12 ฿37.44
$1.22 £0.92
-8.20%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿18.24
$1.73 £1.30
-68.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26 ฿142
$23.86 £17.90
-82.15%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.19 ฿608
$10.64 £7.98
70.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 ฿58.2
$3.13 £2.35
-44.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79 ฿93.3
$3.16 £2.37
-11.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Norwich
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.22 ฿74.1
$3.90 £2.93
-43.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.06 ฿737
$96.1 £72.1
-77.05%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.91 ฿97.3
$3.89 £2.92
-25.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.01 ฿33.79
$1.37 £1.03
-26.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.83 ฿128
$18.98 £14.24
-79.82%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 ฿49.85
$2.03 £1.52
-26.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.7K ฿891.6K
$38.7K £29.0K
-31.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿892.7K
$40.6K £30.5K
-34.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Norwich
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$99.4 ฿3,321
$347 £261
-71.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.28 ฿377
$21.74 £16.31
-48.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.36 ฿580
$44.46 £33.36
-60.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Norwich
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.3 ฿1,747
$48.86 £36.66
7.02%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.85 ฿362
$8.63 £6.47
25.72%
Cinema Ticket
$7.57 ฿253
$13.30 £9.98
-43.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Norwich
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$558 ฿18.7K
$1,490 £1,118
-62.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.5K ฿383.9K
$12.2K £9,159
-5.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Norwich
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.9 ฿2,102
$118 £88.3
-46.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.58 ฿955
$49.17 £36.89
-41.88%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.1 ฿3,213
$127 £95.5
-24.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.1 ฿2,943
$107 £80.5
-17.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Norwich
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$729 ฿24.4K
$1,323 £992
-44.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$460 ฿15.4K
$976 £733
-52.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,096 ฿70.0K
$2,194 £1,646
-4.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,222 ฿40.8K
$1,702 £1,277
-28.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,459 ฿115.6K
$4,940 £3,706
-29.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,489 ฿83.2K
$3,747 £2,811
-33.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Norwich
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$493 ฿16.5K
$3,057 £2,294
-83.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
5.04
10.52%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 13, 2026

Last update for Norwich: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$460
Norwich
$976 112% $517
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$268
Norwich
$359 34.2% $92
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$128
Norwich
$413 223% $285
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$124
Norwich
$181 45.6% $57
Eating Out
Phuket
$121
Norwich
$344 183% $222
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$67
Norwich
$75 11.9% $8
Getting Around
Phuket
$39
Norwich
$123 215% $84

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $729 in Phuket versus $1,323 in Norwich. 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 520% higher in Norwich, 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 $32.00 in Phuket versus $103 in Norwich. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $268 vs $359 – making Phuket the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇬🇧 Norwich
🕒 Local time
12:07 12:07 PM
06:07 6:07 AM
6 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
132,512
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

GBP, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

British Pound exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 0.75 GBP (1 GBP = 1.33 USD). 1 EUR = 0.843 GBP (1 GBP = 1.19 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Norwich 9,790 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Norwich

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Norwich: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Norwich cheaper than Phuket?
Yes – Norwich is pricier by about 105%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,811 per month in Phuket and $3,707 in Norwich. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $558 per month in Phuket and $1,490 in Norwich. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and in Norwich?
Groceries cost about 34% more in Norwich, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Norwich?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,207, than in Norwich at $2,471. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Norwich it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Phuket or Norwich more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Phuket – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Norwich?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Norwich makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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