๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,223 in Phuket versus $1,732 in Nykรถping.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,237 in Phuket versus $2,666 in Nykรถping.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,251 in Phuket versus $3,601 in Nykรถping.
๐Living in Phuket costs roughly 29% less than in Nykรถping, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 8% below, Nykรถping is 30% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Phuket
Nykรถping
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.51เธฟ147
$10.39SEKย 97.2
-56.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.62เธฟ1,515
$73.2SEKย 684
-36.27%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.49เธฟ276
$10.63SEKย 99.4
-20.13%
Cappuccino
$3.08เธฟ100
$4.73SEKย 44.26
-34.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68เธฟ22.07
$2.83SEKย 26.51
-75.97%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36เธฟ11.75
$2.42SEKย 22.66
-85.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.43เธฟ78.8
$7.92SEKย 74.1
-69.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63เธฟ118
$7.25SEKย 67.9
-49.93%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Nykรถping
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.19เธฟ71.1
$1.65SEKย 15.45
32.73%
White Bread(500g)
$1.81เธฟ59.0
$2.79SEKย 26.13
-35.13%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.23เธฟ72.5
$3.95SEKย 36.97
-43.54%
Eggs
$2.24เธฟ72.7
$4.16SEKย 38.95
-46.15%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.60เธฟ637
$12.14SEKย 114
61.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.72เธฟ121
$11.85SEKย 111
-68.61%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.47เธฟ438
$17.42SEKย 163
-22.68%
Apples(1kg)
$3.36เธฟ109
$2.36SEKย 22.04
42.37%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62เธฟ52.5
$2.66SEKย 24.85
-39.10%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41เธฟ78.3
$3.08SEKย 28.85
-21.75%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.99เธฟ64.6
$4.32SEKย 40.37
-53.94%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53เธฟ49.76
$1.64SEKย 15.36
-6.71%
Onion(1kg)
$1.45เธฟ47.19
$1.78SEKย 16.64
-18.54%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01เธฟ32.96
$1.14SEKย 10.68
-11.40%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48เธฟ15.73
$1.38SEKย 12.90
-65.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27เธฟ139
$7.30SEKย 68.3
-41.51%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.12เธฟ621
$9.37SEKย 87.6
104.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84เธฟ59.7
$1.89SEKย 17.70
-2.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74เธฟ89.1
$1.89SEKย 17.66
44.97%
๐ Getting Around
Phuket
Nykรถping
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.42เธฟ46.06
$3.29SEKย 30.74
-56.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.72เธฟ381
$48.77SEKย 456
-75.97%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.00เธฟ97.6
$6.38SEKย 59.7
-52.98%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.05เธฟ34.00
$1.65SEKย 15.45
-36.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.90เธฟ452
$61.1SEKย 571
-77.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.29เธฟ41.94
$2.09SEKย 19.58
-38.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0Kเธฟ911.1K
$32.3KSEKย 301.9K
-13.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.5Kเธฟ1.1M
$33.9KSEKย 317.2K
-1.20%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Nykรถping
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122เธฟ3,964
$116SEKย 1,080
5.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.93เธฟ453
$28.90SEKย 270
-51.80%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.87เธฟ613
$24.01SEKย 225
-21.41%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Nykรถping
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.3เธฟ1,992
$39.03SEKย 365
57.01%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84เธฟ547
$25.37SEKย 237
-33.62%
Cinema Ticket
$8.89เธฟ289
$15.76SEKย 147
-43.59%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Nykรถping
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$691เธฟ22.5K
$146SEKย 1,369
372.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.2Kเธฟ525.2K
$4,202SEKย 39.3K
284.55%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Nykรถping
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8เธฟ1,878
$94.0SEKย 879
-38.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.39เธฟ1,150
$40.70SEKย 381
-13.05%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113เธฟ3,685
$96.2SEKย 899
17.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.0เธฟ2,698
$153SEKย 1,431
-45.73%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Nykรถping
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$607เธฟ19.7K
$848SEKย 7,934
-28.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$448เธฟ14.6K
$664SEKย 6,212
-32.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,029เธฟ66.0K
$1,371SEKย 12.8K
48.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,493เธฟ48.5K
$1,087SEKย 10.2K
37.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,585เธฟ116.5K
$3,937SEKย 36.8K
-8.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,585เธฟ84.0K
$2,933SEKย 27.4K
-11.87%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Nykรถping
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$505เธฟ16.4K
$2,669SEKย 25.0K
-81.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
4.53
17.66%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 13, 2026
Last update for Nykรถping: June 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $607 in Phuket and $848 in Nykรถping. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐNykรถping pays 429% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
๐Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $73.0 in Nykรถping for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $348 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 Nykรถping: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Phuket and Nykรถping?
Phuket and Nykรถping differ by about 42% in total monthly costs ($1,223 vs $1,732 including rent). Phuket is meaningfully more affordable โ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Nykรถping earns 429% less. 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 Nykรถping?
Rent for a central apartment: $607 in Phuket versus $848 in Nykรถping. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Phuket and Nykรถping?
Childcare runs $691 in Phuket versus $146 in Nykรถping. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 19% higher in Nykรถping. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,223 in Phuket versus $1,732 in Nykรถping, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Nykรถping. 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 Nykรถping?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better โ the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Phuket or Nykรถping safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Nykรถping 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 Nykรถping?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 42% less than in Nykรถping. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.